How to Output from My PC to My TV?

[jwhicks727]

I recently purchased an LCD TV with 3 HDMI inputs, along with a VGA/3.5mm Audio designed for connecting to a PC. My video card currently has two DVI outputs, and no HDMI. I'm considering buying a new video card with an HDMI output. I have two questions.

1. If I output from my PC to the TV with my current DVI/Audio outputs (through a DVI-A to SVGA adaptor) will there be any deficit to the image quality (ie will I lose Hi Def)?

2. If I buy a video card that outputs via HDMI, will it include an audio signal (ie is there some internal connection between my sound card and video card or something)?

Let me know if you need any other system specs. Thanks.

 

[mrrman]

why not just buy a DVI-HDMI cable

http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=2404&seq=1&format=2

 

[jwhicks727]

I thought of that, but it wouldn't transmit an audio signal. I don't currently have a surround sound system, so I want to play my PC audio directly to the TV.

 

[Mango1970]

If you buy any of the ATI 4xxxx series video cards... (whether they have native HDMI or DVI) they also do onboard audio. I have an Asus 4550 that has HDMI. You need to install the ATI video drivers and the ATI HDMI drivers from Realtek. Once that is done, one cable (HMDI) will bring video and audio to your TV. If you buy an ATI that has only DVI, then you must buy a dongle/addaptor that combines the DVI and audio from the video card and passes it to the HDMI and then to your TV... but much easier to find an ATI 4XXX video card that has the native HDMI. Best option right now.

That is how I have my HTPC set up, mind you I am sending the one HDMI cable from the video card to my receiver. Should work the same for the TV if that HDMI input also accepts the audio stream.

 

[vj8usa]

Could you use a DVI->HDMI adapter, and then connect the audio separately (using a 3.5mm connector)?

 

[2Xtreme21]

My TV has an HDMI port with 2 RCA audio ports underneath it for PC input. I picked up a DVI -> HDMI cable as well as a 3.5mm -> RCA audio cable, plugged them in, and it kinda works. I never really invested too much time into it, but I could never get the sound to work. I have a new vid card coming in next week that has the ability to stream audio over HDMI, so I'll just be using that.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: jwhicks727
Let me know if you need any other system specs. Thanks.

Is your video card the 7800 GT in your signature? If so, you will NOT get audio through HDMI. More recent cards from ATI and NVIDIA support audio (NVIDIA through an SPDIF passthrough from your onboard sound headers).

 

[Jacen]

Check if your TV supports RGB. Mine Vizio does 1080p over RGB so I have a 6ft RGB cable running via a DVI/RBG adapter. Audio wise I just run a Creative 5.1 cable out from my X-Fi to my Onkyo stereo.

 

[postmortemIA]

as said, ATi 4xxx series doe this most elegant, with a single cable.
if TV has VGA-in, then it has standard PC audio input

if it doesn't, then you'll need some converter to get PC audio from 3.5mm to white and red stereo input.

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: Jacen
Check if your TV supports RGB. Mine Vizio does 1080p over RGB so I have a 6ft RGB cable running via a DVI/RBG adapter. Audio wise I just run a Creative 5.1 cable out from my X-Fi to my Onkyo stereo.

cant you just go from DVI out on your PC card to HDMI on the TV?

 

[Fox5]

Newer ATI cards will come with an HDMI adapter (or built in port) that can do audio over HDMI.
For nvidia, they have some cards with pass through cables to plug in digital audio if your mobo has it. If your mobo has digital audio, you could hook up to an audio system directly as well.
Some TVs will accept analog audio with the HDMI video, so you could just get an adapter for the normal PC audio.