- Joined
- Apr 1, 2002
- Thread Starter
- #41
Because your AN7 supports DDLive!, you will get full 5.1 surround when gaming via the SPDIF out. It is only with boards that do not support DDLive! or DTS Connect that you only get stereo sound.mccatys said:Hallo !
First of all THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the heads up...! This thread was magnific ! Really the best I found on Google...
Yesterday I ordered a Logitech Z-5400 5.1 310W and a Creative X-FI MX Xtreme Sound Card.
I have an old Abit AN7 uGuru with Soundstorm and I thought my audio on-board card won't handle that system...
I found by mistake this forum and looked at the back of my computer and what do you know!?! It has optical SPDIF out... Didn't believe my eyes!
I really don't want to spend another 80 EUR or so on a separate sound card if I don't need to... I bought the system for movies and music, I haven't played a game for a while now and I don't think this will change in the near future.
Some told me that I won't get different channels (true 5.1) in a game with optical output. It's the same with watching a dvd movie on my computer? e.g.: I won't be able to get a voice in the front left speaker and the other one in the rear right let's say? That EAX is working on optical as well as on the classic connection?
And... If I turn the volume up... Will there be any noise or differences between my audio on-board - optical output and the Creative X-FI? Which would be better? I really don't know what my old Abit AN7 is capable of... I didn't know that it has SPDIF out - really unknown resources
I'm really thinking now to call and cancel my order on the X-FI... and if anyone could help me out as soon as possible I would really appreciate it!
TX !
The X-FI will reduce your CPU load (slightly) and give you features like EAX 5. Apart from that they should sound pretty much exactly the same.
EAX works the same on either output.
Just set your DVD watching program to "SPDIF passthrough" (they all support it now) and you'll get the full digital 5.1 surround sound passed directly to your Z-5400s.
I'd cancel the X-FI if you still can, and try the onboard SoundStorm first. It will do everything you want it to do. You can always order a X-FI later, if you find you're missing features.