Indeed the only signal output of the optical output is:
=> PCM (ie stereo)
=> 5.1 or only for DVD passthrought (in this mode, the card calculates nothing, it takes 5.1 dvd and direct passes "through" crude, as the amp)
In a videogame unlike a movie (or the soundtrack is already written) the card must "calculate" and generate the multichannel, out on this model it does (very well indeed) only in analog, optics you will be stereo, IEA IEA IEA
It took me months to understand this and with explanations (in another through the mails to Asus) I finally understood the subtlety: because before I thought optical output = 5.1 on my home theater. Alas, no it is imperative that the card can "encode 5.1 on the fly" on the optical output. Thing I have now gained through the purchase of a creative AUDIGY
Otherwise I could test this analog card and this card is very good, the sound is restored and much better than integrated chipsets! I happened to hear unfamiliar sounds with games that I play for years! Convenient headphone output.
Otherwise if you bother to connect it to the old analog this remains a good map.
In conclusion, I find it unfortunate that this kind of technique is very vague details in the product description, I do not think the only one wanting to connect my computer to my optical amplifier, especially nowadays, damage ....
