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What is SPDIF used for ?

#1 User is offline   Delta16 

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  Posted 20 March 2009 - 05:27 AM

I would like to know for what the SPDIF internal cable is used for on the GPU, and what it really does.

From what i searched I could conclude that the SPDIF is used when you have an HDTV with HDMI. (correct me if i'm wrong)

Any more information that it is not hard to understand would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advanced
Delta
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#2 User is offline   Megaman1 

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Posted 20 March 2009 - 08:00 AM

Hi,

The SPDIF cable (known as TOSLINK) is a connection for digital audio, the SPDIF cable usually connects into an amplifiers digital optical socket for audio output.

#3 User is offline   dpunisher 

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Posted 20 March 2009 - 09:53 AM

It's not just optical, it is also coax (with the RCA connectors) as well.

Some older videocards have a SPDIF in because they can't decode the sound to output it through the HDMI port. Many of the new videocards do the sound as well so the SPDIF isn't needed.
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