Sub's turn for a question...

[sub]

A few days ago I received my lovely new Hush ATX PC. I'll post some pictures in a few days. Excellent machine. Totally silent.

It comes with a FIC P4-865PE MAX motherboard (http://www.fic.com.tw/product/mothe...4-865PEMAX.aspx). This motherboard features a Realtek ALC650 audio chip with AC97 5.1 sound, with a special bracket containing many of the audio connections including a Optical out.

Before this machine, my last HTPC didnt have a DVD drive so I didn't worry about the optical connection. I now want to get the most out of this PC, so want to use this for connecting to my amp.

Can this be setup so all my regular windows audio (beeps, MP3s etc) is played via the optical out? or can it only be used for 5.1 stuff with DVDs etc?

So far I've heard nothing out of this optical connection, not quite sure why. Setting look right, but I must be missing something.

Yes, I realise you guys think I should know all this stuff...

[shspvr]

Yes you can do that sub and yes it work that way you just setup the sound device to use SPDIF output.

[sub]

Cheers for the confirmation.

I'll have to take another look after work. I must have something set incorrectly on my amp. If I click in the windows volume control, which normally generates a windows beep, my amp says 'unlock' for some reason - so the PC is definitly trying to send something via the optical connection.

I'd picked the MD/DAT optical-in on my amp because it was unused. I'm starting to wonder if that connection expects a slightly different format digital signal?

[shspvr]

It could that the amp you have don't support WAVE and RAW mode
What kind of amp is it?.