Hi;

Ive started to build my HTPC based on the above board and have encountered a coupl of problems.
My setup:
Abit AN-M2HD
AMD AM2 4000
1GB 2x512 Corsair DDR2
Toshiba 32 Inch LCD (Regza C3030?)
Samsung XT-30 Home Cinema

I have a couple of problems but I`ll only cover the Audio here.

One reason I went for this board was the Optical Audio Out, I have connected a TOSLINK Optical Cable from the Optical Out to my SAMSUNG HT-X30 Optical In, DIGITAL INPUT is selected on the SAMI but no sound.

When I was installing the Drivers from the Mobo CD the Realtek HD Audio Drivers failed, I downloaded the updated Drivers and these too failed.

The Video is connected via HDMI and when I enabled HDMI Audio in the BIOS and turned on the Toshiba TV internal Speaker I get sound "But obiously only through the crappy TV Speaker!!

Questions:

 

Is it HD audio the same as Digital Audio?

If it is, does HD Audio only transmit through the Optical Link or is that what is transmitted via the HDMI ? 

Is there a specific BIOS update to fix the lack of HD audio?

 

Anyone trying to use HDMI and Optical Audio, depending on the type of connectors they select will also encounter the fact that the connectors so close together that the HDMI, Toslink and Keyboard connector will not fit side by side.
I had to fix this by trimming down the side of the offending connectors (Don`t worry I did not cut into the working parts) who designed this board!!!!
Watch out when buying cables like the big fat BELKIN ones!!!

How do I get Audio through the Optical Cable and is this HD Audio or Digital Audio and how does this differ to the other onboard audio??

Any help would be greatfully received

A frustrated HTPC builder