Daft sound question (probably)

Doc Rob

Doc Rob

Doc Rob

Associate
Joined
11 Oct 2005
Posts
138
Hi all

I am planning a new build around a 9800 X3D (as per a couple of threads on the general advice forum) and I'm looking at a B850 motherboard.

I mostly use headphones, but I was planning to re-use my old Creative 5.1 system for the times when I don't. However, the way sound output is done has clearly changed since my last build (about 7 years ago) as none of the boards I am looking at have the green/yellow/black configuration of audio outputs my speakers use.

Is it just that all i/o is done by USB nowadays, and I'll need to get a converter?
 
People have by and large moved on from the old creative style surround systems, either to higher end surround solutions with an AVR or headphones and virtual when they require positional/that extra immersion.

Your best bet if you really want to keep your existing speaker set is to find a 5.1 soundcard/audio interface if none of the boards you're looking at support what you want. The issue there is that most internal cards are on the ancient side at this point and are often over priced for what they are, you wouldn't get me spending £80 on a Soundblaster Z for example. That and graphics cards can be pretty huge now, it'd be impossible to fit one with many setups.

There are some decently reviewed USB solutions to be had on the rainforest for £20-50, but I couldn't personally recommend any and would be wary of anything like that from China as reviews often get skewed for various reasons. That said, the rainforest makes returns very easy so you could test something out on your existing setup and see how it goes, just send it back if you get no joy.

I believe some of the old Creative all in one surround packages had optical inputs which might be an easier avenue, check to see if yours does.
 
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Doc Rob said:
However, the way sound output is done has clearly changed since my last build (about 7 years ago) as none of the boards I am looking at have the green/yellow/black configuration of audio outputs my speakers use.
Click to expand...
It hasn't changed that much, they still make boards with the same config, e.g. TUF B850M-Plus or a popular board from the 1st gen: B650E-F Strix.
 
New boards like the X870 ones use the front panel audio for replicating 5.1
so line out for front speakers, the front panel microphone header is the rear and the mic input jack on m/b is the center.
They also support 7.1 using the front panel header headphone jack for side.

Hope this helps
 
Tetras said:
It hasn't changed that much, they still make boards with the same config, e.g. TUF B850M-Plus or a popular board from the 1st gen: B650E-F Strix.
Click to expand...
This is a great shout.

Yes, a lot of surround sound audio is now handled by software rather than having 5 or 7 channels but your headset can still be used.

I do miss having a system with all PCI-e lanes filled with 2 GPUs, an audio card maybe even a Physx card to boot but those days are long gone.
 
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