Topic: SPDIF in/out directly on motherboard??

[audBall]

Is this common on most motherboards?

http://tinyurl.com/5w9gkg

If so, why do we need soundcards with digi ins/outs?  Assuming my motherboard has this, could I simply run PC > DAC ?

I could be waaay off base here...

[Brian Skalinder]

We need soundcards because mobo-based S/PDIF in/out was uncommon, historically.  It's becoming more common, though I wouldn't go so far as to say widespread.  All else being equal, PC w/ mobo-based S/PDIF output > DAC would work just as well as PC / soundcard with S/PDIF out > DAC.  But I'm guessing all else is not equal - if it matters to you, find out if the mobo-based S/PDIF in/out resamples on the board you're considering.  I suspect it does, while most soundcards tapers elect use do not.

[audBall]

if it matters to you, find out if the mobo-based S/PDIF in/out resamples on the board you're considering.

That is definitely a concern of mine.  I guess I was more curious as to why I didn't hear more about this.

Thanks for the response, Brian!

[jerryfreak]

whats equally important is how the software/ OS is setup

windows up thru XP has a nasty habit of resampling everything that goes through kmixer.

the only way to know is to test. if you have a known good 24-bit recorder you should be able to record the stream and end up with EXACTLY the same bits. (ask me if you dont know how to check this, there are a few ways). Apart from resampling, if you are able to control the volume from the software or windows mixer, i can guarantee you aren't bit accurate, because you are essentially doing on-the-fly normalization

if it matters to you, find out if the mobo-based S/PDIF in/out resamples on the board you're considering.

That is definitely a concern of mine.  I guess I was more curious as to why I didn't hear more about this.

Thanks for the response, Brian!

[lefty]

... Apart from resampling, if you are able to control the volume from the software or windows mixer, i can guarantee you aren't bit accurate, because you are essentially doing on-the-fly normalization

if it matters to you, find out if the mobo-based S/PDIF in/out resamples on the board you're considering.

this is very helpful information.  thank you!

[jerryfreak]

fyi, the last two computers i built had onboard spdif, which sucked compared to a good soundcard.

kmixer is a bitch, onboard audio drivers are usually very lacking

[Gordon]

fyi, the last two computers i built had onboard spdif, which sucked compared to a good soundcard.

less than a year ago I built my first pc.  I got the MB b/c of the onboard SPDIF.  it was horrible!  I installed my audiophile 24/96 about a week after I built.