What's the deal with the digital cable plug on my new/used dvdrw/cdrw drive?

[rackoon]

I built a MAME computer on the cheap and used a CD-rw drive not knowing that most Roms will be on DVD. No big deal, I just bought a used DVD drive, problem solved, but wait!

The DVD drive has a digital port in the back and I don't even think that my motherboard has a place to pug one in. Can I just skip it? Is it so I can play DVDs on my computer? I probably wont be doing that any way.

[Crax]

as long as you have your power and your ide cables connected, you should be fine.

[ahofle]

Yeah it usually goes into your sound card (or on your motherboard if you have onboard sound) for digital audio.  It's used for CD and DVD audio.

[davieboynj]

you can also connect an led and make a toslink connector out of it...

[rackoon]

My motherboard has on board audio and a spot for the 4pin analog cable. I hooked that up but I don't see a spot for the 2pin digital. My old CD-w drive didn't even have one. So let me guess, its for stuff like surround sound?

[Fozzy The Bear]

So let me guess, its for stuff like surround sound?

Yeah!  Exactly that.... it's the same sort of connection you get out the back of some DVD Players, to send audio in digital format to a surround processor and decoder amplifier.  You can safely ignore it. Just like the other guys said, connect up your power and IDE cables and you're ready to go.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)