Outputting sound

beefybarn · 5 Jul 2010 at 19:38

Hi, just building myself a SFF to go under the telly with a blu ray player in. I have fitted a 5450 graphics card in it but need some advice concerning the sound. I want to make use of my Pioneer surround sound which has 2 x optical in. Which sound card would i need to output to this, i have a budget of about £70, thanks.

Destination · 5 Jul 2010 at 20:26

What motherboard are you using? Some have an optical out.

AbsenceJam · 5 Jul 2010 at 21:24

Your mobo will have S/PDIF out almost undoubtedly, either optical or coax. Very few lack it.

beefybarn · 5 Jul 2010 at 21:30

But i was led to belive that a dedicated sound card would give better results.

Edit: just checked my motherboard and it does not have S/PDIF output.

johnny sublime · 5 Jul 2010 at 22:20

what case do you have is it a standard or slim

beefybarn · 5 Jul 2010 at 23:22

Standard case, its the Lian Li PC-C32B.

johnny sublime · 6 Jul 2010 at 01:56

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-002-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

AbsenceJam · 6 Jul 2010 at 17:37

Surprised there's no S/PDIF. But there's no difference in quality between digital outputs, just get the cheapest card you can find.

beefybarn · 6 Jul 2010 at 20:50

But will the cheapest card allow me to output to the optical in on the surround sound system.

johnny sublime · 7 Jul 2010 at 15:04

google the card above it comes with an adapter that lets you plug an opticle cable into the line in jack

AbsenceJam · 7 Jul 2010 at 20:07

beefybarn said:
But will the cheapest card allow me to output to the optical in on the surround sound system.

If it has optical then yes...... The Xonar is pointless as you're paying for the analogue quality and options you don't need with S/PDIF out.

beefybarn · 7 Jul 2010 at 20:11

Thanks for the info absencejam, can you reccomend a card please.