cheapest video card w/ HDMI that carries video AND audio?

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Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
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looking for a cheap PCIE card to toss in my XBMC machine that can send both audio AND video?

Suggestions?
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Homerboy said:
Thanks.
Is it safe to say that if the video card has HDMI, that sound will/can also be sent over that HDMI?
Click to expand...

Nope. Older nVidia cards required you to connect your sound card to the video card to support HDMI audio, though the GT210\220\240 and Fermi parts will now send it on it's own. For ATI, the 4000 and 5000 series will send it on it's own, but the 5000 series can send bitstream while the 4000 series can only do PCM, but that's a niche demand.

Here is pretty darn cheap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127436
 
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E

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
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what about this msi hd 5450 i got for $9 a/r from mwave? what is the audio limitation? no dts-MA/true-hd? only dts 5.1?
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
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The 5450 can do all audio, no limitations. It's strictly a HTPC card, though, as it's performance in anything is extremely slow.
 
E

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
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well then i guess i'll pop it in place of this gt220 and see if it can hold up to super bitrate mkv
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
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It definitely will be able to. I had a 5450 but swapped it for a GT240 DDR5 (same price!) just so I could game a little if I wanted.
 
Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
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pffft all my audio needs (right now) are 2.0. I don't even have a receiver hooked up anymore to the main TV. Just built-in speakers suffice.

While I'm at it, and I have your attention, what's the max cable run on HDMI and/or USB?
 
happy medium

happy medium

Lifer
Jun 8, 2003
14,387
480
126
aggressor said:
Nope. Older nVidia cards required you to connect your sound card to the video card to support HDMI audio, though the GT210\220\240 and Fermi parts will now send it on it's own. For ATI, the 4000 and 5000 series will send it on it's own, but the 5000 series can send bitstream while the 4000 series can only do PCM, but that's a niche demand.

Here is pretty darn cheap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127436
Click to expand...

The card I linked was a ATI card and a 5000 series,128 bit,1gb of memory, 320sp's, and can send audio over Hdmi. I don't recommend 64 bit cards.
Whats the "NOPE" for?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150492
 
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A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,079
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76
Homerboy said:
pffft all my audio needs (right now) are 2.0. I don't even have a receiver hooked up anymore to the main TV. Just built-in speakers suffice.

While I'm at it, and I have your attention, what's the max cable run on HDMI and/or USB?
Click to expand...

HDMI can do like 100ft and maybe longer if you have a repeater. USB is shorter at about 10-15 feet depending on power requirements.
 
Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
aggressor said:
HDMI can do like 100ft and maybe longer if you have a repeater. USB is shorter at about 10-15 feet depending on power requirements.
Click to expand...

Would just be the IR pickup for the remote control... power can't be that high can it?

My plan here is rather than build a new PC to replace my current XBMC machine, I want to just run XBMC off my WHS machine in the basement. The WHS machine is probably 20ft awat from the TV in question so I figured, toss a HDMI card in there, run the USB for IR and HDMI for video/sound up to TV and I should be set. Save on new hardware, space, heat, electricty etc etc.

Cant you lenghten the USB run with a (powered) hub though I think?
 
A

aggressor

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,079
0
76
Homerboy said:
Would just be the IR pickup for the remote control... power can't be that high can it?

My plan here is rather than build a new PC to replace my current XBMC machine, I want to just run XBMC off my WHS machine in the basement. The WHS machine is probably 20ft awat from the TV in question so I figured, toss a HDMI card in there, run the USB for IR and HDMI for video/sound up to TV and I should be set. Save on new hardware, space, heat, electricty etc etc.

Cant you lenghten the USB run with a (powered) hub though I think?
Click to expand...

Yep, you can do that, too. I think it's a max of 4-5 chains, though
 
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