4-pin SPDIF sound card out >> 2-pin SPDIF video card in ??

[Armchair Bronco]

I just bought a cheap MSI NX8400GS video card so I can play streaming NetFlix videos from my 3-year-old computer to my HDTV via an HDMI cable.

http://epitrial.com/wp-content/uploa...-nx8400gs1.jpg

The MSI card has a 2-pin SPDIF input connector (it's the white connector near the center of the top edge of the card), but my motherboard doesn't have an SPDIF output connector. So I'm planning to buy an el-cheapo PPA 1431v sound card that has a 4-pin SPDIF output connector.

PPA 1431v Sound Card: (Linky)

http://e-key.pe/images/SC-G1431V.gif

The MSI instruction for enabling HDMI output state the following:

"4. Use a compliant SPDIF internal cable to connect the SPDIF connector on the VGA card and your mainboard. Make sure to (1) plug the orange cable to the SPDIF-pin and black one to the GND-pin on the mainboard; and (2) plug the other end (2-pin white connector) of the cable to the SPDIF connector on the VGA card. Note that wrong installation may cause damage to the VGA card."

So, my question:

The PPA sound card has a 4-pin output connector. The video card has a 2-pin input connector. But for the life of me I can't find any 4-pin to 2-pin SPDIF cables. So, can I use an internal cable with a 2-pin female connector on both ends? It looks like the pin-outs on most SPDIF sound cards are: POWER - UNUSED - SPDIF SIGNAL - GROUND.

Here a 2-pin connector I've tracked down: (Linky)

http://www2.pccables.com/images/05026.jpg

[Armchair Bronco]

Darn! It seems that the SPDIF out on the PPA sound card is external, not internal.

So I guess I also need a recommendation for a cheap sound card with a 2-pin or 4-pin (or whatever) *INTERNAL* SPDIF output connector.

My goal here is to keep costs down, not to get the best sounding audio possible.

[glc]

Send the video card back and get a cheap ATI card. They pass audio through HDMI with no extra cables.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121310

[Armchair Bronco]

Originally Posted by glc Send the video card back and get a cheap ATI card. They pass audio through HDMI with no extra cables. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121310

Heh! Great suggestion...unfortunately, there's no turning back for me.

I bought the card about a week ago. When I tried to install it originally, the heat sink was too big (it protruded about 4-5 cm beyond the end of the card and crashed into the fan for the CPU). So...I removed the video card's heat sink, slapped it into the vise in my garage, and used a hack saw to remove 5 cm from the offending end of the heat sink. Fits great now!

I have a feeling that the local shop won't let me return it.

[glc]

Well, save it for another use - that ATI card is probably just as cheap as a sound card. It will pull the audio from the onboard. You may want to look at other 4350's with native HDMI if the heatsink size is an issue.

[Armchair Bronco]

Originally Posted by glc Well, save it for another use - that ATI card is probably just as cheap as a sound card. It will pull the audio from the onboard. You may want to look at other 4350's with native HDMI if the heatsink size is an issue.

I've received the same recommendation on another site, so this definitely sounds like the way to go. The other option is to install a sound card with an external SPDIF port and then hack together my own cable that I would feed back into the computer chassis. In the end, I'll probably spend just as much money going the DIY route, so I'll probably opt for an ATI 4300-series video card.

Thanks again for the suggestion.