i'm probing the available nforce2 boards and notice that they use different onboard sound chipsets.
which is better? why? pros/cons?

AC97 or CMedia ?

Is this the same for the boards with the Nvidia Soundstorm chipset ?

cmeadia can match the nforce sandstrom well.. not quiet sure about hardware ac3.. but as far as i know it can do that too
ac'97 is cheap software pos of a sound codec

Not even an Audigy 2 can do hardware ac3.

so the a7n8x onboard sound sucks?

It does not!!!!

glue if it's a sand storm then it doesn't if it's ac'97 codec then it does.. i said cmedia matchs nvidia not beat it..

[quote]glue if it's a sand storm then it doesn't if it's ac'97 codec then it does.. i said cmedia matchs nvidia not beat it..[/quote]

you are sooooo confused dude.....

SoundStorm provides the Digital Audio from the CHIPSET... to get real outputs from the chipset to the actual real live jacks, they use a hardware codecs like CMedia or RealTek codecs.

ac'97 is a SPECIFICATION!!!! not a piece of hardware.

Currently, SoundStorm is the BEST option. If you look at the ASUSTEK A7N8X Deluxe, you will notice it says it has SoundStorm technology AND a RealTek AC'97 Codec

here are the specs for the A7N8X:

[quote] Processor
Socket A for AMD® Athlon™ XP/ Athlon™/ Duron™ 600MHz ~ 2.8GHz+
Thoroughbred core CPU ready

Chipset
North Bridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 SPP
South Bridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 MCP-T(Deluxe Model) / MCP

FSB
333 / 266 / 200 MHz

Memory
Dual-Channel DDR 400
3 x 184-pin DIMM Sockets
Max. 3 GB unbuffered PC3200/PC2700/PC2100/PC1600 non-ECC DDR RAM Memory (Twinbank)

Memory QVL TABLE

Expansion Slots
1 x AGP Pro/8X (1.5V only)
5 x PCI

IDE Ports
2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33

Serial ATA (Deluxe Model)
Silicon Image® Sil 3112A Controller with 2 ports
Support RAID 0/1

Audio
Realtek® ALC650 6CH w/built in HP amplifier
Integrated APU (Audio Processor Unit, Deluxe Model)
SoundStorm™ / Dolby® Digital (AC-3) Encoder (Deluxe Model)

LAN
2 Ports
MCP integrated NVIDIA® MAC + Realtek® 8201BL PHY
MCP integrated 3Com® MAC + Broadcom® AC101L PHY (Deluxe Model)

1394
2 Ports MCP-T Integrated IEEE 1394a + Realtek® PHY 8801B (Deluxe Model)

Special Features
Post Reporter (Deluxe Model)
Power Loss Restart
Q-Fan Technology
STR (Suspend-to-RAM)
C.O.P. (CPU Overheating Protection)
CPU Throttle

Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x Parallel
1 x Serial
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
1 x Audio I/O
4 x USB 2.0
1 x Surround L/R audio jack + 1 x CNTR/LFE audio jack (optional)
2 X RJ45 (optional, 2nd RJ45 is for Deluxe Model)

Internal I/O Connectors
2 x USB 2.0 connector support additional 2 USB 2.0 ports
CPU/Power/Chassis FAN connectors
Game Connector
20 pin ATX power connector
IDE LED connector, power LED connector
2 x 1394 Connector (Deluxe Model)
2 x SATA (Serial ATA) Connector (Deluxe Model)
WOR, WOL, Chassis Intrusion, SM Bus, SIR
Headphone (optional)
Front MIC
CD/AUX/Modem audio in
Front Panel Audio connector (optional)

BIOS Feature
4Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, TCAV, PnP, DMI2.0, DMI, Green

Industrial Standard
PCI 2.2, USB 2.0

Manageability
DMI 2.0, WOR, WOL, Chassis Intrusion, SM Bus

Support CD
Drivers
ASUS® PC Probe
Trend Micro™ PC-cillin 2002 anti-virus software with Windows® XP support
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility

Accessories
I/O Shield
SATA Cable (Deluxe Model)
2-port USB 2.0(Deluxe Model) / Game port bracket
User's Manual / Quick Reference Guide
UltraDMA 133 cable
2-Port 1394 Bracket (Deluxe Model)
FDD cable
UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
9-pin COM cable

Form Factor
ATX Form Factor
12" x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.5cm) [/quote][/quote]

look real close at the Audio Spec......

The integrated APU is SOUNDSTORM....

The actual hardware that connects SoundStorm to the actual audio jacks is the RealTek AC'97 codec

as far as I know... nobody but SoundStorm can do Dolby AC-3 Encoding.

adhesive, the ASUS board is by far the best as the A7N8X Deluxe implements ALL of the nForce 2 features like Dual Nics (one is a 3Com)....

CoZ has one. My brother's company just built 25 of them and my friends here at work are buing them like crazy (because of me). All have reported amazing performance and stability. Every last person expressed how everything works perfectly out of the box and how stable and fast the systems are.

Yep, I know how to pick 'em.

Hmmm... every last person? I recall having a few problems. *ahem*

yeah, but then again, you also screwed up your WINDOWS installation and blamed your hardware..... that was NOT the hardware's fault my man.....

dude, you could mess up a wet-dream... LOL

i gotta tell ya CoZ, you have been the ONLY one so far that had.. er.. "problems" (and that's the truth). Your problems were traced back to a faulty OS install.

aha. i mixed up the hardware codecs and the specifications

so, i'm back on track ogling that a7n8x

I prefer the Abit Nforce 2

K Jason, here is your beloved ABit

NS7



http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/nf7/techspec.php


no SoundStorm there.... one ethernet connector.... yuk... what a POS


NS7-S


http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/nf7-s/techspec.php

SoundStorm on the NS7-S... but.... no 3Com NIC... too bad.. ASUS offers more and a MUCH better Motherboard design.[/b]

I just do not like Asus, people post more Asus problems than any other it seems.

What's wrong with the Nvidia nForce network adapter? I'm talking about on the Abit.

to many problems posted at to many sites with asus.

For once I agree with Pappy

My question is what is wrong with the Nvidia nForce network adapter that the Abit board has? I don't like Asus either I'm not saying they're totally junk or anything but I prefer Abit over Asus.

I agree I prefer Abit and would buy the Abit Nforce 2.

i like asus...all my friends use asus boards. Not one single prob. but if u think about its asus has largest market share. wouldnt it be logical that they would have more complaints? im not saying that asus is god but its also the same with windows in linux. linux is considered the most secure because it isnt run by most people. if linux were under same volume of M$ then it definatly have more security holes would be visible. also about the 3com NIC....who cares!?!?! im using an old compaq nic!! works perfect!!! also if you look at some reviews over the board the intergraded nForce is much better than the 3com. in the end im willing to bet that the Abit or Asus boards would be a suitable canidate.

Isn't the SoundStorm 20-bit?

I use a 3Com NIC so getting the Abit Nforce 2 wouldn't be a problem with me.

Also I agree with your point about Linux, if it was as widely used as Microsoft's OS's then it would start to show its many flaws pretty quick.

Yes LiLmoonee,

The nforce NIC is by far better because it takes full advantage of the TwinBank Memory Architecture and DASP for very high throughput.

The 3Com is EXCELLENT for using the system as a Router/Gateway or in Corp environments that are very old and only use Novell. I am not at all certain the nForce NIC would work with old Novell networks.

It is STILL nice because you are not adding anything to the PCI bus. The ASUS board also has the best/most effiecient layout for ease of operation/building/maintaining.

It gives you the highest bang for your money.

Again, the nForce NIC is the one I would use by default unless I needed a second NIC...

If I had the 3Com, I would set up VPN to my LAN at home to allow me to connect to my netork remotely.

i still rather have a c-media without nvidia on it

Weird :wink:

belligerent fellow.....

for you mb....

Main Entry: bel·lig·er·ent
Pronunciation: -r&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum + gerere to wage
Date: 1577
1 : waging war; specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war
2 : inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness
- belligerent noun
- bel·lig·er·ent·ly adverb
synonyms BELLIGERENT, BELLICOSE, PUGNACIOUS, QUARRELSOME, CONTENTIOUS mean having an aggressive or fighting attitude. BELLIGERENT implies being actually at war or engaged in hostilities <belligerent nations>. BELLICOSE suggests a disposition to fight <a drunk in a bellicose mood>. PUGNACIOUS suggests a disposition that takes pleasure in personal combat <a pugnacious thug>. QUARRELSOME stresses an ill-natured readiness to fight without good cause <the heat made us all quarrelsome>. CONTENTIOUS implies perverse and irritating fondness for arguing and quarreling <wearied by his contentious disposition>.

Hey J,

check the story on the front page? http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973...3,808388,00.asp

Abit is rated as Middle of the Road in performance.

ASUS is rated BEST... why? because they used a nearly reference design with ALL the features of the nForce2.

wink wink... lol

really though J, just consider it before ruling it out man.

Jason.. look at the swinging pendulum... you are getting very sleepy.... verry tired.....

Jason, you WILL buy an Asus A7N8X Deluxe!!!! you will.. you will.....

ahem.. there's no benifite of nvidia except ac3.. witch noone uses.. like it said i'd rather have it without nvidia

like i said c-maedia matchs nvidia!

http://www.cmedia.com.tw/product/CMI9739.htm

sweet..

manny's back to used car salesman mode.

lol!

4peeps n-force track record

coz got one and seems to finaly have it working ok.

manny got one and burned it up,had to rma it.

goko got one christmas and no one has herd from him sence.

mine burn up was my own fault.... and that was not nForce2

please go here http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=feature_soundstorm and read.......

also, read here http://www.nvidia.com/docs/lo/2027/SUPP/AP...Brief_71502.pdf about what an APU is.

just pullin you chain manny!! LOL

I know dude... pull away!

mb.. i would not be surprised if mobo makers were using the CMI9739 as the hardware link to nVidia's APU

one thing you don't seem to realize is that nVidia makes the APU... not the actual hardware codec...

Motherboard makers can use RealTek or C-Media codecs like the CMI9739 that provide the hardware connections and such. The CMI9739 sound chip(s) cannot perform the functions the APU can. If a hardware accellerated APU is not present, the CPU must be the APU.

So, in short, from what you have posted and continue to post, I know you do not fully understand this or you would not be posting those statements.

Don't get me wrong, you are correct in saying the CMI9739 is a great codec.... it IS! It can be used with the awesome power of nVidia's APU, and THAT accellerates the hell out of sound production... just like 3D Accellerated graphics cards have done for video.

If you couple a DVD burner to burn DD 5.1 movies with nForce2, you get the ability to ENCODE Dolby Digital 5.1, and that my friend is awesome in and of itself.

manny.. the 9739 has hardware 5.1 encoding in ac3 =p

The sound on my Nforce board is nothingin sort of a total f**kin dissaster. I use an Audigy 2 now, thankyou very much.

Dont ask Manny.

The rest of the board is killer.

geez wth went wrong big0..?

The Audigy 2 is a very poor 2nd to the onboard Soundstorm.

I have had my fill of Creative and their poor attempts at drivers and the crap they fill your computer up with if you are stupid enough to install ANY OF IT.

The Audigy 2 is almost NOT an update from the Audigy 1.

How many more poor incremental updates can they make ?

lol.. i woulda got a cmi instead.. hehe

ahhhhh so where is that information? certainly NOT on that link you posted.

Please post link to documentation and share.


I just read all the PDF's on that page too....



CM9xxx DOES NOT have it's own APU... or AC-3 encoding. again I am shaking my head and sighing......

here is a snippet to a good review of 6 nForce2 boards...



see?????? the nF2 APU is the Digital Signal Processor (otherwise, your computers CPU must carry that load)
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.html?i=1759&p=27

and that is why a really good AC'97 Codec must be used.. to get excellent sound quality. C-Media is not out to best nVidia... they are hoping like hell motherboard manufacturers will use their Codec and not the Predominant RealTek ALC650 (which is far superior to the C-Media.. just ask vegetto34)



What is most important here is this part:

Dolby Interactive Content Encoder

This unit is built around a programmable DSP, which is responsible for
encoding Dolby Digital (AC-3) data that’ll be sent over the SPDIF to an
external consumer decoder. This allows 5.1 speakers (left front, right front, center, right rear, left rear, sub-woofer) to be transmitted over a digital interface.

That was from the Tech Brief link in a previous but very recent post in this thread. Once again mbeeston, you have proven you don't read the material..... you just post silly remarks that are not based on any fact, just the fiction in your young mind. Dude, you are smart, but you need to educate yourself by reading the tech material if you want to argue about this stuff.

BigBro,

I am sorry that they shipped you a faulty riser or pci part that does not fit correctly.... is there a chance they would send you a new one?

i went straight to MSI after I willingly overclocked my first board to it's death and they STILL gave me a brand new board for nothing....

Driver/Software Support:

l Universal Driver Architecture support for Windows 98/98SE/ME/2K/XP with WHQL certification
l Windows 95/NT4.0 and Linux drivers are available
l Xear 3D advanced utility: 5.1 virtual speakers allows users to enjoy 5.1CH surround sound no matter using earphones, 2, 2.1, or real 5.1 speakers
l Virtual SPEAKER SHIFTER can dynamically shift the sound position of each channel and break through the placement limitation of speakers
l Exclusive Xear 3D Earphone Plus listening mode allows users to use earphones in place of rear speakers to save cost and setup troubles
l Supports Sensaura HRTF 3D positional sound, Creative EAX®2.0, Microsoft DS3D®
H/W & S/W
l 27 enhanced Environment Effects with 3 size options, and 10-band Equalizer with 12 pre-set modes
l 3D sound and multi-channel music demo programs
l Proprietary Media Rack player supports almost all audio format and even VCD video
l Optional real-time AC-3 encoder
l User-friendly graphic user interface

so, for one, it is optional... and second.... your cpu is gonna take a heck of a beating being the programmable DSP

so you STILL won't get the benefits of having all the DSP done in hardware as you would feeding that codec from nForce2's APU......

so, you will need to go find a soundcard with that codec on it with your optional AC-3 encoder.

again i would like to stress that the codec you like would only work better with the power of a dedicated APU behind it. the whole computer would operate much faster if the cpu did not have to deal with all its jobs PLUS being the DSP.

ahem.. its in the drivers it doesn't need a damn apu!

Let me get this rite, If i was to buy one of these boards Manny i could pop in a cd or play a game with sound and the cpu is not used?
So i can play cd's without a cpu,cool i like that!!

Jay more people report problems because more people buy them. Yah I've heared problems too, but with all MoBo's. Sooo.