NForce2 Audio

[DorianGrey]

I will be getting an NForce2 motherboard, and I'm leaning towards the Chaintech. Here's my problem.

All but the Chaintech use Realtek AC97. In the past on other motherboards, this has blown chunks for me, and I've always used a soundblaster. The Chaintech uses Cmedia. Everyone says Cmedia is superior to AC97, but in the Anandtech review they mentioned that the Chaintech was using Cmedia which is not as powerful as the built in sound processor while AC97 uses the superior Nforce audio processor.

Does anyone have some enlightenment on this? What are the pro's and con's? *Onboard sound only* Is the Asus superior to the Chaintech? What would be the factors in either direction? How does the sound compare?

TIA

 

[Vette73]

The nForce2 boards have Nivida sound, they just use the realtek chip for the output, not for the sound control.

Get the Abit or another board that uses the Nivida sound

 

[Jeff7]

The user Peter knows a lot about this AC97 stuff; AC97 is just a standard or a codec or something...can't remember what he said it is. nForce2 has its own audio processor though; I just don't know what additional signal processors it may use, and how much effect they will have, depending on the motherboard maker.

 

[DorianGrey]

Well, that's kind of my problem. I'm not clear on the interaction between the Nforce processor and audio codecs.

As per the Anandtech review:

"Chaintech set themselves apart from the competition by using a CMedia audio controller instead of the ALC650 AC'97 codec. The CMedia 8738 actually takes the place of the nForce APU which makes very little sense on a nForce2 motherboard since the nForce APU is clearly a much more powerful DSP. "

This makes me wonder about the wisdom of buying the Chaintech board. One of the purposes is to be able to use what I understand is superior sound that the NForce offers.

Anyone, especially the anandtech reviewers who have had the opportunity to see and compare both boards in multiple environments, with any insight to this would be appreciated.

 

[CraigRT]

In the review I read of the 8RDA+ they say it has fantastic sound.
they say, if you have the Audigy to use that, but if you are buying all new, save your money and use the on-board audio.

I am going to do that route...

 

[wicktron]

The AC'97 codec is just used to output the sound. The MCP-T southbridge alone is incapable for handling input/output for sound, therefore the need for AC'97. The MCP-T does the audio processing, encoding/decoding, whereas the AC'97 handles the input/output.

 

[Slaimus]

A sound card has 2 parts, the DSP and the AC97 CODEC. The CMedia chip has both the DSP and the AC97. Many cheap motherboards only have the AC97 CODEC, and offloads the DSP processing to the CPU, which is bad.
The nForce2 MCP-T has only the DSP, so it needs a AC97 CODEC like the realtek one. The Dolby Digital encoding is done on the DSP, so you lose that feature by using the CMedia.

 

[GetInMyFatBelly]

The Chaintech doesn't have the Sound Storm, pass on it and get another, ie., Asus A7N8X Deluxe.

 

[DorianGrey]

Thanks for the input. I was a bit leery of AC97 as the other motherboards I have had/seen in the past were just incredibly crappy. I always used and reccomended a seperate sound card. That was one reason why I was leaning towards the Chaintech, but the Anandtech review concerned me a little. With the additional info, I'll pass on it, and probably get the Asus as I've had great luck with their boards in the past, and I've always been very pleased with their products.

 

[L3Guy]

Check out thes review at VrRoundup
While its "about" KT400 vs Nforce2, it has the best explanation of Nforce2 sound I have found.
HTH.

Doug

Edit for Spelling.

 

[DorianGrey]

L3guy, I hate you

Reayy, Thanks, that review answered all my questions about the sound, and I'm very comfortable with using the AC97 now. Even more so than before.

Now my dilemma is Epox or Asus. Grrr....I can see more reading and feature comparison to come.

 

[Killrose]

I've been thinking of buying the Epox 8RDA Nforce with only the 2-channel sound (not the 8RDA+) . I use my comp only for online-gamming (mostly) and just have 2 spkrs and a sub-woofer. I have no desires for surround sound. My question: for a guy like me with the speaker set-up mentioned, isn't the 2-channel all I really need?

 

[bgeh]

Originally posted by: Killrose
I've been thinking of buying the Epox 8RDA Nforce with only the 2-channel sound (not the 8RDA+) . I use my comp only for online-gamming (mostly) and just have 2 spkrs and a sub-woofer. I have no desires for surround sound. My question: for a guy like me with the speaker set-up mentioned, isn't the 2-channel all I really need?

yes.

 

[Atif]

Hello Killrose,

I just wanted to let you know, if you choose the 8RDA over the 8RDA+, you will lose the FireWire features of the board as well, in addition to the APU/SoundStorm audio.

Peace

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: AtifofVNRoundup
Hello Killrose,

I just wanted to let you know, if you choose the 8RDA over the 8RDA+, you will lose the FireWire features of the board as well, in addition to the APU/SoundStorm audio.

Peace

I agree, pay the extra and get the features. You might not need them now but later you might. Also when you go to sell it you will have a lot more takers.

Kinda like trying to sell a V6 firebird vs V8 firebird (or Trans AM) You might not need the extra power, but you will have a lot more callers.

 

[DorianGrey]

Well, as an update on this.

After considering the A7N8X Deluxe, and the 8RDA+, I decided to go with Asus. I've been very happy with Asus in the past, and that combined with the Serial ATA and Raid swayed me.

Ordered from Googlegear today:

ORDER CONTENT:
1 x (240272) Asus A7N8X Deluxe nforce2 Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, LAN, RAID, Serial ATA Retail @ $147.99

2 x (85013) Corsair CMX512-3500C2 512MB DDR433 PC3500 Memory w/Heat Spreader Retail @ $201.00

I'll be using the Athlon 1700+ I currently have, along with the GeForce4 4600 in the box now. I'll take the Soundblaster Live I'm currently using, and rely on the onboard sound. I've only got an Altec Lansing speaker setup now, 2 speakers with subwoofer, but in the future I'll be getting a 5.1 rig. Sometime in the next couple of months, I'll get a Barton core Athlon, and a water cooling system. That should last me a while once I'm done

 

[JonElfson]

What's this one the NVIDIA site though...

For the nForce2 Drivers one of the notes is...
- Audio drivers will not install on the following nForce2 products: ASUS A7N8X and Chaintech 7NJS. Please use the drivers that come with these products to enable audio functionality.

What's different about the ASUS A7N8X? Does this go for the Deluxe model too? I thought ASUS used the default nForce2 Audio stuff...

 

[NicColt]

It's a relief to note that EPoX decided to make use of the more advanced implementation of nVidia's APU, pairing it with SoundStorm connectors for six-channel audio. By looking only at the backpanel connectors, it is not clear as to how the one line-out connector allows for six-channel sound.

Un-Friggen-believable This is the reason why I'm going with Asus instead of Epox. Epox uses the SoundStorm but does not include the s/pdif connector.