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I still have a sound card, because I have a stupid sound bar that works great except it only takes optical audio input.
Your mobo doesn't have optical? I thought that's pretty standard on everything except basic models.
Surprisingly, it's not even on some high-end boards.
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/X670-AORUS-ELITE-AX-rev-10-12/
wait... the specs say 7.1 audio... but it only has stereo out?
Oh that is hilariously scummy. It's probably 7.1 through HDMI...
But if that was the case, you'd need a cpu with an gpu (who is going to put a ryzen apu in a topend mobo??)... so really scummy. How the hell is my $140 asrock have proper 7.1 analog and optical but not this pos lol
I looked at the more detailed specs, and here we have:
3 x audio jacks
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
- You can change the functionality of an audio jack using the audio software. To configure 7.1-channel audio, access the audio software for audio settings.
If using 2-pole aux jacks, those 3 back panel female connectors only provide 6 independent channels. If the case has a front panel connector, you can push that to 8 channels.
The only way you're squeezing 7.1 analog out of that is if you use the front panel as LR, use two of the three back panel ones as surround, and share center with the sub between the last remaining connector. But, that's assuming that two of those back connectors aren't for mic or line in.
Maybe you could squeeze digital output through those jacks, but then you'd need a compatible receiver. Either way, stupid design for such an expensive motherboard.
who is going to put a ryzen apu in a topend mobo??
The Ryzen 9 7950X has integrated graphics, but if someone is willing to dump that much on a processor, they're probably buying a GPU with it.
Ok... assuming the audio inputs can be changed to outputs... you lose analog inputs which isn't great either.
I guess I missed where amd has released apus on normal skus on this gen. But still, I don't like being forced to buy a specific cpu just because the uber expensive mobo cheaped out on adding outputs...
I think SPDIF is being phased out because it needs to use compression to do surround sound.
That's disappointing, as one of the advantages of SPDIF is no ground loops between the PC and the receiver/amp. Maybe that's not really as much of a problem now, but it solved that for me years ago and I've used it ever since.
Then again, I don't have a surround setup, simple stereo is good enough.
compression with surround isn't really the issue. it's that the newer dolby/DTS stuff needs more bandwidth. imo, 2.1 is more than enough for 95% of pc users.