nForce2 audio

[wbblair3]

Whereas the nForce1 audio was integrated into nVidia's nForce chipset, it seems from what I've read thus far that the nForce2 motherboards use a separate non-nVidia chip for sound. Is this correct? If so, how does the sound system capability on the nForce2 compare with that of nForce1. Is there still one UNIFIED DRIVER file from nVidia (a great advantage IMHO)? Why did nVidia go this route instead of integrating the sound hardware into their chipset? Die real estate?

[DSC]

Wrong, it uses the AC97 codec only for ADC/DAC(Analog to Digital/Digital to Analog convertors). The APU in the MCP-T southbridge is the sound DSP, all calculations and sound processing is done on the APU.

All modern soundcards including Audigy2 has AC97 codecs on them, don't pay to much attention to it. ;)

Be wary of CMedia 8738 equipped NForce2 boards though, since that is a Host Signal Processing chip. It is a all in one chip, has ADC/DAC and sound processing in it. As it uses CPU to do all the work, it's definately inferior compared to the APU in the southbridge. Asus previously used this chip instead of the APU on their lower end NForce board. :confused:

[thcdru2k]

hey dsc you seem pretty knowledgeable does the realtek alc650 process sound in the same fashion as the cmedia 8738 by using the cpu? thanks

[DSC]

The ALC650 is only a AC97 codec, the real sound processor lies in the southbridge, if you have for example a VIA chipset, the sound is processed by the VIA sound core in the southbridge. Intel, SiS onboard audio are similiar, the AC97 codec is only used for ADC/DAC. Of course, all of these are Host Signal Processing devices, so the CPU has to do all the work.

[DSC]

As long as your audio config screens look like the ones here, you can be confident that you're powered by good APU sound DSP instead of anything else.

http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/nforce2/page_6.shtml

:D

[oj213]

So the onboard audio in the A7N8X is superior to the A7V8X even though both have the ALC650? Care to explain a bit further?

[SavagePaladin]

All the ALC650 is is a codec...which translates digital to analog or vice versa. The audio processing unit does ALL actual sound processing, passthrough, that sort of thing.
The codec is still used if you have analog speakers. Not so much otherwise.