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Very simple question

P

Paine

n00b
Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Messages
52
I'm in the market for a computer again, and finding that sound and sound cards is the one thing I know absolutely nothing about, so let's start here:

If my proposed motherboard's rear panel looks like this:
dp55wb_662_detail.jpg




There seems to be only one jack for the speakers (the green one). Does this mean that anything 2.1 or higher is out? Or will any speaker set I get only require one connection to the computer? How can I tell when buying a speaker set if it's compatible with this kind of motherboard input?
 
Well, it depends. Some computers can reassign their jacks, their inputs can be outputs as well. The Intel P43 boards were like this. So it might be 5.1 or 2.1 with inputs. However, unless you know that for sure, I wouldn't count on it.
 
Sycraft said:
Well, it depends. Some computers can reassign their jacks, their inputs can be outputs as well. The Intel P43 boards were like this. So it might be 5.1 or 2.1 with inputs. However, unless you know that for sure, I wouldn't count on it.
Click to expand...

exactly what I was gonna suggest

most more recent setups seem to follow this trend (jacks doubling as inputs and outputs), although without having a manufacturer saying "this is how it works", don't bet on it

as far as "speakers compatible with this kind of output"

anything with a TRS connector will plug into that and should work
 
Lot's of 2.1 sets out there with with just the one jack. Subs only supposed to snag the lower frequencies.
 
Well, the motherboard is the Inte® P55 Media Series DP55WB mATX. It says it has Intel® High Definition Audio◊ subsystem in the following configuration:
8-channel (5.1+ 2 independent multi-streaming) audio subsystem with three analog audio outputs using the Realtek* ALC888 audio codec

But how can I tell if a speaker set I'm looking at is compatible with it? With spec am I supposed to look at?
 
Yeah you should be with a 5.1 set.

You can tell if a speaker is compatible by seeing what kind of inputs it has... A 5.1 set will usually have 3 3.5mm plugs.
 
Yeah, 2.1 isn't out. 2.1 speakers work by taking an ordinary stereo input (like on your motherboard) and use crossovers to filter bass from satellites and higher frequencies from the "sub".
 
450 said:
You can tell if a speaker is compatible by seeing what kind of inputs it has... A 5.1 set will usually have 3 3.5mm plugs.
Click to expand...

But...if the set has 3 plugs, how could it possibly hook up to the above motherboard?
 
Most onboard audio uses three plugs. Depending on what mode you set the drivers into, they can be reassigned. Wires are dumb, they don't know which way the current is flowing, so there's no reason inputs and outputs can't use the same jack if you design the circuit that way. Each of those jacks is probably stereo, meaning it carries the signal for two channels. Two times three is six, so it potentially supports six channel audio - probably in a 5.1 configuration.

But who knows, maybe it's some anomaly that only supports 2.0 plus two inputs. You need to look at the specs for the board, not at some random diagram with minimal information.
 
Paine said:
Well, the motherboard is the Inte® P55 Media Series DP55WB mATX. It says it has Intel® High Definition Audio◊ subsystem in the following configuration:
8-channel (5.1+ 2 independent multi-streaming) audio subsystem with three analog audio outputs using the Realtek* ALC888 audio codec

But how can I tell if a speaker set I'm looking at is compatible with it? With spec am I supposed to look at?
Click to expand...

ashmedai said:
Most onboard audio uses three plugs. Depending on what mode you set the drivers into, they can be reassigned. You need to check the specifications to see what it supports. Each of those jacks is probably stereo, meaning it carries the signal for two channels. Two times three is six, so it potentially supports six channel audio - probably in a 5.1 configuration.

But who knows, maybe it's some anomaly that only supports 2.0 plus two inputs. You need to look at the specs for the board, not at some random diagram with minimal information.
Click to expand...

The above quote says it does 5.1 w/3 analog outputs.
 
Ooooh...so the plugs that are labeled line-in and microphone can actually work for speakers too? Interesting.

Does that mean I might not be able to use my microphone if I got a 2.1 or 5.1 system?
 
Didn't even read it since he was still asking the same question. :D

Side effect: you might want a USB microphone if you're going to be using 5.1 through the on-board audio device.
 
Paine said:
Ooooh...so the plugs that are labeled line-in and microphone can actually work for speakers too? Interesting.
Click to expand...

Yep, now you get it.

Paine said:
Does that mean I might not be able to use my microphone if I got a 2.1 or 5.1 system?
Click to expand...

2.1 generally works by applying a filter and only requires a L/R signal for 2.0 (didn't someone already answer this?). So using 2.1 should not interfere with a normal microphone.

5.1 will eat up all three jacks and prevent you from using a normal microphone. Which is fine, if you get one that's USB.
 
Hold on... Does he have to get a USB mic? What if there are front audio jacks?
 
ALC888 should support it, if its wired up

would at least be worth testing before putting some money into a USB mic (if OP doesn't have a mic, that is)
 
My current mic is on my headset, which uses two jacks into my current sound card. Good call on pointing out the possibility of front jacks. I can always get a USB headset if I find that they're aren't enough jacks.
 
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