Rs out cs out ss out что это

Домашняя страничка, Гурий Лапидус

Эти гнезда используются аудио-устройствами. Каждое имеет свой цвет и предназначено для своих целей:

RS-Out (Оранжевый) — выход для тыльных колонок для 2/4/6/8-канального аудио режима
SS-Out (Черный) — выход для боковых колонок для 8-канального аудио режима
CS-Out (Серый) — выход для центровой/сабвуфера для 2/4/6/8-канального аудио режима

ну и до кучи:
Line-In (синий) — для присоединения различных устройств (DVD, CD, магнитол)
Line-Out (белый) — наушники или колонки 2/4/6/8-канальном аудио режиме
Microphone-Port (Розовый) — микрофон

Информация актуальна для звуковой карты чипсета Intel i915GM. Но скорее всего это индустриальный стандарт и его придерживаются все производители.

Motherboard Audio Ports – A Complete Guide

If you recently got a new pair of headphones or speakers, you’re likely searching for the correct audio ports on your computer. While it is possible to directly connect them to a monitor, using the integrated ones on the motherboard would be the best option.

Well, there are different types of audio interfaces, and modern circuit boards can have six or more embedded in them. However, this depends on the model, and you may even find comparatively fewer ones on yours. Likewise, a laptop motherboard mostly comes with just one audio port, which can work as both input and output.

Since different audio devices require different connections, it’s essential that you have proper knowledge about these interfaces. In this article, you will learn about all the audio ports found on a motherboard, along with their location and color.

Table of Contents

Do All Motherboards Have the Same Audio Ports?

Basically, an audio interface allows the connection and communication of any audio device with a computer. Although the number differs on every motherboard, most modern ones adopt the PC System Design Guide and come with five or six ports.

Before we dive into the details of specific ports, the table below includes everything that should help you distinguish different audio ports on a motherboard.

Different Motherboard Audio Ports

Moving on, the location of audio ports on most motherboards remains identical. Well, they are all grouped together on the back I/O panel.

Audio Port Location in Motherboard

However, you may also notice audio ports on the front panel of a PC casing. But you need to note that they are not embedded in your motherboard. Instead, they require a connection with the audio headers, which we’ll save to discuss some other day.

What are the Different Types of Motherboard Audio Ports?

Like any other computer port, the audio interface is primarily categorized into two – input and output. While the former fetches audio signals into the computer (for example, the input of your voice using a microphone), the latter sends an audio signal out of the PC (for example, sound coming from a speaker).

Indeed, choosing the correct port is quite essential. This is because if you do not connect your audio devices to the right port, you may experience problems like the speaker not working, the computer not detecting the microphone, etc.

However, this case doesn’t apply to those motherboards (mainly laptops) with only one dedicated audio interface that can function as both ports. Once you connect the peripheral, the necessary driver is automatically installed and performs as required.

Well, most motherboard manufacturers use standard colors to distinguish the input from output ports. Nonetheless, some do not apply this to their models and instead have just the black ones. Therefore, icons or labels are the best way to identify the interface.

Regarding the same, this section includes everything you should know about the different types of motherboard audio ports, along with their colors and labels.

Mic-In

Mic-In Port in Motherboard

Microphone-In or Mic-in is the dedicated input audio port for plugging microphones. This port is present in almost every motherboard and is generally recognized by its pink color. To connect a microphone to the motherboard, you require a 3.5 mm audio jack, which usually comes attached to the audio device.

Usually, the Mic-In ports come with a pictogram of a mic or, in some models, labeled as MIC. Hence, even if yours doesn’t have this audio interface, you should recognize it without any fuss.

Moreover, you will likely not find the pink port on your laptop’s motherboard. Instead, it has one audio interface that can take in both input (microphone) and output (headphone/speaker).

Line-Out

Line-Out Port in Motherboard

The Line-Out, also recognized as the Headphone-Out or Audio-Out, is an output port that transfers a PC’s audio to speakers and headphones. Usually, it is recognized by its green color and also with a headphone or outgoing sound wave icon. In some motherboards, it may also be labeled “AUX”.

Well, this type of port is suitable for a 2.0-channel system, meaning you can connect any stereo device (headphones or speakers). To connect these audio peripherals, all you need is a 3.5 mm audio cable.

Interestingly, a few motherboards are equipped with a 6.35 mm, drawing more power to the headphones. Thus, a 6.35 mm audio cable provides comparatively lower resistance and capacitance to support high-end audio equipment.

Line-In

Line-In Port in Motherboard

Another primary port that comes embedded in most motherboards is the Line-In port. If you’re trying to get audio input signals from an external audio device to record, play, or modify their sound, this should be the one you’re looking for.

Basically, you can connect any audio input peripheral here, like amplifiers, CD/DVD players, MIDI instruments, and many more. In fact, plugging in a microphone will also make it work completely fine. However, we recommend using the above-mentioned Mic-In port for this device as the amplification is much better there.

Moving on, the Line-In port is light blue in color, and you may also recognize this by an incoming sound wave icon beneath it. However, such a port is absent on laptop motherboards, and you’ll need regular audio ports to connect the input audio devices.

CS-Out

CS-Out Port in Motherboard

Center Speaker-Out, or simply CS-Out, is an audio output port found in high-end motherboards that support the connection of surround sound systems. Well, they are orange or lime-colored and can be recognized by the label “c/sub” or a pictogram of a speaker.

To be precise, this is the dedicated interface for connecting a subwoofer, center/front speaker, or soundbar to your TV or even computer. Hence, these devices provide extra bass to your sound system and are perfect for music lovers.

RS-Out

RS-Out Port in Motherboard

Rear Speaker-Out or RS-Out is the audio output port for the speakers behind you or the back of the center speakers. Like the CS-Out, you can use this for connecting surround sound systems.

Moreover, identification of the port is also easy, like the other audio interfaces. All you have to look for is the black port. But in those motherboards that do not follow the color standards, you should check the label “rear” accompanied by a speaker symbol.

SS-Out

SS-Out Port in Motherboard

Another audio output port on the motherboard dedicated to the surrounding sound system is the Side Speakers-Out or SS-Out. In fact, the presence of this interface allows for the setting up a 7.1 audio channel system.

Furthermore, SS-Out can be of different colors – white, silver, or grey. But if your motherboard has no colors in the audio ports, you can check the label that indicates “side” and a speaker icon.

S/PDIF-Out

S/PDIF-Out Port in Motherboard

Until now, we’ve only covered the audio ports that work on analog signals. Now, let’s focus on the interface that outputs digital signals, the S/PDIF-Out (Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format), which is present in most modern motherboards.

Unlike the regular ones, these optical ports are square-shaped and may even illuminate lights out of them. Moreover, they require digital optical cables for transmitting digital signals from a PC to an audio output device.

Depending on the model, you may find different types of optical ports on a motherboard. These can be identified using the labels “Digital Audio Out”, “TOSLINK”, “S/PDIF”, etc.

Coaxial-Out

Coaxial-Out Port in Motherboard

Coaxial-Out is another digital output port on a motherboard. Basically, it works very similarly to the S/PDIF-Out port, and the only difference is that it requires a copper or RCA cable to establish a connection with your speaker.

An advantage of using Co-axial Out is that they do not just carry audio but also digital signals. Moreover, it supports comparatively higher bandwidth (up to 24-bit/192kHz) than the optical port (up to 96kHz). Thus, Co-axial-Out is best for connecting home theater systems, digital speakers, and headphones.

Other Ports

Apart from just the dedicated audio ports, you can also use other motherboard ports that can carry audio and digital signals. These include USB, HDMI, and DisplayPort.

Indeed, USB headphones are getting popular these days, and they even have a microphone attached. In such a case, you do not have to look for dedicated input or audio port; you can simply connect the device to a USB port.

Now, the headphone automatically adapts to the digital interface, and your computer installs the required drivers to function correctly. Undoubtedly, this is much more advantageous on laptop motherboards that do not have the standard 3.5 mm analog output ports.

Likewise, HDMI speakers have also gained popularity in the past few years. Thus, if you’re looking to connect such a device to your motherboard, the correct port you should look for is the HDMI ARC. Unfortunately, this port might be absent on some models.

Verdict

Connecting your speakers and headphones (open-back or close-back) to the appropriate port isn’t as challenging as one might think. If you already have stereo headphones, you can directly plug the device into the dedicated headphone out port on the motherboard.

Likewise, if you’re trying to connect a home theatre system to your PC, you can use either the optical/coaxial or the standard 3.5 mm ports. In the case of the latter one, you can utilize all the Line-Out, CS-Out, RS-Out, and SS-Out ports.

Suppose you have a 7.1-channel setup (two rear speakers, two front speakers, two side speakers, and a subwoofer). Here, you need to connect the front speakers to the Line-Out, the rear speakers to RS-Out, the side speakers to SS-Out, and the subwoofer or central speakers to CS-Out. You can follow a similar technique to connect 3.1, 5.1, or 6.1 surround systems to the motherboard ports.

Note: The ‘.1’ after each speaker system refers to the inclusion of a subwoofer, which itself is not a speaker but still holds great value in the surround system.

Where to Plugin Speaker Cables | What are RS-Out, CS-Out, L-In, L-Out, SPDIF Out, and SS-Out

The motherboard rear I/O comes with a lot of ports, including six (in some cases, seven) audio ports. This plethora of ports can get confusing for any user, especially when mixing and matching ports can lead to no audio signal, or in the worst-case scenario, can end up damaging your audio hardware. So, in this article, let us look at the most common ports included with a motherboard rear I/O, where to plug in various inputs and output cables, and the conventional colour code for each audio port.

What are the Audio Ports in the Rear I/O of a Motherboard?

Most motherboards come with six audio ports. These include the following:

1. Line Out: The Line-Out (L-OUT) port is used to plug into your headphones and speakers in a 2-channel audio output configuration. This port gives an analogue audio output signal. In 4-channel and above configurations, this port is used to connect front speakers. It is generally coded in lime. Some motherboards may highlight this port as it is the most commonly used rear I/O audio port.
2. Line In: The Line-In (L-IN) port can be used to plug in input devices like audio mixers, the input signal from amplifiers, etc. Do not confuse the Line In port with the Microphone In (MIC-IN) port. The L-IN port accepts a 1V signal, which is a thousand times more than the signal MIC-IN port operates with. This port is generally colour coded in a light shade of blue.
3. Microphone In: The Microphone-In (MIC-IN) port can be used to plug in low power microphones which use a 3.5mm AUX output cable. Some examples can be cheap microphones and headset microphones. These ports are generally colour-coded in pink.
4. Center/Subwoofer Out: The Center/Subwoofer Out port can be used to configure a surround sound system in 4-channel or above audio configurations. The center speaker or the subwoofer of a home theater system can be plugged into the center/subwoofer out port. This port should only be used in 6-channel or above audio configurations. It is generally colour coded in orange.
5. Rear Speakers: The rear speakers port, generally coded in black, can be used to connect rear speakers in 4-channel or above audio configurations.
6. Side Speakers: The side speakers port can be used to configure additional speakers in 8-channel audio configurations only. This port is colour coded in grey.

A quick guide to motherboard rear I/O audio ports

Some newer motherboards also include a Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF). These ports enable users to experience the digital audio signal generated by the system without converting it into analogue, a process that can reduce audio quality significantly. S/PDIF ports were mostly included as a 3-pin or 4-pin internal header on the motherboard, and users were required to install an additional expansion card to enjoy the digital output. But, most mid-range and high-end motherboards include a rearI/O port dedicated to digital interfaces these days.

Some lower-end motherboards omit the black and grey audio out ports for a Surround Left/Right port. This port can be used to configure a surround sound system with a maximum of two speakers. Generally, this port is color-coded in black too.

Also, some motherboards do not come with any colour coding on their ports. You have to follow the respective user manual of the particular motherboard in question to configure the audio of these motherboards.

A motherboard with no colour coding on the rear I/O audio out ports

The huge number of ports and the confusing colour coding can be a bit overwhelming for several users, We hope you found this guide useful.

How to connect computer speakers

Since many desktop computers don't have built-in sound output, external speakers and headphones can be essential for listening to audio on your device. If you are having trouble connecting these peripherals to your computer, review the sections below for help.

Connecting speakers or headphones to a 3.5 mm mini jack

On most portable speakers, the right-channel speaker is the "main" speaker with the volume knob, and it often has two or more wires coming out of the back. One of these wires should connect to the left speaker, and another should have a 3.5 mm mini plug that connects to your computer's audio output jack. If your speakers require a power source to amplify the audio, there should also be a power cord. This cord needs to connect to a wall outlet or surge protector outlet.

On the back of the computer, connect the mini plug to the audio line-level output. This port is usually colored lime green, as shown in the picture.

Some motherboards may also have the following connections (not pictured) for 4, 5.1, and 7.1 speaker setups.

— Center / subwoofer speaker.
• RS-Out — Rear surround sound line out. — Side surround sound speaker.

USB speakers or headphones

To connect a set of USB speakers or headphones, insert the device's USB connector into one of your computer's open USB ports (as shown in the picture). The device should be automatically recognized by the computer. For additional information, consult the user manual for your device.

Laptop users

To connect speakers to a laptop with no sound out port, insert the mini plug into the headphones port.

Speakers with a subwoofer

If your speakers have a subwoofer, the right speaker plugs into the subwoofer. Make sure the subwoofer is also turned on if it has a power switch on the back.

Can I plug speakers into a running computer?

Yes. It is ok to plug in and disconnect speakers while the computer is on and running. Most operating systems today also show a pop-up notice when speakers are connected to and disconnected from the computer.

Test the speakers

After the speakers are connected, adjust the volume to make sure it is not too loud or quiet by adjusting the volume knob. Open a sound or video file, put in an audio CD, or visit a website like YouTube to test the speakers and make sure they're working.

Do I need to install drivers for speakers?

No. Speakers do not need drivers. If no speakers are working with the computer, the sound card may need to have drivers installed.