Question about SPDIF?

[Le Marquis]

I have a SPDIF connector onboard my computer. All i know for now is that this can be used for digital audio recording and output, if i'm not misstaken. It's that 6 pinned connector on your motherboard.

Now here's my question. I don't have any PCI/AGP slots left and i would like to use this SPDIF as a soundcard. I've heard that there are some external soundcards that you have to connet to SPDIF and works. And i would like to know more about this SPDIF for instance is it compatible with my 5.1 dolby digital input on my receiver? And does it also play audio CD's on my pc digitaly or not? It's all quite rarely used. so i'd like to know more...

Thanks...

Le Marquis

[muno]

The connector is not responsible for playing cds. The cds you put in your computer are played digitally regardless of the connections, that is, if dae is enabled (otherwise it will move the data in analog mode).
(you can check that from your cdrom properties)

I have an asus board, which 'has' spdif connector. It 'has' means that it is advertised so, but I can't take advantage of the connector unless I have extra stuff. I guess a card or something from asus that will enable the port is needed, not an external sound card.
-M