Question on finding my PC's digital output
Mar 26, 2010 at 4:58 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 18
Zombie_X

Zombie_X

Headphoneus Supremus
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Hi all,

On my PC's sound control panel it says I have S/PIDF out as well as Coax out on the rear panel, but when I went to look I could not find the terminals a all. All I had were some USB ports and a speaker out port. Thing is my soundcard is onboard and is made by Realtek. I have the HD Audio version and it lists those digital outs as being there, though they aren't. Before I void my warranty, is it possible that they are internal?
 
Mar 26, 2010 at 5:12 AM Post #2 of 18
on some motherboards it's not near the audio connections, check the mother board manual. Also some motherboards have breakaway cards that come it with. So you screw them into the case pci slot and run a cable to the motherboard....
 
Mar 26, 2010 at 5:33 AM Post #3 of 18
You also might have a 3.5mm optical out that looks the same as a mini plug. If you could post the complete model number of the motherboard we can all do some googling and find them.
 
Mar 26, 2010 at 2:26 PM Post #5 of 18
It would not surprise me if the 3.5mm speaker out doubles as speaker out and optical S/PDIF.
 
Mar 26, 2010 at 2:36 PM Post #6 of 18
If the motherboard has the pin header on the board, you can just tap into that yourself.
Sometimes brackets are not included in certain models...they have the deluxe,..etc.
If it is there though you can use it with a little modding.
 
Mar 26, 2010 at 10:51 PM Post #7 of 18
I don't know the mb's model number at all as my PC was a boxed one from Best Buy. I have an EMachine's but the model number stockers are pulled off. Also it did not come with manuals at all.

And about the optical mini, I have an optical mini out plug that came with my X360's video cord (Monster Cables) so I will try that out to see if it works.
 
Mar 27, 2010 at 4:00 AM Post #8 of 18
As an update my PC does not have a 2.5mm port at all for the adapter to work. All the ports are 3.5mm.
 
Mar 27, 2010 at 5:54 AM Post #9 of 18
It should be a 3.5, the same as the headphone out port. You'd need to plug it in, then enable the output, and connect the cable to your DAC.

Ex:
HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

eMachines are cheap, so it might not have it included at all... But, you can open your tower, find a model number on your motherboard, and see if you can locate the pinout for those outputs. If you can, you might be able to find an expansion slot bracket, with a little cable, and plug into it.

Edit: And opening your tower should never void your warranty.
 
Mar 27, 2010 at 6:54 AM Post #10 of 18
Take a picture of the back of your computer and we should be able to help you out from there.
 
Mar 27, 2010 at 5:28 PM Post #11 of 18
Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys /img/forum/go_quote.gif
It should be a 3.5, the same as the headphone out port. You'd need to plug it in, then enable the output, and connect the cable to your DAC.

Ex:
HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

eMachines are cheap, so it might not have it included at all... But, you can open your tower, find a model number on your motherboard, and see if you can locate the pinout for those outputs. If you can, you might be able to find an expansion slot bracket, with a little cable, and plug into it.

Edit: And opening your tower should never void your warranty.


It won't void your warranty? BB told me it would as it happened to my last PC when I upgraded the graphics card.

But I will take a picture of the back of it in a little bit.

EDIT: Well another option would be for me to purchase an updated soundcard with optical output. Any idea which sound card has really good output? I know it varies amongst other brands, but I won't something really good for my PC. Either that or I continue to use USB to my DAC25.2. My X-CD99 is currently using the Coax input on my DAC25.2, so I can't do Coax from the PC...
 
Mar 27, 2010 at 8:54 PM Post #12 of 18
Your onboard optical out should do well enough, if we can find it.

Opening your computer SHOULDN'T void your warranty. This is not to say it won't, but it makes very little sense for companies to not allow you to upgrade your parts... I do it all the time. Hell, I just bought this netbook a few weeks ago, and it already has twice the ram and HDD space.

I'd read your actual agreement. If it says you can't open it, you can just get GeekSquad/BB/FS/certified people to install it for a minimal fee. (Which is still ridiculous; if that's how it works, they're just price gouging you. Moronic. -_-)
 
Mar 28, 2010 at 1:53 AM Post #13 of 18
Yeah 'cause installing a card only takes seconds and they want like $50 to put it in...

I gotta find my stuff for it. I've had this PC for half a year so far.
 
Mar 28, 2010 at 2:29 AM Post #14 of 18
The nice thing with optical is that you can see the signal. Get a mini adapter and optical cable, set your control panel to digital output, plug it into the speaker out, and see if there's a red light. If there is, you're good to go.
 
Mar 28, 2010 at 6:20 AM Post #15 of 18
I bought an adapter from mono price so I will update one it arrives.
 
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