DVI to HDMI cable. Does it handle audio?

[larciel]

I picked up this radeon hd 4800 series where hdmi audio is enabled.

I have old cable that's dvi to hdmi. Can I connect that cable directly to the video card and to my LCD Tv and I'd get the sound as well as video?

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

DVI is a video cable.

 

[larciel]

so that dvi to hdmi converter enables sound?

 

[shempf]

no, not enough bandwidth

 

[Spicedaddy]

Originally posted by: larciel
so that dvi to hdmi converter enables sound?

yes, the DVI connector has extra pins for HDMI audio.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: larciel
I picked up this radeon hd 4800 series where hdmi audio is enabled.

I have old cable that's dvi to hdmi. Can I connect that cable directly to the video card and to my LCD Tv and I'd get the sound as well as video?

No; you'll need some sort of audio connection as well.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Spicedaddy

Originally posted by: larciel
so that dvi to hdmi converter enables sound?

yes, the DVI connector has extra pins for HDMI audio.

Let's be more explicit: using a DVI-to-HDMI converter on a 4800-series Radeon card, you'll get sound. On some random DVI output, you will not.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: shempf
no, not enough bandwidth

Not a bandwidth issue. It's a pinout issue. ATI has done some custom mapping of their DVI port to support a dvi-hdmi connection that carries audio. But you do need the custom adaptor from ATI.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Thank goodness erwos and sdifox finally gave a decent answer. What was with everyone's awful answers that reaked of "you should know this already." I swear these forums are getting more and more worthless for information.

OP, as erwos and sdifox said, ATI made a custom DVI pinout that provides audio. You just have to use their adapter to do it. That unfortunately means that you wont be able to get a $2 cheap adapter, but it can be done.

HIS sells one on Newegg for about $15 shipped. linky.

That will accomplish what you want. If your card has HDCP (which most of the 4800's do), then all you need is that adapter to transmit audio, HDCP, and the video through the DVI connector, which you can then send to your TV via HDMI. It should be pretty much transparent to your television or whatever you connect it to.

Good luck OP.

 

[shempf]

cool. A mfg using their noodle

I forget the PC world is diff sometimes, oops

 

[sswingle]

Nvidia does this too, not sure if the adapters are the same or not though.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: sswingle
Nvidia does this too, not sure if the adapters are the same or not though.

Actually, they do not. nVidia provides 8-channel LPCM on their latest nForce boards, but only over a real HDMI output - they do not allow you to go from a DVI output to HDMI with sound.

 

[Oyeve]

http://www.aurora.se/dvi-hdmi.htm

All you ever need to know about DVI

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: sswingle
Nvidia does this too, not sure if the adapters are the same or not though.

Actually, they do not. nVidia provides 8-channel LPCM on their latest nForce boards, but only over a real HDMI output - they do not allow you to go from a DVI output to HDMI with sound.

Then how come the spec sheet for the 9800 (http://www.nvidia.com/object/p...eforce_9800gt_us.html) says this:

HDMI Via adapter
Audio Input for HDMI SPDIF

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: sswingle

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: sswingle
Nvidia does this too, not sure if the adapters are the same or not though.

Actually, they do not. nVidia provides 8-channel LPCM on their latest nForce boards, but only over a real HDMI output - they do not allow you to go from a DVI output to HDMI with sound.

Then how come the spec sheet for the 9800 (http://www.nvidia.com/object/p...eforce_9800gt_us.html) says this:

HDMI Via adapter
Audio Input for HDMI SPDIF

Its says "Page Not Found"

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: sswingle

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: sswingle
Nvidia does this too, not sure if the adapters are the same or not though.

Actually, they do not. nVidia provides 8-channel LPCM on their latest nForce boards, but only over a real HDMI output - they do not allow you to go from a DVI output to HDMI with sound.

Then how come the spec sheet for the 9800 (http://www.nvidia.com/object/p...eforce_9800gt_us.html) says this:

HDMI Via adapter
Audio Input for HDMI SPDIF

Its says "Page Not Found"

Fixed link
http://www.nvidia.com/object/p...geforce_9800gt_us.html

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Both BFG And EVGA offer an adapter for their video cards that work with 9xxx and 2xx series cards. Its a kit that comes with the special DVI -> HDMI adpater, an S/PDIF passthrough cable and an HDMI cable. A bit pricier but either kit comes for about $22 shipped.

BFG is currently out of stock but here is EVGA's link.

Since nvidia doesn't have an audio codec on their cards, you have to provide the sound. Take the S/PDIF connector on your motherboard or if your motherboard doesn't have it you'll have to buy a soundcard with the header. Check your motherboard manual. Otherwise there are many soundcard options. Almost any will work as long as it supports 5.1 or higher. Check the card manual to check for S/PDIF header pins.

The soundcard will process the audio and put it into the nvidia card. The process is then just like the ATI cards. Sound is put out with video through the special DVI port. The special DVI -> HDMI adpater allows video + audio to be sent through HDMI to your television or receiver. Enjoy

Difference is, rather than just setting the High Definition Audio codec on the ATI card to default on your computer, on the nvidia solution you'll have to go in your motherboard sound or soundcard drivers and look for the S/PDIF output option.

Hope this answers some of the questions for you all

 

[sswingle]

Ah, makes sense. I setup an ATI by running the SPDIF from the motherboard, didn't know that newer ones had an actual sound chip on the card.

 

[s44]

Nvidia card = SPDIF only
Nvidia mobo = HD (surround PCM)
ATI card = HD
ATI mobo = SPDIF only

Bizarre, eh?

 

[Eug]

One guy on another forum claims he's just using a regular DVI->HDMI cable but is able to get sound out of the HDMI side. This does not make sense to me.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=75963

If this does indeed work as described, I'm guessing this could actually be a potential problem in terms of compatibility with certain DVI hardware. Interestingly, he did a firmware update, and the audio support disappeared.