Msi x99s gaming ack 5.1 audio using optical cable

[RoninDevil]

Hello all again,
I'm currently trying to get 5.1 sound through my LG home cinema system via the optical cable socket but I can only get PCM 2.0. In the Realtek settings the boxes for Dolby digital and DTS are ticked but it's still only 2 channel and there is no option to configure speakers. Any help on how to get 5.1 is appreciated.

 

[jimmysmitty]

What driver version are you using? Have you updated to the latest version from Realtek?

 

[RoninDevil]

It would be the latest one. I'm thinking that the alc1150 on the msi motherboard can't send 5.1 via optical due to some form of licensing.

 

[jimmysmitty]

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/unlocked-realtek-hd-audio-drivers-with-dolby-digital-live-and-dts-interactive.193148/

That is an interesting read.

But it looks like the Realtek chips might have it disabled for optical out and only able to pass it through analog.

 

[RoninDevil]

Yeah, I've been reading that kind of thing. Looks like it is enabled on some motherboards and not others. I think it's just board makers not paying for a Dolby digital live or DTS connect license so the option is not enabled for the optical port.

 

[RoninDevil]

I don't get how the motherboard page makes a big deal about the sound capabilities of the board and audio boost 2 but it won't output 5.1 through the optical socket. If you can't get anything but stereo out how can it be a good sound solution? It's a shame as it appears to be capable of it but thre is no way to activate it as msi didn't get a license and there is no way to add one. The links do show you how to hack the drivers but this cannot be legal. I'm unhappy at the moment

 

[jimmysmitty]

You have to remember that most PC users will use the analog output and not optical. The 5.1/7.1 surround systems use analog.

And hacking the drivers is actually totally legal. For the longest time, before ATI/AMD released the Catalyst Control Center as we know it, I used to use what was called "Omega Drivers" for my GPU as they were superior to the ATI drivers.

As for the legality of adding in Dolby to one that doesn't have it licensed I cannot say. If the chip supports it then the chip has the license.

This is why I use a sound card. Less issues. Even though my board has a really good onboard audio.

 

[RoninDevil]

Cheers
From what I have been able to find, the motherboard makers don't want to pay for the license so the drivers don't have what's needed to unlock the capability. There is the hack to unlock this but as no money has been given to Dolby for the license i cannot see it being completely legal. There is also a lot of messing
It's a shame, the motherboard has a good sound chip that is hamstrung by msi not enabling full capability, it was an expensive board too!
I think you are right, a separate sound card is my only real solution