Can i play AC3 encoded movies with this setup?

[slodki]

Hey, firstly i want to tell you guys my computer setup (which i think is enough to play movies with ac3)

MSI motherboard
1.2 Athlon
256 MB pc150 ram
Matrox Millenium g400 max w/tv-out
SBlive! Value

I also have a HollyWood Decoder card, that has the ac3 output, i am hoping to use this instead of the sblive as i dont think it will work. The only problem i think i'm going to have is how would i be able to pass through the ac3 sound to my amplifier??? What type of cabling do i need for the ac3 to passtrhough, and also how would i be able to connect the hollywood so that it can use my decoder card to pass the sound to the amplifier, and my matrox to pass the video through. And if i get this to work somehow, would i be able to use any divx player to play my ac3-divx's?

Sorry for just a stupid question? But i dont know what to do...:P

P.S. IF its in the wrong forum, feel free to move it..

[Tes]

I don't know about your Hollywood card, but the Cinemaster card I have has a digital SPDIF output. It uses a regular coaxial cable connection, just make sure its 75 Ohm. If your card has an optical output (which I really doubt) you will probably need to buy a toslink cable.

As for playing DivX movies with AC3 sound, you will probably have to use the digital output of your SB Live.

[slodki]

Thats what i was talking about kinda, i have the digital SPDIF in my hollywood card. I would like to know if there is a way to connect my soundcard to my hollywood, so that the hollywood would be able to pass through the ac3 signal. I doubt that my SB Live would passthrough the signal because its a Value card (SB LIVE VALUE). Or better yet is there a way so that i can just pass the signal straigh to the hollywood and onto the amplifier??

Also, do i have to use coaxial cable, or can i use another type of cable??

[Tes]

Originally posted by slodki
I doubt that my SB Live would passthrough the signal because its a Value card (SB LIVE VALUE).

I also have an SB Live value (soon to be replaced by a real soundcard ;)). Anyway, AC3 passthrough works fine for me (DTS also).

How to connect your card to an AV receiver: http://atlas.hemmet.chalmers.se/livecenter/showpage.php?id=13

Make your own SPDIF output (if you like to do things yourself): http://atlas.hemmet.chalmers.se/livecenter/showpage.php?id=21
Some other sites have directions for building an optical output as well but I can't remeber where I found them.

More info on the SB Live: http://grassomusic.de/english/sb.htm#live

[slodki]

Thanks for that, would you by any chance be able to remeber those sites on how to build an optical SPDIF and send them to my PM or post them here???

THnaks once again

[slodki]

I have read the second link that you provided, and i realised that i need two soundcards for me to utalise the digital SPDIF output..am i right??? So would i be able to use my SB Live! and conenct that to my Hollywood + to get the SPDIF working?? I think that im not going to be able to work this out, so if possible if you did this, would you be able to post picutres

[Tes]

I was too lazy to build my own spdif connection so I just bought a digital io board. You can get a digital in/out board with coax and optical toslink) connections for your live value for about 20 USD from this company: http://www.hoontech.com/english/products/sbdb2/index.html
here is a list of distributors: http://www.hoontech.com/english/distribution/distributors.html

Sorry I don't have time to say more but I am very busy studying for final exams right now ;)

[slodki]

Thanks for that, ill look into it, and since im in Australia, then i think i wont be able to buy the digital IO board (since im not too keep on buying online:P) Anyways, ill try to fiddle around and see where i get...


Thanks for all your help:)

[Tes]

np.

Take a look at the distributors page, one of them is in Melbourne.

[slodki]

Cheers for that mate :)