HDMI out for HTPC

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BoboKatt

Senior member
Nov 18, 2004
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Hey all,
I am trying to understand how video cards that have HDMI out work. I currently have my regular old ATI X1900 sending out my video to my receiver via its DVI... using a DVI to HDMI cable. I then have my optical cable going from my motherboard's onboard sound to my receiver.

This works!

I read Anandtech's review of some of these new motherboards G45, AMD's, and 8200 from Nvidia, and also read a review on the ATI 4530 and 4550 video cards. I would love to be able to just use ONE HDMI cable groing from my computer to my reciever. How does the sound get to the video card? Am I missing the boat on this?

I mean if I am playing a DVD movie, BluRay, or MKV etc from my computer... the audio is discrete no? In the case of these new 4550 or 4530 cards, would someone plug an out from their sound card to the video card and then it all comes out via one HDMI from that video card? Am I unerstanding this correctly?

I am very intereted in getting one of these cards either way but I simply can only find ones that have dual DVI on them. They say the are HDMI compatible... and tha they come with an adaptor. IS this the same thing? In other words i don't need to find one that has an actual HDMI port on it?

thanks!
 
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rsd

Platinum Member
Dec 30, 2003
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The sound chip is built into the video card itself, you don't need a discrete sound card.
 
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BoboKatt

Senior member
Nov 18, 2004
529
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quote: The sound chip is built into the video card itself, you don't need a discrete sound card.


OHHHHHHHHHH. Duh me. Thank you for that.
 
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BoboKatt

Senior member
Nov 18, 2004
529
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And to just clear things up, if the same ATI 4550 says it's HDMI HDTV compatible but only has DVI out.. is the audio still coming out of the DVI?? or in that case no?
 
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rsd

Platinum Member
Dec 30, 2003
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Originally posted by: BoboKatt
And to just clear things up, if the same ATI 4550 says it's HDMI HDTV compatible but only has DVI out.. is the audio still coming out of the DVI?? or in that case no?
Click to expand...

Most of them include a DVI->HDMI adapter that will allow you to get sound. The sound capability is still in the card, you just need that HDMI output (whether through an adapter or if it is natively built into the card) to be able to access it.

However not all manufacturers include the adapter and you may have to purchase it separately. Note not just any DVI->HDMI adapter will work, you need specific ones.
 
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Ricochet

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 1999
6,390
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Bumping this for some clarification. For some of the newer cards, ie EVGA GTX 280, HDMI is not under its specs. Will the DVI->HDMI adapter send any sound?
 
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footballrunner800

Senior member
Jan 28, 2008
503
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Originally posted by: ricochet
Bumping this for some clarification. For some of the newer cards, ie EVGA GTX 280, HDMI is not under its specs. Will the DVI->HDMI adapter send any sound?
Click to expand...

No unless it has a SPDIF passthrough. For that you need to buy a cable to connect your card to your MB and a special dvi-hdmi adapter. Im not sure if this is included in all newer Nvidia cards so you have to check the specific card out for this feature.
 
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Ricochet

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 1999
6,390
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Sure doesn't look like it. At least for the EVGA GTX 280 it doesn't appear so.
 
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