First carputer...

ComputerDoctors · 04-12-2006, 04:15 PM

Hello everyone...got a quick question. I'm designing my first carputer and I'm looking at the various parts. I want to put in one of the Intel-based mb (the MB896F) but I dont see anywhere if it supports 5.1 audio on-board. I know the VIA boards have that capability, but I dont see it for the intel.

Is anybody using that (or another) intel board and know that is supports 5.1?

Any links to documentation on that board would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Amit

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 04:57 PM

You don't want to use onboard audio.

ComputerDoctors · 04-12-2006, 05:00 PM

Then what would you recommend? I'm not all that interested in surround sound in my car...but I do want to keep fader control. There will be no HU in the setup. Also, I want decent sound quality....but not looking to win competitions.

oh yea...trying to keep the pc small....the board only has 1 pci slot.

-Amit

0verfiend · 04-12-2006, 05:04 PM

I see a lot of people here running a usb hub, and connecting most of the things inside home PCs via a usb... so a usb sound card.

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 05:15 PM

I don't have that much experience with car audio, but i can tell you what i've done and learned based on my install.

First, i went with an external sound card and 3.5mm to rca cables going to my amps. My sound sucked @ss....i couldn't hear my subs, got tons of speaker whine...overall wasn't loud or clear.

I then replaced my speakers and amps. Slightly better because of the quality improvment, but the source (soundcard) was hurting. It wasn't all that bad, but i just kept comparing it to when i had my head unit in....and it was nowhere close. I just couldn't be satisfied with the speaker pops and alternator whine and i tried everything to get rid of them...pop stoppers, noise isolators, changed grounding points, shared grounding points...nothing worked.

I then got a digital sound processor...the H701...and all of my problems went away....THE END

lol....the alpine won't win you audio competitions necessarily, but it will put you on the same level as a head unit, so that you have the same potential and sound quality.

ComputerDoctors · 04-12-2006, 05:17 PM

Yea, I considered that option, but what I'm trying to do is keep everything in the double din casing

. So the USB option doesn't really work.

What I really need to know is: does the M896F supports the multichannel (5.1) sound?

Also, do I need 5.1 for a car or is there something like 2.1 (I absolutely need a subwoofer out)?

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 05:18 PM

4.1

ComputerDoctors · 04-12-2006, 05:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 3onDubs

I then got a digital sound processor...the H701...and all of my problems went away....THE END

Pls send me a link to the H701...lemme look into that.

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 05:22 PM

You will need this: http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-2006-A...QQcmdZViewItem

And this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-RUX-C701-...QQcmdZViewItem

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 05:27 PM

But this alpine would have to sit somewhere else as it won't fit in the double din casing. It also requires the controller (which is only like an inch tall) to be mounted so that u can higher and lower the volume. I find this a plus (having a volume nob), while others see it as a minus (no place to put it).

If you went with the alpine, your going to need a mb that has spidf out. I'm pretty sure that all of the via epia's have this...make sure urs does too.

ComputerDoctors · 04-12-2006, 05:30 PM

That's def. not an option...to much $$$ and no place in the dash for that controller.

So the M896 has 4.1 audio? I see that the VIA has 5.1....is that any good?

What I getting at is...if the MB supports the audio, I can use that and if it sounds like @ss, I'll replace it.

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 05:40 PM

I always thought about mounting the controller in my seat so that it's facing the pedals and i can reach down and just higher/lower the volume. Another option was on the side of the center console facing me, so that i can only see it and it's out of the way. A third option was on the left side of the steering wheel below the headlight controls.....but none of these solve the $$ issue.

The via's are great boards and they offer a lot for such a small size. The 5.1 is ok, not great. Many people are using it, but i havn't tried it personally. If worse comes to worse, you can always wire an external usb hub away from your dash and into your trunk or glove box and install an external sound card. Internal sound cards are supposed to be inferior when going analog because they can introduce all kinds of noise to your speakers (hard drive spinning, etc.).

ComputerDoctors · 04-12-2006, 05:48 PM

ok...so what I'm (probably) going to do is get the 896...I'll let you know how the sound is...if it sucks, I'll put in a sound card and try to shield it.

Anyone got a link to a manual for the 896? I would like to get more detailed specs on it...and I dont see them anywhere else.

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 05:55 PM

http://www.ibt.ca/MB896.htm

3onDubs · 04-12-2006, 05:58 PM

Found a better link: http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_...roducts_id=163

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