Sound Card for 7.1 playback?

[CrazyInBlack]

I need a way to play my computer through my Onkyo 7.1. The sound card now is on board and so I am only getting 1 channel to play. Will the Creative - Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card do what I want? Or is there a cheaper or better way? Is there a card with an HDMI output?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by CrazyInBlack

I need a way to play my computer through my Onkyo 7.1. The sound card now is on board and so I am only getting 1 channel to play. Will the Creative - Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card do what I want? Or is there a cheaper or better way? Is there a card with an HDMI output?

There are several way's my friend. First, you need a 7.1 sound card and set it up as so (what type of motherboard do you have - you may have 7.1 already but don't know it). The creative will do 7.1 , and there are several ATI video cards that will let you send 7.1 LPCM via HDMI to your Onkyo. I'm doing that now to my Yamaha - via my 9300 motherboard hdmi out, and there's the ASUS HDAV 1.3 - it will allow you to bitstream the HD codecs. Give me a list of your current equipment (computer wise) and we will go from there

[lutefisk69]

This is what I have. Although I do not have a Blu-ray in my computer, I just use it for music and such. It is good and cheap, but don't know if it will fit your needs.http://www.compusa.com/applications/...731&CatId=2771

[CrazyInBlack]

it is an AMD athlon xp 2400
2.0 ghz
768 RAM
NVIDIA GForce4 MX 420

really all I want it to do is play sound though my reciever, as I have a standalone blu ray player on the way. how much am I looking at for one of those ATI cards?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by CrazyInBlack

it is an AMD athlon xp 2400
2.0 ghz
768 RAM
NVIDIA GForce4 MX 420

really all I want it to do is play sound though my reciever, as I have a standalone blu ray player on the way. how much am I looking at for one of those ATI cards?

About 45 to 50 dollars tops!

[DTS-ES EXTREME]

Hey CrazyInBlack you must listen to Prerich because that's the perfect solution for your problem's
Here is my HTPC over 2 weeks :
Mainboard : ASUS RAMPAGE II Extreme
CPU : INTEL CORE i7 965 3200MHz
Videocard: Nvidia 9800 GTX2 top (HDMI Output)
Soundcard : Asus HDMI 1.3 Deluxe (HDMI In & Output)
Harddisks : 2 x WD Raptor 150GB in raid & 4x 1TB WD
Memory : Corsair 4X 2 GB
Blue Ray driver : Plextor
Power Suply : OCZ GameXtream 1010Watt
Case : Origen AE S21T
AV processor Marantz AV-8003 and maby i'm gonna change it into the DENON AVP-A1HD. but that for the summer.

So Over 2 weeks this High end Beast must be ready for the highest preformence if not then i'm gonna trow this out of the window

[CrazyInBlack]

Originally Posted by prerich

About 45 to 50 dollars tops!

so which card?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by CrazyInBlack

so which card?

For an inexpensive HDMI solution from a video card (7.1 lpcm out via HDMI)...this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125251

For a High-end, BD bitstreaming monster like DTS-ES-Extreme's rig...this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132008
this is an actual sound card.


Another Sound card solution - since its just for music (this one is non-HDMI however) is this card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132006
or this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829121011 Both of these cards produce wonderful audio (I've owned the M-Audio card 410 version)

[statikcat]

Are you 100% you need hdmi? You could just use the below via optical and use dvi-->hdmi cable from the graphics card. That is what i do.

They are slacking on V64b drivers but I have this and it works like a charm:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...each%20montego

The DDL support is good in case you want to run games in 5.1.

[CrazyInBlack]

Originally Posted by prerich

For an inexpensive HDMI solution from a video card (7.1 lpcm out via HDMI)...this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125251

For a High-end, BD bitstreaming monster like DTS-ES-Extreme's rig...this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132008
this is an actual sound card.


Another Sound card solution - since its just for music (this one is non-HDMI however) is this card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132006
or this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829121011 Both of these cards produce wonderful audio (I've owned the M-Audio card 410 version)

much thanks!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by CrazyInBlack

much thanks!

No problem

[CrazyInBlack]

with the Turtle Beach or GIGABYTE GV-R435OC, will I have to uninstall my GForce? with the turtle being only a sound card can I run them both? or is the GIGABYTE better than what I have now?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by CrazyInBlack

with the Turtle Beach or GIGABYTE GV-R435OC, will I have to uninstall my GForce? with the turtle being only a sound card can I run them both? or is the GIGABYTE better than what I have now?

With the Gigabyte you would have to uninstall your GForce video drivers and install the Catayast drivers from ATI - but you will no longer need your Gforce card and the ATI is a better card than your current one. Hold on a minute - Is your motherboard just an AGP motherboard or does it have a PCI-E slot? You will need a PCI-E slot for the HD4350 video card. The HD4350 will blow the MX-420 into the dust and provide HDMI audio

[CrazyInBlack]

I am not sure, I really only know enough about computers to be dangerous

[prerich]

Originally Posted by CrazyInBlack

I am not sure, I really only know enough about computers to be dangerous

Are you comfortable enough to go into the case? Do you know what model motherboard you have - I'm an A+ Tech also.

[CrazyInBlack]

oh yeah, I can install hardware. just not sure which type it is

[prerich]

Originally Posted by CrazyInBlack

oh yeah, I can install hardware. just not sure which type it is

Well, if you choose the Gigabyte - just make sure you have a PCI-E slot available

[Offender_Mullet]

I assume you guys have heard of Auzentech sound cards before, who have some very nice sound cards.

They're coming out with 2 new cards soon, which look very close (if not a step-up) to the hi-def Asus cards that are currently on the market.

Links: X-Fi Home Theater & X-Fi Forte

Thoughts on these?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

I assume you guys have heard of Auzentech sound cards before, who have some very nice sound cards.

They're coming out with 2 new cards soon, which look very close (if not a step-up) to the hi-def Asus cards that are currently on the market.

Links: X-Fi Home Theater & X-Fi Forte

Thoughts on these?

I've seen them and have waited for them longer than the Asus card (Auzentech was first to make an announcement last year at CES and still no card ) If the cards materialize I would wait to see if they have any bugs with Cyberlink (that's the only program that they will work with - Just like TMT is the only BD player that the Asus card works with for bitstreaming HD codecs). The Auzentech card is based on the Creative chipset.

The Forte is not for 7.1 HD audio either, it will only do DTS and DD like the Asus Essence. The X-FI HT however will bitstream....whenever it comes out

P.S. Auzentech can take "Worlds First" off their site - about 5 months late

[Offender_Mullet]

Oops, forget the X-Fi Forte card then.

Yep I saw the X-Fi Home Theater's audio bitstreaming will only work with PowerDVD. I haven't used that software in years, so I'll have to read the sticky review in this forum. I'm getting a little tired of WinDVD 9 bogging up on me lately, so I guess any change would be a welcome one.

I'm sure they looked at the Asus cards and saw how buggy they are (at least from what I've read), so I hope that's the only reason for the delay.