The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    P-7801u 5.1 surround

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by False_Dmitry_II, Jan 12, 2011.

  1. False_Dmitry_II

    False_Dmitry_II Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I've got it hooked up to my HDTV through my S5300 Onkyo home theatre in a box. It seems to only be outputting stereo.

    I saw on another thread people suggesting that that's all it could do, how true is this?

    In case it matters, I've got Win 7 Pro on it now. The other thread suggested also to try a toslink optical connection straight to the receiver, but I can't find anything that says it even has one.
     
    False_Dmitry_II, Jan 12, 2011
    #1
  2. JRSOR

    JRSOR Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    160
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hdmi, or head phone jack?
     
    JRSOR, Jan 12, 2011
    #2
  3. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    2,548
    Messages:
    9,585
    Likes Received:
    4,997
    Trophy Points:
    431
    I think for true 5.1 you need the SPDIF but even then I think it is only pass threw. Our sound cards are not 5.1 but 2 channel.............
     
    TANWare, Jan 13, 2011
    #3
  4. False_Dmitry_II

    False_Dmitry_II Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    HDMI, same for video. Not sure why I'd run a 3.5 jack connection for audio.

    By SPDIF, do you mean optical? I've seen stuff referring it that way. Or do you mean the mode it's in? CCCP calls it that when it's outputting AC3/dolby. Not sure why, nor what the real definition of SPDIF is supposed to be because of that.

    I'm also pretty sure that the "sound card" for HDMI is on the graphics card, which is separate from the one on the mobo doing the onboard speakers and headphone jack. I'll assume you mean all "sound cards" are only stereo. Which sucks.

    Does this model have the optical connection or no?
     
    False_Dmitry_II, Jan 13, 2011
    #4
  5. JRSOR

    JRSOR Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    160
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Still, I don't believe these put out surround sound, just stereo.
     
    JRSOR, Jan 13, 2011
    #5
  6. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    2,548
    Messages:
    9,585
    Likes Received:
    4,997
    Trophy Points:
    431
    The sound card is stereo, threw SPDIF it will pass threw 5.1 from DVD sources or if encoded in a file to a DTS receiver............
     
    TANWare, Jan 13, 2011
    #6
  7. False_Dmitry_II

    False_Dmitry_II Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    So, if it's stereo no matter what I guess I'll leave it on HDMI (I'm pretty sure you can't pass AC3 through the normal headset jack).

    But now I'm really curious if it has an optical connection at all?

    That's really unfortunate though that it's that limited. I mean, I got it at the end of 2008, I'd say 5.1 systems were pretty freakin important at that point. I don't see why nvidia felt they could get away with that. From what I can tell online alot of their graphics cards have the same limitation for no good reason. Even my piddly little HD 4670 in a different HTPC has full PCM 5.1 control, and it seems all ATI stuff has for awhile.

    I also don't see why this issue isn't more widely known or talked about.
     
    False_Dmitry_II, Jan 13, 2011
    #7
  8. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    2,548
    Messages:
    9,585
    Likes Received:
    4,997
    Trophy Points:
    431
    use a mini spdif connector and you are good to go, but some codecs may be required................
     
    TANWare, Jan 13, 2011
    #8