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ZapWizard's Media PC -Project on hold

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by ZapWizard, 4 Jan 2003.

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  1. Lorquis

    Lorquis lorquisSpamCount++;

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    dude keep up the work.... this looks like it'll be the gov'nas mate...

    ...


    (yes i watch the salon too much)
     
  2. Digitalblueshift

    Digitalblueshift What's a Dremel?

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    If you had thought of using the two tuners before hand you could have put the RCA's you added to the AIW tot the Tuner's backplane.
     
  3. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Ok time for a little text update:
    (Pictures later tonight if I have time)

    I now have every single part for my MediaPC.
    But of course a few things have gone through changes.

    My Soyo K7M Dragon doesn't run stable for more than an hour, never has.
    I can't trust it to run for weeks recording TV, and hosting files.

    Sooo. the motherboard will be replaced later.
    (Probably with an MSI board simply because they are red :D)

    Well that leaves me with a problem:
    The on-board sould card is being used to drive the Digital inputs, and outputs, as well as additional Analog inputs.
    So replacing the motherboard, also removes the sound card.

    But I have found some nice schematics (In German but readable)
    that allow me to hack the optical in/out board for use on my SB-Live.
    (Via the SPDIF header I ran the Digital audio output on earlier)

    As for the extra analog connections. (FM Radio/ Front Analog in)
    I am going to hack the Line-In on the back plate to and internal header, and as for the Front Line-In, I can run that through a pass-through jack on one of the TV cards.

    So this means I can later replace the motherboard at my convience without any loss in function of the PC.


    Unless anyone has found a good combo for their K7M Dragon board that is rock solid stable.
     
  4. raxxo

    raxxo What's a Dremel?

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    Zap >> tough luck bro... :waah:

    btw check my project out...

    :idea: need feedback :idea:
     
  5. Da_BaCoN

    Da_BaCoN Minimodder

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    i might be missing something here, but couldn't you find another (more) decent mobo with onboard sound also?
     
  6. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    I was trying to keep costs down to a minimum.
    The Soyo Dragon was my old motherboard from my main PC.
    (from when I upgraded to a ASUS nForce2 board)

    Buying another board with on-board sound would not simply solve the problem as it would not use the same Digital header, so hacking the existing header works out just fine.

    Then I can use the SB-Live for all the audio, and replace the motherboard at my leasure.
    (As long as the demensions are close)

    I can't get any pic's up tonight, but here is the link for anyone wanting to build their own Optical for their SB-Live.
    Google can translate it pretty well, but the schematic should be all you need.

    http://www.rvs.uni-hannover.de/people/einhorn/spdif/
     
  7. Yo-DUH_87

    Yo-DUH_87 Who you calling tiny?

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    Hey Zap, another question:

    How well does Windows handle multiple sound cards? Is the software support any good?

    Just curious ;)
     
  8. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Windows handles mutiple sounds cards just fine.
    You setup one as the primary card, and most of your software will use that card.

    But some software (Winamp for example) can pick and choose which sound card you want to use.
    But in the end I have the worlds most modified SB-Live, but at least I got it down to one sound card.
     
  9. Yo-DUH_87

    Yo-DUH_87 Who you calling tiny?

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    Great, thanks!

    My ATI TV card software refuses to record audio off my digifire 7.1 sound card, so I'll probably re-enable my onboard sound, as it never had a problem recording off that. Hopefully there are newer C-Media drivers out that prevent the onboard sound from crashing the computer ;)

    It'll also allow me to use all those cool inputs on the motherboard :D :D

    Off to experiment a little ;)
     
  10. Da_BaCoN

    Da_BaCoN Minimodder

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    could we have some pics of the sound card?!?! :D :D :D :D
     
  11. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Just finished soldering it.
    (I added a nice supprise modification)

    I will post pics once I get done testing it...
    (Very soon)
     
  12. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    :waah: :waah: :waah: :waah:
    My awsome Pioneer Slot DVD is dead!
    I stepped on it by accident, and now I takes in disks, but just spits them back out.

    So I thought it was out of focus, and I could fix it.
    Well after three hours of trying, I have successfully FRIED the laser entierly.
    :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash:

    This drive lasted me a very long time, and inspired some very original modifications.
    ...May it rest in pieces. (literaly ;) )

    Drive modifications:
    Backlit DVDs/CDs in Slot loading drive. -Guide
    Re-wired DVD Activity LED and Eject switch -Guide

    If anyone has a broken 106S DVD player (With a good laser assembly)
    Or know of a cheap US supplier. (I payed $60 from googlegear.com originaly)
    The new drive will get all the original modifications of course. :thumb:
     
  13. Yo-DUH_87

    Yo-DUH_87 Who you calling tiny?

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    Sorry to hear that, it realy stinks when you work so hard on something only to mess it up.

    Try searching pricegrabber and pricewatch for the lowest prices, although, I have found it hard to beat Googlegear (bought almost my entire system from them, sans sound card and motherboard).

    About to reformat my XP computer, going to use some of the tips from your formatting guide, wish me luck!

    Signing out...
     
  14. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    Now for the extra insaine SB-Live modifications:

    The SoundBlaster Live final modifications:
    I have added TONS of headers, and a Heatsink to keep things in check.

    [​IMG]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The front panel Audioboard, hacked from a soyo dragon.
    Extra headers wired on for SPDIF In/Out, and Line In/Out
    I choose not to re-wire a ribbon cable as I wanted to use sheilded CD-Rom type audio cables.
    That and I wanted the connectors to be at a right angle to the board.

    [​IMG]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The SPDIF header was wired up to +5volts, SPDIF IN, SPDIF Out, and Ground.
    Originaly I thought that conversion circuits would be needed to boost the power, as the SPDIF standard uses a 1volt p-p signal.
    But I found out that Creative used 5volt p-p signals on their SPDIF_EXT header.
    This means that I can wire it to the Optical In/Out board with out any conversion.

    [​IMG]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The hook-up works! I have no way to test the inputs,
    but the Optical out and RCA SPDIF outputs work perfectly.

    [​IMG]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On the back of the board you can see that I re-routed the Line-in from the back of the card to a internal header.
    This will run the audio from my USB FM-Radio.
    (as for the white cable read on...)

    [​IMG]

    /\ The black tape is the bandaide on a fried trace I created a long time ago when I originaly added SPDIF to this SB-Live. This card has been through A LOT. Still works perfectly....knock on wood.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I remembered a nice post about using the game port for temperature sensors, and it is compatible with MBM.
    So why not add these to the Media PC?
    http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22425

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    My Sound blaster Live Value now has the following features:

    Back of PC:
    • Line-Out
    • Microphone
    • SPDIF
    Front of PC
    • SPDIF Out
    • Optical Out
    • SPDIF In
    • Optical in
    • Line Out
    • Line In
    Internal
    • TV Tuner 1
    • TV Tuner 2
    • FM Radio
    • PC Speaker (from motherboard)
    • Line Out (two outputs)
    • SPDIF Header
    • 4 Temerature Sensors

    :rock:
     
  15. daydreamingknight

    daydreamingknight What's a Dremel?

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    ZAP, you make me sick man...just plain sick with what you do:D:D


    Tough luck on the drive....wipe away the tears and keep going !


    Awesome work man! I bow to you:thumb:


    DDK
     
  16. ouija

    ouija Trust me, I am doctor!

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    OMG A NEW SMILEY!! :thumb:

    Hehee. Keep it up Zap, I initially thought "oh no, he's not cut a soundcard in two as well" :lol: until I saw that it was in fact a Live! I can't wait to see this all up and running! So many cards. So many connectors. So many gadgets!!! /me drools
     
  17. bAnTAi

    bAnTAi What's a Dremel?

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    gadget man indeed....the only thing you dont have is an ejector seat (but a spring loaded office chair wounldnt be far off ;) ).....even james bond himself is jealous.....:clap: :rock: :clap: :rock:
     
  18. DeX

    DeX Mube Codder

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    God, Zap this whole project is going way over my head. I'm pretty sure that SPDIF is somesort of digital input/output thing but why do you need that when you already have line in/out and optical in/out? And two TV tuners on a soundcard? :confused:
     
  19. ZapWizard

    ZapWizard Enter the Mod Matrix

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    I was trying to eliminate the motherboard sound card entirly.
    So I basicly converted the Digital In/Out card to work with the Live instead of the motherboard.
    SPDIF stands for Sony Phillips Digital Interface Format
    The signal is the same whether it is sent opticaly or via Coaxial (RCA type jack).

    I will try and get a picture of all the connections when they are wired up to the SB-Live, it is insainly, frankensteiny.

    :geek:
     
  20. ouija

    ouija Trust me, I am doctor!

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