ASRock Game Blaster audio card unveiled

ASRock cooperated with Creative to introduce the Game Blaster, a new audio card with Broadcom Gigabit LAN. It's a proprietary product though, it's only supported by ASRock's X79 based motherboards. Pricing and availability is unknown.

World's top 3 motherboard manufacturer, ASRock Inc., specially partners with Creative Technology Ltd, the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for the personal computer, to introduce the most trusted sound card in mobo industry - Game Blaster!

Gamers need so much more from their rigs. ASRock Game Blaster was designed to exceed the expectations of even the most dedicated gamer. It is the first sound card coming with both Creative 7.1 CH HD Sound Core3D Audio and Broadcom Gigabit LAN in the world.

Creative Sound Core3D 7.1 CH HD Audio
Powered by Sound Core3D� quad-core audio and voice processor, the revolutionary Game Blaster delivers the first-class sound experience to extreme gamers! This breakthrough audio chip even brings some exciting features, allowing gamers to enjoy pure gaming audio, such as THX TruStudio PRO� sound technologies, CrystalVoice� and EAX 1.0 to 5.0 solid sound technologies.

Scout Mode�
Designed for performance gaming, ASRock Game Blaster also supports the state-of-the-art Scout Mode� technology. It is a proprietary technology that allows you to hear your enemies from further away, giving you a distinct tactical advantage in combat. With Scout Mode�, ASRock Game Blaster facilitates faster access in the heart of battle and allows gamers to get precise control to elevate their games. Can't wait to enjoy this exciting technology? Simply download the latest driver from ASRock website, and experience this amazing tool right now.(http://asrock.com/mb/spec/card.asp?Model=Game Blaster&cat=Beta)

Broadcom Gigabit LAN
ASRock Game Blaster was unprecedentedly equipped with a Broadcom Gigabit LAN. Broadcom Gigabit LAN not only focuses on high performance, but also ensures extremely low power consumption to enhance eco-friendly environment. Coupled with Game Blaster and ASRock motherboard, serious gamers will get benefits of 2 LAN supports. Connected 2 LANs together, users can enjoy Dual PCIE Gigabit LAN feature with teaming function effortlessly.

ASRock Game Blaster is setting a whole new standard for gaming audio. It's been designed for incredible sound experience and precise accuracy. The ASRock Game Blaster has lots intelligent features including Creative Sound Core3D single audio chip with Scout Mode� and Broadcom Gigabit LAN. It's aimed to unleash the maximum gaming performance.

For more product information, please visit: http://www.asrock.com/mb/spec/Card.asp?Model=Game%20Blaster

ASRock Game Blaster audio card unveiled - More news at DV Hardware

tonymacx86 Public Service Announcement: Audio

type="html">

Music and animation by Adamsmasher. Enjoy!

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

HDMI Audio + Video Solutions

type="html">

It's now possible to get HDMI digital audio + video outputs working on your custom build.  The trick is to get a supported graphics card.  Here are a few methods to enable HDMI audio + video using an NVIDIA GT 220 or GT 240 graphics card with a Gigabyte motherboard.  

NOTE: Since the NVIDIA GT 220 or GT 240 has its own audio chip, you may lose audio functionality with your current onboard audio solution.

UPDATE: The Easy Method also works for the NVIDIA 430, 450, 460, 465, 475, and 480, since they also have an onboard audio chip.  Advanced Method is not working.

Easy Method: VoodooHDA + Graphics Enablers

Enabling video is the first step.  You may use any of the methods described in this article: Enable Full Graphics Card Acceleration.

With VoodooHDA, a complete replacement audio solution, you can use your HDMI device without any further configuration.  To test, install a VoodooHDA version through MultiBeast.  Since some of these drivers are experimental, you may get kernel panics on install and with use.  In my own experience, VoodooHDA 0.2.1 and 0.2.56 work best for the GT 240.  You'll find upon reboot that in Audio/Midi Setup and System Preferences there are 4 Digital Options- the second one works for HDMI audio out.

Advanced Method: AppleHDA + DSDT Graphics

Using the default AppleHDA is also possible, with HDMI identified as built-in.  You can configure the NVIDIA GT 240 to use the native AppleHDA.kext for your HDMI solution independent of any onboard audio chip.  This method is considerably more advanced.

NOTE: Use 10.6.4 AppleHDA or earlier, 10.6.5 or later will NOT work with this method.

STEP 1: ENABLE GRAPHICS THROUGH DSDT
Configure your graphics card without kexts, Chameleon's GraphicsEnabler or EFI strings using the following article as a guide: Advanced DSDT Fixes: NVIDIA Graphics.  GT 240 users can skip this step.

STEP 2: ADD HDMI AUDIO TO DSDT
Next, we'll add HDMI audio edits to the graphics section of our DSDT.

1. Download and open DSDT-GT240+HDMI.dsl using DSDTSE
2. Open your DSDT.aml
3. Type Device (PCI0) in the search box to return to your previous graphics edit.
4. Compare and copy/paste the information as necessary.  NOTE: GT 240 owners can copy/paste the entire section including the full graphics code,
5. Compile and save your new DSDT.aml
6. Paste to /Extra/ as DSDT.aml

STEP 3: REMOVE ALL EXISTING GRAPHICS ENABLERS
You must now remove all Enablers, GraphicsEnabler=Yes, and EFI Strings from your system to test the new injection.

1. Open /Extra/Extensions and /System/Library/Extensions
2. Delete any graphics enabler kexts in both locations such as NVEnabler or ATY_init.
3. Open /Extra/Extensions/ and open com.apple.boot.plist in TextEdit
4. Delete any EFI String information and GraphicsEnabler=Yes
5. Save com.apple.boot.plist

STEP 4: PATCH APPLEHDA BINARY
In order to use AppleHDA.kext for HDMI audio, GT 240 users will need to patch the HDMI audio device id from the standard 0x10DE000A to 0x10DE000D using a Hex editor.  GT 220 users can skip this step. 

1. Make sure you're updated to the latest version of Mac OS X. 
2. Navigate in Finder to /System/Library/Extensions
3. Copy your AppleHDA.kext to Desktop
4. Download and install Hex Fiend
5. Right click on AppleHDA.kext and choose Show Package Contents
6. Navigate to /Contents/MacOS/
7. Copy AppleHDA to Desktop
8. Right click on AppleHDA and choose Open With…
9. Choose Hex Fiend
10. Type Command-F to bring up Find and Replace menubar
11. Copy and paste 0A 00 DE 10 in Find
12. Copy and paste 0D 00 DE 10 in Replace
13. Click Replace All
14. Save AppleHDA
15. Go back to your previously opened ~/Desktop/AppleHDA.kext
16. Right click on AppleHDA.kext and choose Show Package Contents
17. Navigate to /Contents/MacOS/
18. Delete AppleHDA
19. Copy and paste AppleHDA from Desktop to /Contents/MacOS/
20. Download KextBeast
21. Run KextBeast to install the new AppleHDA.kext and rebuild caches.
22. Reboot

 Credit to tmonkgol at Insanelymac.  Hope this works for you!

-tonymacx86

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!

New Unified Realtek Onboard Audio Solution: ALC8xxHDA

type="html">

Introducing MacMan's ALC8xxHDA.kext, a single combined LegacyHDA replacement for Realtek ALC888, ALC887/888b, ALC889, ALC885/889a, and ALC892 high-definition audio codecs.  In order to initiate audio, this driver must be combined with a DSDT from the DSDT Database or HDAEnabler.  For any codecs other than the native ALC885/889a, AppleHDA Rollback must also be used.  All options now available in the latest MultiBeast.

To update from an existing MultiBeast LegacyHDA + AppleHDA rollback:

1. Delete LegacyHDA from /Extra/Extenisons
2. Open MultiBeast
3. Select ALC8xxHDA + AppleHDA Rollback + System Utilities
4. Reboot

To update from an existing MultiBeast VoodooHDA:

1. Delete VoodooHDA from System/Library/Extensions.
2. Open MultiBeast
3. Select ALC8xxHDA + AppleHDA Rollback + System Utilities
4. Reboot

Realtek ALC888, ALC887/888b, ALC889, ALC885/889a support:

OUTPUTS: Analog Front Headphone/Green Line-out, Orange Line-out, Grey Line-out, Digital SPDIF-OUT
INPUTS: Analog Pink Microphone, Blue Line-in, Digital SPDIF-IN

Realtek ALC892 support:
OUTPUTS: Analog Front Headphone/Green Line-out, Digital SPDIF-OUT

INPUTS: Analog Pink Microphone, Blue Line-in, Digital SPDIF-IN

Please report your results with this new method in the forum.  Special thanks to complx for the ALC8xxHDA logo.  Enjoy!

-tonymacx86 & MacMan

For discussions on this and other topics, register today at tonymacx86.com!