I am getting ready to build my knoppmyth PC, and I ordered the chaintech 7NIF2 board (the one WITHOUT s/pdif out, but with a connector for it on the board). My question is, where can I buy/build/find for free something that will connect that connector on the board to the optical cable that I currently have running from my DVD player into my stereo?

Or do I just need to buy a whole new soundcard? I'm trying to keep this machine under $400 (I'm at like $382 now), so I'm looking to use the on-board audio.

thanks!
steve

Well I heard reports at one time that you could call chaintech directly and order the part from them, however I never tried it as I got a new motherboard for my box that had spdif onboard. I never could find any store anywhere that carried the connector.

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Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

i was actually thinking about just opening my DVD player and seeing if i can pull the connecter out of there....should be the same thing right?
but a) i wanted to sell it and b) it's probably soldered in pretty tight...not sure if i could pull it out.

If your 7NIF2 is like mine, there is no connector, just a space on the board where something could be soldered in if you felt up to it.

I think I read on the mythtv-user mailing list archives descriptions on how to solder in a connector. I threw money at the problem and got a $38 Creative USB MP3+ external box. It's literally plug and play and doesn't take up a precious slot with a soundboard.

Before I changed my mind and went with my Abit board, I was going to buy a 7NIF2
as my Myth mobo. I researched them pretty heavily. One of the reasons I changed
my mind was because I couldn't find a versioin of the board that had the SPDIF header.
On revision 2 of the boards, they removed the header. Suggest you check for the presence
of the header before you buy anything.

If you do have the header, you should be able to get the dongle by special order from
a good retailer. I highly doubt anyone has them in stock, but you should be able
to get one by special order. It fits into a slot cover that you slide in instead of one of
your current PCI slot covers. The hard part is finding the part number.
Once you have the part number, you should be able to give it to a good retailer,
and he can check his distributor's stock online, perhaps even while you wait.

See here for more info. on the boards:
http://voidtrance.home.comcast.net/software/myth.html
(search for 7nif2)

Hope this helps.

shplad

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KnoppMyth R5C7
Abit NF7-S
Athlon XP Mobile 2500+
Hauppauge PVR-150 + PVR-150MCE
nVidia Geforce 6600GT
Samsung Spinpoint SATA 120GB
NEC ND-3520A DVD
Seasonic Super Tornado 350
BTC 9019URF Wireless Kbd. w. Joystick

sorry if i'm asking a potentially stupid question, but is a "header" the same as a "connector"? cause if so, i have a SPDIF kit connector on the board. according to the manual "This connector must be connected to a SPDIT bracket. This will allow you to use the SPDIF option."

I read that page you linked, at I didn't really understand chaintech's logic....so, they removed SPDIF cause the current board now supports 6 channels? so should i go 1/8" out to RCA coax in to my receiver and that's the same as going optical???

sorry, i'm new to all this! thanks for your help!

No, it's a good question. Yes, a header is a term used to denote a grouping of pins
for a certain function, e.g. spdif. ie. it's the same thing.

Do you mean you checked your manual, or you checked your actual motherboard?
Forget the manual-they often don't revise them even for major changes, so something
like an SPDIF connector can be mentioned even if it has been removed on the current boards.

Of course you didn't because it's not logic-it's marketing BS. It's their way of telling you
they cheaped out, and saved themselves $1.00 by removing the SPDIF connectors
on the current revision boards.

"Specifications subject to change without notice" right?

1/8" mini to RCA is not the same as optical, but as far as I'm concerned, most folks
will never hear the difference. Just make sure if you use some type of converter,
that it doesn't move around too much, or you can get static noise.


shplad

_________________
KnoppMyth R5C7
Abit NF7-S
Athlon XP Mobile 2500+
Hauppauge PVR-150 + PVR-150MCE
nVidia Geforce 6600GT
Samsung Spinpoint SATA 120GB
NEC ND-3520A DVD
Seasonic Super Tornado 350
BTC 9019URF Wireless Kbd. w. Joystick

yeah, i checked the manual AND the actual board (yes, i ordered it before asking this question!!!). the board actually does have the pins for a spdif connection.
maybe i'll go 1/8 to RCA for the time being while i search for a spdif bracket that will work with this "header"

thanks again!!!!

Sounds like a good plan.

Glad I could help.

shplad

_________________
KnoppMyth R5C7
Abit NF7-S
Athlon XP Mobile 2500+
Hauppauge PVR-150 + PVR-150MCE
nVidia Geforce 6600GT
Samsung Spinpoint SATA 120GB
NEC ND-3520A DVD
Seasonic Super Tornado 350
BTC 9019URF Wireless Kbd. w. Joystick

Finding the SPDIF brackets can be a real pain, I had to modify the TV-Out bracket, unfortunately that means no optical but better than nothing.

Its also be possible to make one with from a spare cable or an RCA connector from RadioShack