AMD Radeon HD 4350 and 4550: Released Review thread

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: PUN
Check all ATI threads on AVSforums, AMD forum, etc. This is a common problem not fixed by ATI. Overboard? i am tellling people a fact that 4850, 3450, 2400 series of cards do not support HDMI video and audio. If you want to use it for video only, then it may work for you, but if you are planning on using it as HTPC, then this is an absolute product to avoid.

EDIT: Like I said earlier, with Cat 8.2 the audio works through HDMI. this may work for 24" or under but if you use it for anything above, like my 52" Philips LCD or 42" Sceptre LCD, it is absolutely blinding. This is the reason why ATI stopped HDMI support from 8.3 and on.

I plan on buying one of the cards for my HTPC, so I'll be putting my money where my mouth is, so to speak.

 

[rsd]

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: RanDum72
The 4550 looks the perfect HTPC video card. Gotta replace the 3450 in my HTPC. While good, no 5.1 PCM over HDMI kinda limits the whole HT expereince, especially for Blu-ray. Show me a low-profile 4550 with HDMI and I'm on it.

ha, forget about 5.1PCM.
Can't even get a single channel through HDMI.

I would stay away from ATI HDMI audio feed.
I have tried 3 different ATI HDMI solution including adaptor and straight HDMI out with no luck.

From what I've read it should be fairly straight-forward. Are you sure you don't have conflicts with an existing sound card?

Just search this forum or google "ATI HDMI"

I've spent over 25hrs on this thing.
4850 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach
3450 HDMI straight approach
2400 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach

Only Catalyst 8.2 works with both video and audio...but video quality is extremely poor. Blurry image and oversharpened text, making ones eye blind.

ATI disabled the sound 8.3 and on...not sure the reason why...maybe they couldn't figure out the fix the image quality on it.

I called ATI support, and they advised me to use RCA audio out to my reciever. Now, what is the point of having a HDMI if I m going to rca out?

I did some searching, and the problem seems to be nowhere near as widespread as you claim. Telling people to avoid an entire brand of cards because of it would be overboard. Lets see what these cards can do before you label them "worthless."

Check all ATI threads on AVSforums, AMD forum, etc. This is a common problem not fixed by ATI. Overboard? i am tellling people a fact that 4850, 3450, 2400 series of cards do not support HDMI video and audio. If you want to use it for video only, then it may work for you, but if you are planning on using it as HTPC, then this is an absolute product to avoid.

EDIT: Like I said earlier, with Cat 8.2 the audio works through HDMI. this may work for 24" or under but if you use it for anything above, like my 52" Philips LCD or 42" Sceptre LCD, it is absolutely blinding. This is the reason why ATI stopped HDMI support from 8.3 and on.

Sorry but this is just blatantly WRONG.

You might need to get the drivers from Realtek but using the 4xxx cards to get audio and video is very doable as many have done so.

PEBKAC

 

[PUN]

Originally posted by: rsd

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: RanDum72
The 4550 looks the perfect HTPC video card. Gotta replace the 3450 in my HTPC. While good, no 5.1 PCM over HDMI kinda limits the whole HT expereince, especially for Blu-ray. Show me a low-profile 4550 with HDMI and I'm on it.

ha, forget about 5.1PCM.
Can't even get a single channel through HDMI.

I would stay away from ATI HDMI audio feed.
I have tried 3 different ATI HDMI solution including adaptor and straight HDMI out with no luck.

From what I've read it should be fairly straight-forward. Are you sure you don't have conflicts with an existing sound card?

Just search this forum or google "ATI HDMI"

I've spent over 25hrs on this thing.
4850 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach
3450 HDMI straight approach
2400 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach

Only Catalyst 8.2 works with both video and audio...but video quality is extremely poor. Blurry image and oversharpened text, making ones eye blind.

ATI disabled the sound 8.3 and on...not sure the reason why...maybe they couldn't figure out the fix the image quality on it.

I called ATI support, and they advised me to use RCA audio out to my reciever. Now, what is the point of having a HDMI if I m going to rca out?

I did some searching, and the problem seems to be nowhere near as widespread as you claim. Telling people to avoid an entire brand of cards because of it would be overboard. Lets see what these cards can do before you label them "worthless."

Check all ATI threads on AVSforums, AMD forum, etc. This is a common problem not fixed by ATI. Overboard? i am tellling people a fact that 4850, 3450, 2400 series of cards do not support HDMI video and audio. If you want to use it for video only, then it may work for you, but if you are planning on using it as HTPC, then this is an absolute product to avoid.

EDIT: Like I said earlier, with Cat 8.2 the audio works through HDMI. this may work for 24" or under but if you use it for anything above, like my 52" Philips LCD or 42" Sceptre LCD, it is absolutely blinding. This is the reason why ATI stopped HDMI support from 8.3 and on.

Sorry but this is just blatantly WRONG.

You might need to get the drivers from Realtek but using the 4xxx cards to get audio and video is very doable as many have done so.

PEBKAC

tried every driver including 2.10 from realtek.
Many with audio and video are using 8.2 catalyst. 8.3 Catalyst and on don't support HDMI audio and this is a fact straight from ATI.

If you plan on using a 42"+ LCD, then I strongly recommend getting a nvidia HDMI or get a optical out/HDMI audio card.

 

[rsd]

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: rsd

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: RanDum72
The 4550 looks the perfect HTPC video card. Gotta replace the 3450 in my HTPC. While good, no 5.1 PCM over HDMI kinda limits the whole HT expereince, especially for Blu-ray. Show me a low-profile 4550 with HDMI and I'm on it.

ha, forget about 5.1PCM.
Can't even get a single channel through HDMI.

I would stay away from ATI HDMI audio feed.
I have tried 3 different ATI HDMI solution including adaptor and straight HDMI out with no luck.

From what I've read it should be fairly straight-forward. Are you sure you don't have conflicts with an existing sound card?

Just search this forum or google "ATI HDMI"

I've spent over 25hrs on this thing.
4850 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach
3450 HDMI straight approach
2400 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach

Only Catalyst 8.2 works with both video and audio...but video quality is extremely poor. Blurry image and oversharpened text, making ones eye blind.

ATI disabled the sound 8.3 and on...not sure the reason why...maybe they couldn't figure out the fix the image quality on it.

I called ATI support, and they advised me to use RCA audio out to my reciever. Now, what is the point of having a HDMI if I m going to rca out?

I did some searching, and the problem seems to be nowhere near as widespread as you claim. Telling people to avoid an entire brand of cards because of it would be overboard. Lets see what these cards can do before you label them "worthless."

Check all ATI threads on AVSforums, AMD forum, etc. This is a common problem not fixed by ATI. Overboard? i am tellling people a fact that 4850, 3450, 2400 series of cards do not support HDMI video and audio. If you want to use it for video only, then it may work for you, but if you are planning on using it as HTPC, then this is an absolute product to avoid.

EDIT: Like I said earlier, with Cat 8.2 the audio works through HDMI. this may work for 24" or under but if you use it for anything above, like my 52" Philips LCD or 42" Sceptre LCD, it is absolutely blinding. This is the reason why ATI stopped HDMI support from 8.3 and on.

Sorry but this is just blatantly WRONG.

You might need to get the drivers from Realtek but using the 4xxx cards to get audio and video is very doable as many have done so.

PEBKAC

tried every driver including 2.10 from realtek.
Many with audio and video are using 8.2 catalyst. 8.3 Catalyst and on don't support HDMI audio and this is a fact straight from ATI.

If you plan on using a 42"+ LCD, then I strongly recommend getting a nvidia HDMI or get a optical out/HDMI audio card.

Sorry it is NOT a fact. If you get a 4xxx series card it will do audio and video. Just because YOU have had issues doesn't mean it fails for everyone. Go look at avsforum tons of people have it working. I had it working fine when I had a 4850.

I agree it can be a pain to get the drivers installed correctly (as old realtek drivers will often be installed instead of the proper ones), but it WORKS. It took me maybe 1hr but I had it doing 1080p via HDMI to my 42" LCD with 7.1 LPCM audio.

 

[PUN]

Originally posted by: rsd

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: rsd

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: RanDum72
The 4550 looks the perfect HTPC video card. Gotta replace the 3450 in my HTPC. While good, no 5.1 PCM over HDMI kinda limits the whole HT expereince, especially for Blu-ray. Show me a low-profile 4550 with HDMI and I'm on it.

ha, forget about 5.1PCM.
Can't even get a single channel through HDMI.

I would stay away from ATI HDMI audio feed.
I have tried 3 different ATI HDMI solution including adaptor and straight HDMI out with no luck.

From what I've read it should be fairly straight-forward. Are you sure you don't have conflicts with an existing sound card?

Just search this forum or google "ATI HDMI"

I've spent over 25hrs on this thing.
4850 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach
3450 HDMI straight approach
2400 DVI to HDMI "grey" dongle approach

Only Catalyst 8.2 works with both video and audio...but video quality is extremely poor. Blurry image and oversharpened text, making ones eye blind.

ATI disabled the sound 8.3 and on...not sure the reason why...maybe they couldn't figure out the fix the image quality on it.

I called ATI support, and they advised me to use RCA audio out to my reciever. Now, what is the point of having a HDMI if I m going to rca out?

I did some searching, and the problem seems to be nowhere near as widespread as you claim. Telling people to avoid an entire brand of cards because of it would be overboard. Lets see what these cards can do before you label them "worthless."

Check all ATI threads on AVSforums, AMD forum, etc. This is a common problem not fixed by ATI. Overboard? i am tellling people a fact that 4850, 3450, 2400 series of cards do not support HDMI video and audio. If you want to use it for video only, then it may work for you, but if you are planning on using it as HTPC, then this is an absolute product to avoid.

EDIT: Like I said earlier, with Cat 8.2 the audio works through HDMI. this may work for 24" or under but if you use it for anything above, like my 52" Philips LCD or 42" Sceptre LCD, it is absolutely blinding. This is the reason why ATI stopped HDMI support from 8.3 and on.

Sorry but this is just blatantly WRONG.

You might need to get the drivers from Realtek but using the 4xxx cards to get audio and video is very doable as many have done so.

PEBKAC

tried every driver including 2.10 from realtek.
Many with audio and video are using 8.2 catalyst. 8.3 Catalyst and on don't support HDMI audio and this is a fact straight from ATI.

If you plan on using a 42"+ LCD, then I strongly recommend getting a nvidia HDMI or get a optical out/HDMI audio card.

Sorry it is NOT a fact. If you get a 4xxx series card it will do audio and video. Just because YOU have had issues doesn't mean it fails for everyone. Go look at avsforum tons of people have it working. I had it working fine when I had a 4850.

I agree it can be a pain to get the drivers installed correctly (as old realtek drivers will often be installed instead of the proper ones), but it WORKS. It took me maybe 1hr but I had it doing 1080p via HDMI to my 42" LCD with 7.1 LPCM audio.

which catalyst driver are you using?
So far, all avsforums users are using 8.2 to get the audio working.

 

[MrPickins]

What I want to know is: where are all the fanless HD4550's? I hate slow launches.

 

[nextascy]

I must say you have to be doing something wrong. I have done this with every model of the 3XXX series and 4XXXX series, with supporting drivers 8.2 all the way through to 8.9, and realtek hdmi since it was release and I have never had a problem. Given, some of the time, it look longer to make work, that's call troubleshooting, but there was many times, it just work, especially with the newer drivers. I don't know the basis of your claim, but I can attest, I have ran both Vista x32 and x64 on all these configuration without a problem. I love trying new hardware all the time, that's why I have been through so many models. If I recall correctly, HDMI worked even with my 2600XT. With the 4XXX series, by far, has awesome video deinterlacing and upscaling. HDMI audio and LPCM multichannel works like a charm.

On another note, where are the 4550 with built in hdmi???