realtek sound options not allowing 192000Hz

[towlie]

I have the sabertooth z77 mobo, I am using an amplified gaming headset from monoprice using the onboard 7.1 sound via the optic connection.
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/SABERTOOTH_Z77/#specifications
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=114&cp_id=11403&cs_id=1140304&p_id=9771&seq=1&format=2

the asus product site lists the audio as:
Realtek® ALC892 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

When I open the realtek sound manager there is a tab called default format, the first drop down box says to set the sample rate and bit depth to be used when running in shared mode. I am not certain as to what this actually effects, but if I select 192kHz/ 24-bit, (which is the highest possible setting) I get no sound, and if I select 96kHz/ 24-bit I get hissing but no sound reproduction.

The highest I can select is 48kHz/ 24-bit.

So is this not working properly since the mobo says the sound is 192kHz?

 

[genrldisaray]

The optical S/PDIF port uses a compressed audio stream to get all 8 channels of sound in one cable. "Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound" will only be available if you use the analog jacks on the back of the board. As far as I know, each of those ports can carry 2 channels, so if you want to get 7.1 surround you would have to run cables from four of those jacks to an amplifier.

 

[towlie]

so you are saying using the optic output is not allowing 7.1?

 

[genrldisaray]

It will allow 7.1, but not at 192kHz. 48kHz/ 24-bit is normal for what you're doing, so unless you don't like the quality of the sound you have nothing to worry about.

 

[towlie]

the sound is great to me, I just didn't know if I was missing out. I recently built this system and it was quite expensive so I wanted to make sure I was getting all I could out of it. , so to confirm just leave it at 48Hz 24-bit? (or is there any reason to lower it below that?) reason I ask the last question is I play world of warcraft and in 25m raids, at some points I get weird lag, the latency shows normal, my cpu is only working at the very most 40%, but random weir4d delays that I notice, (spells not casting when commanded to) my system specs for reference are

3570k @ 4.5Ghz
sabertooth z77
32gb g.skill ripjaws z 1866
ocz vertex 4 128GB x2
Asus Titan PCI Express 3.0 1150MHz
Cooler Master HAF X 942
Cooler Master Silent Pro 1200w
Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme 81.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
27" IPS LED CrystalPro Monitor WQHD 2560x1440

 

[soundguruman]

I am not entirely sure about that 7.1 problem on the optical output.
Download the entire motherboard manual from the Asus Website, and read the entire audio section.
It is possible that they give you all those answers in the MB manual. The section on optical output may answer the 7.1 problem.
However, translated from Chinese, is sometimes difficult to understand...
If you are talking 7.1, the media you are playing must be 7.1 encoded. You also need to load drivers from the Dolby website, I'm pretty sure, to make it all work.

 

[genrldisaray]

Yeah, you can leave it at 48kHz 24-bit, that's exactly what it should be. As far as the lag, I've found that that's an issue sometimes even with great hardware. I have fond memories of Sha of Anger slide shows when doing it with a full group. I would chalk that up to issues on Blizzard's end.