CDRom Audio cable, Do I need it?

[webbo254]

I am talking about one of these:

http://store.generalsales.com/images/CA-CDAUDIO.bmp

Do I actually need to connect one of these cables from my DVD drive to my sound card, as I can play CD's and DVD's fine with sound and I don't have one of these connected. What does it do and is it required?

 

[Zorg]

You don't need it.

 

[webbo254]

Why don't I need it, whats its purpose?

 

[badnob]

Iit carries an analog signal from the drive straight to the soundcard. Modern machines seem to have no issue playing 'through the computer' i.e. the CD gets read by the PC (using CPU and Memory) and software (winamp or suchlike) and then the sound is sent through the PCI bus to the audio hardware.

I remember with an older windows 3.1 PC it enabled me to press play on the CD drive (yes, they used to have a play and and eject button) and the drive would spin, spit the analogue signal down the wire in question and I could listen to the CD without using any software player.

I don't bother with the wires now and it sounds just as good so no, you don't need it.

 

[webbo254]

Ok thanks alot for your help badnob

 

[Zorg]

The wire would also make your life easier if you were using Linux. Just ignore it.