No SPDIF Out Options with nForce3/Realtek AC97 audio

[NoRAM4U]

I have an epox mobo with a nForce3 chipset and am using the integrated AC97 audio.

But, with my coaxial cable hooked up to my digital amp, there are no SPDIF OUT options showing up in the Realtek Sound Manager software like is shown in the manual.

The SPDIF IN options are there, but no OUT options. Anyone have any idea why this might be?

Theres no mention of "only shown when connected" on any such thing. Ive tried many different vers of the software/drivers (including the latest from last week) and no change.

I really need to be able to set the SPDIF out to pass thru as shown in the manual.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA!!

 

[NoRAM4U]

On a side note, AC3 files play fine from the HD and showup/play as DD on the amp (with AC3Filter).

DTS wav files just play static in analog mode - hence the need for the pass thru :0

 

[LocutusX]

You'll need to use Realtek drivers version 3.63.

All versions AFTER 3.63 will cause SPDIF to stop working!

They also screw up Half-Life 2 audio, but that's a completely different issue...

Basically just try to find the 3.63 (or *older*) Realtek drivers and you should be fine.

 

[NoRAM4U]

Thanks, I looked and couldnt find the 3.63's (the links were all broken or just redirected to Realtek's site - which only has the latest)

So, I install the 3.61 drivers that came on the mobo CD. Sadly, it didnt change anything. Still have the SPDIF IN options in the Sound Manager but no OUT options

I think whether the SPDIF works or not is a different issue. There SHOULD be SPDIF OUT options (as shown in the manual) whether the SPDIF out works properly or not.

Here's a screenshot of the SPDIF options:

h**p://www.selfdestruction.com/spdif.jpg

Whacked...huh?

Thanks for any help!

 

[LocutusX]

Just so you know, I also never had the SPDIF OUT options shown in my Sound Manager - even with 3.63 - but SPDIF out worked just fine!

to obtain the 3.63 drivers, try following the link for the latest drivers -- but remove the exe file from the end, so it shows a list of that particular directory. all the various driver versions should be there, you can try all of them if you like.

i used the coaxial (RCA) out jack on my K8N-E Dlx to send a 2-channel 16-bit 48KHz PCM bitstream (not AC3) to my Altec Lansing speakers on their "digital input" port". The end result is that the 2 channels for front audio sounded quite decent since they were using the DACs on my Altec Lansings rather than the craptacular DACs on the mobo/Realtek.

 

[NoRAM4U]

Thats just weird. All references in the manual and online at various sites shows the OUT options.

The SPDIF Out works - just not as "pass-thru".

I want to send the non-decoded DTS signal out the SPDIF to my digital amp - for it to decode. This is exactly what the pass-thru option is in the mysteriously missing SPDIF OUT options. If you look at the (PDF) manual, you'll see the pass thru option shown.

I dont want the crappy Realtek DAC/CODECs processing the digital stream. DTS plays fine (from CD) when I go direct from the digi out on the CD drive straight to the amp, and also on my other boxes with a Delta 66 and Audigy cards - though the Audigy POS upsamples 44.1 streams to 48 <grrrr>

Anyway, I just want the pass-thru options shown in the manual and everything would be fine!

Oh, and I tried the parent folders of the 3.67 and the 3.63's (or any older versions) are not there.
for example:

ftp://202.65.194.18/pc/ac97/alc650/

Thanks again for your input!

 

[NoRAM4U]

I found the 3.49 and 3.57 drives on DriverGuide.com....I'll let ya know the result shortly.

 

[NoRAM4U]

Nope. 3.57 is the same version of the drivers thats shown in the manual - and still no SPDIF OUT options. <sigh>

 

[LocutusX]

however, you *are* able to make the SPDIF Out port work fine in sending a stereo 16-bit 48KHz wave stream... i.e. regular windows audio?

just not a pass-through of DVD audio?

in that case, perhaps the culprit is your software dvd player. because it seems as the spdif out is functioning to a limited extent.

 

[NoRAM4U]

Yes, stereo/AC3 works fine.

The culprit is no being able to set the pass thru - since the ACL850 only does 48K - resamples everything thing like the POS Creative Labs cards.

Looks like a $25 (NewEgg) Chaintech AV-710 will have to be the fix...... <grumble>

 

[LocutusX]

wait wait wait...

you're saying that it's resampling the *PASS-THROUGH*?

from what, to what? i mean, DVD audio tracks are 48KHz, so those shouldn't be resampled.
Edit: just saw that the whole problem is with DTS audio, which (apparently) is 44.1KHz.

ok, i think only NOW am I fully understanding what the problem is.

this is interesting... i'll have to remember this in future next time I hear about someone with a SPDIF problem with Realtek mobo's.
as a sidenote, I think the latest Audigy 2's have the option to send 44.1KHz digital streams directly to SPDIF output. i saw someone talking about it on a forum, showing scrnshots as well. but i'm sure the Chaintech is a better choice for the value.

 

[NoRAM4U]

Hehe..yeah, DVD Audio is fine because it is 48K.

But DTS audio is 44.1 - which gets resampled to an unplayable 48K by the Realtek chips and ALL Creative Lab cards including the A2. Ive seen all the posts about some ppl claiming the A2's can be set to output 44.1....but there hasnt been a verification/proof of this. The Emu chip processes everything internally at 48K so I find it hard to believe. Also, changing the SPDIF Output to 44.1 in the AudioHQ/Device Controls accomplishes nothing with a A1 - also against what many have claimed.

I saw (on Realteks site) that the spec sheet for the ACL850 says that it only outputs 48K (Stereo &amp; AC3) - useless!!

All the M-Audio Delta cards work perfectly, though - I have two Delta 66's. But I just wanted a cheap DTS solution for this secondary box. "Cheap" now just got $25 more expensive...

 

[LocutusX]

Hey,

You might want to try the just-released Realtek ALC650/850 drivers. They're at version 3.68 now and the most recent version claims to have various SPDIF out fixes in the readme file. Including a general fix to SPDIF out on NVidia chipsets. That was the problem I had with all Realtek driver versions between 3.63 and 3.67 so it's good they finally fixed it.

Too bad I already upgraded to an Audigy2, heh.

 

[NoRAM4U]

Yeah, Ive been trying to communicate with Epox about the problem - but they are &amp;$^#* clueless. Here is the convo:

-Customer reply 12/25/2004 9:03:21 PM-

With my coaxial cable hooked up to my digital amp, there are no SPDIF OUT options showing up in the Realtek Sound Manager software like is shown in the manual.

The SPDIF In options are there, but no OUT options. Why would this be?

Theres no mention of "only shown when connected" on any such thing. Ive tried many different vers of the Realtek/AC97 software/drives (including the latest from last week or so) and no change.

I really need to be able to set the SPDIF out to pass thru as shown in the manual.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA!!

On a side note, AC3 files play fine from the HD and showup/play as digital on the amp (with AC3Filter).

DTS wav files just play static in analog mode - hence the need for the pass thru :0

Here is a screenshot of the SPDIF settings in the Sound Manager:

http://www.selfdestruction.com/spdif.jpg

I have now tried every version of the drivers from 3.61 to current - and still no SPDIF out options.




-Support reply 12/29/2004 3:55:50 PM-

Thanks for the info. It seem like the board should support both SPDIF in and out, but the driver utility is limited. Thanks




-Support reply 12/30/2004 10:45:56 AM-

Thanks for the info. It seem like the board should support both SPDIF in and out, but the driver utility is limited. Thanks




-Customer reply 1/1/2005 11:26:27 AM-

Ummm...how about a helpful response next time?

After a week - this tells me nothing.

And, on top of being an obvious canned response (since the same message was sent twice), it is a useless one at that.

Please respond to my questions (with the level of detail I provided) and give me a detailed timeframe for this to be resolved.

I have been a long time (exclusive) supporter of Epox motherboards (personal use, friends, clients, etc). This is the first time Ive ever needed to contact support. If I can't get what I consider a GOOD response, this will be the last Epox board I ever purchase or recommend. And, if your revenue is so high that you don't need my business, you may just ignore this ticket - so that I'll know.

Thank you.




-Support reply 1/5/2005 9:08:51 AM-

Dear sir
Please go to the realtek web site to download the new audio driver, this new driver can resolve the NVIDIA chipset support issues. Thanks
http://www.epox.ru/support/form/




-Customer reply 1/5/2005 6:51:53 PM-

The new drivers didnt change a thing. Did you even read what I said my issue was? I STILL dont have any SPDIF OUT options in the SEM util.

Please dont waste anymore of my time unless you are willing to help.

Thanks.




-Support reply 1/6/2005 11:37:17 AM-

Dear User,
We have tested in our lab and the SPDIF out support perfectly find with latest driver loaded from Realtek. tahnks




-Customer reply 1/6/2005 5:31:37 PM-

Ok, so if it works for you in your lab, then it MUST work perfectly for everyone else? If this is truly the way you test your new products, I am very concerned about purchasing any more of your products in the future.

I have come across MANY people on various support forums that are having the same exact problem. But, we all must be doing something wrong - since it "works fine in your lab".

I have removed the old drivers (over and over) many times and tried many different versions (including the latest one you mentioned). It DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

I'm sure if you put even a little effort into it, you could find the common denominator causing the problem. Until then, again, youre just wasting my time with your replies.

Thank you.




-Support reply 1/7/2005 11:56:48 AM-

Sorry for the troubles. If you cannot get the unit to work, it maybe cause by your hardware or cable. If you are unhappy with the unit. Try rma it back to your place of purchase. Thanks




-Customer reply 1/7/2005 12:11:56 PM-

Geez. Im sorry, but you guys are CLUELESS. If you would have actually READ what I said, you would know it has nothing to do with "hardware or cables". Is that just your default answer when you have no idea about what the problem is?

For the record, this has been one of the most pathetic support experiences I have had in many years.

Please let me know when you hire someone even remotely qualified to read and do tech support.

Thank you.