ATi 4870+Audio 7.1?

[Frost, colonel]

Does anyone know why the new ATi GPU has Audio 7.1?
Do they mean 7.1 onboard sound?

If so, then why have they botherd, when all MoBos have onboard sound and many high end gamers have dedicated sound cards anyway?

[invictus]

It is so when you connect it to a tv via HDMI you will also get sound from there. So if you connect it to a receiver? with 5, 6, 7 speakers, you will get your surround sound. -Leon

[Roman Clone]

I don't think you can get the sound for your computer, just to an output from your HDMI to your T.V. For high definition audio on your computer, you will need a Sound Card.

[Stazzvar]

Does anyone know why the new ATi GPU has Audio 7.1?
Do they mean 7.1 onboard sound?

If so, then why have they botherd, when all MoBos have onboard sound and many high end gamers have dedicated sound cards anyway?

Yes it does mean that onboard sound is supporting 7.1.

It is done because more people are using onboard sound than additional card and because it isn't the motherboard of the 2002, they are keeping it up to the latest standards. That's all.