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I am trying to work out how to connect a HTPC to an existing 5.1 sound system, but I have a few basic questions that I would appreciate simple answers on. (I prefer ATX in a LC17 case).
[A] I am thinking of getting either GA-MA78GPM-DS2H or MA-790GP-DS4, both have as 5.1 support and ‘Support for Dolby Home Theatre'.
Q 1) I am presuming that this refers to 5.1 and Dolby when connecting speakers directly to the PC. Am I correct YES?/NO?.
Q.2) Does this 5.1 and Dolby support have any bearing/relationship to connecting the HTPC to my 5.1 Pioneer receiver.? YES?/NO?.
Q.2A) If NO, would a non-Dolby mobo such as the GA-MA78G-DS3H meet my needs?
[b] What I want to do is have an appropriate mobo (such as the 2 above) in my HTPC to that will allow connections from the HTPC to my 5.1 receiver (1990’s Pioneer VSX-D710S receiver), which has 1 COAXIAL input and 2 OPTICAL inputs, as well as the R, L and Video connectors. Obviously, it has no HDMI or similar!
Q.3) Is it a mobo’s ‘1 x optical S/PDIL Out connector’ that I would connect to my Pioneer receiver YES/NO?
Q.4) If Q3) above is NO, what mobo output do I need to connect to my Pioneer?
Q.5) If, from replies to above, I can connect the mobo to the Pioneer, would I also run a HDMI cable to my yet to be bought Samsung Series 46”?
[C] If all/some of the above is confusing, can someone tell me what I need to connect a HTPC to the Pioneer receiver. Are there other mobos that I need to consider, and/or do I need a separate sound/video card?
All guidance appreciated; the WAF factor won’t allow me any chance to buy a new mobo of I buy a wrong’un.
Please – simple answers cos I’m on the wrong side of 50!
Thanks
BruceG
__________________
Bruce G
(No HTPC yet, but working on it. Probably will buy LCD first, and then modify existing home PC as a prototype HTPC, whch I will then morph into a proper HTPC case, etc. with new internals as needed).
Q 1) I am presuming that this refers to 5.1 and Dolby when connecting speakers directly to the PC. Am I correct YES?/NO?.
No, the onboard soundcard will have both analog (3 x headphone type connectors carrying 6 analog audio channels) and digital (either 1 x optical or 1 x RCA type coaxial), neither of these types will be self amplified so you can't connect speakers straight up to the sound card.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceG
Q.2) Does this 5.1 and Dolby support have any bearing/relationship to connecting the HTPC to my 5.1 Pioneer receiver.? YES?/NO?.
Absolutely yes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceG
Q.2A) If NO, would a non-Dolby mobo such as the GA-MA78G-DS3H meet my needs?
Who said the GA-MA78G-DS3H was not capable of Dolby digital? Because it is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceG
[b] What I want to do is have an appropriate mobo (such as the 2 above) in my HTPC to that will allow connections from the HTPC to my 5.1 receiver (1990’s Pioneer VSX-D710S receiver), which has 1 COAXIAL input and 2 OPTICAL inputs, as well as the R, L and Video connectors. Obviously, it has no HDMI or similar!
Any of the motherboard you mentioned will output Dolby Digital or DTS to your amplifier via Coaxial or optical.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceG
Q.3) Is it a mobo’s ‘1 x optical S/PDIL Out connector’ that I would connect to my Pioneer receiver YES/NO?
YES.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceG
Q.4) If Q3) above is NO, what mobo output do I need to connect to my Pioneer?
Any of the ones you mention will work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceG
Q.5) If, from replies to above, I can connect the mobo to the Pioneer, would I also run a HDMI cable to my yet to be bought Samsung Series 46”?
Yes you would and it would be fine for TV, video files, DVD, CD but will NOT be okay for Blu-Ray. If you're also going Blu-Ray I can clarify but since you don't mention it I'll leave it up to you to ask.
__________________
That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it.
Aristotle
The following Member(s) said "Thank You!" to ExtremePC for this information:
Wow - a great response, and more greatly appreciated.
I will digest further in the morning and get off a reply to you.
No thoughts on Blewrai yet. (See, I can't even spell it! )
Thanks
BruceG
Sydney.
__________________
Bruce G
(No HTPC yet, but working on it. Probably will buy LCD first, and then modify existing home PC as a prototype HTPC, whch I will then morph into a proper HTPC case, etc. with new internals as needed).
I have a 6 yr old Pioneer receiver. It has every input/ouput known to man except HDMI. I run SPDIF from onboard mobo sound to the receiver. I run HDMI from Graphics card to 46" LCD. I also have Pioneer Blu-ray drive. No issues with HDCP and/or sound. Maybe because the graphics card isnt hooked directly in to the sound card or maybe because sound is output SPDIF optical. Dunno. It works.
I have a 6 yr old Pioneer receiver. It has every input/ouput known to man except HDMI. I run SPDIF from onboard mobo sound to the receiver. I run HDMI from Graphics card to 46" LCD. I also have Pioneer Blu-ray drive. No issues with HDCP and/or sound. Maybe because the graphics card isnt hooked directly in to the sound card or maybe because sound is output SPDIF optical. Dunno. It works.
Yes, the audio from blu-ray movies will work in either 5.1 or 2 channel depending on what fall back audio is included on the particular disc, since a PC is NOT capable of producing HD audio (DTS-MA, TrueHD etc) because no hardware exists yet, audio will fall back to whatever alternate tracks exist on the particular disc. Most of the time this fall back is to 2 channel stereo.
__________________
That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it.
Aristotle
Another question: do the various character and numerals used in the gigabyte mobo product numbers mean anything?
Re; BlueRay - can you explain what I need for blueuray ?
Thanks
Bruce
__________________
Bruce G
(No HTPC yet, but working on it. Probably will buy LCD first, and then modify existing home PC as a prototype HTPC, whch I will then morph into a proper HTPC case, etc. with new internals as needed).
Another question: do the various character and numerals used in the gigabyte mobo product numbers mean anything?
Re; BlueRay - can you explain what I need for blueuray ?
Thanks
Bruce
The GA-MA78G-DS3H has the Realtek ALC889A audio chip on it and as such will happily produce 5.1 audio via 5.1 analog or digital outputs in conjunction with whatever Dolby or DTS codecs and software are loaded on the PC, this is pretty much how they all work including plug in soundcards, BUT since you are going to be using optical or coax SPDIF the software will basically bypass your onboard soundcard anyway and just pass through audio from the software.
There is NOTHING you can do to get HD audio from a Blu-Ray out of a PC, you either get 5.1 or 2 channel fall back audio depending on the particular disc/tittle in the PC Blu-Ray drive but you just cant get DTS-MA or TrueHD from a PC and maybe never will.
__________________
That which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it.
Aristotle
Another question: do the various character and numerals used in the gigabyte mobo product numbers mean anything?
you mean the model number? GA-MA78G-DS3H???
well...
GA = Gigabyte
MA = AM2 (i think)
78G = Chipset used (AMD/ATI 780G)
DS3H = used to describe the series/features of the board compared to others. ie, DS3 higher then S3. DQ6 better then DQ5. I don't know exactly what they mean.
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Dilithium -> A64 X2 4850, ECS 8200A, 2x1024Mb Crucial, Onboard GF8200, 1x80Gb Seagate SATA, 2x250Gb Seagate SATA II in Stripe, Pioneer 212BK, ThermalTake Tenor, HDA X-Plosion, DVICO Dual Tuner, Acer 32" 720p LCD
Trilithium -> A64 X2 4850e, ABIT Nforce Mobo, 2x2GB DDR2-800 Patriot, Sapphire HD2400XT, 160GB Samsung SATA, Pioneer K06 DVD Burner, Hiper Slimline Chassis w/Slimline CPU Cooler, Digital Now Tiny Twin Tuner, Sound Blaster USB, Hisence 42" 1080p LCD TV :):):)
, can someone tell me what I need to connect a HTPC to the Pioneer receiver. Are there other mobos that I need to consider, and/or do I need a separate sound/video card?
Re: Connecting a HTPC to 8yo 5.1 sound system.
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