I am confused as how to properly install the drivers for the radeon 4850 for HDMI video and audio out. The motherboard I

[Qianglong]

I am confused as how to properly install the drivers for the radeon 4850 for HDMI video and audio out. The motherboard I am using has its own integrated audio - should I disable that in the bios first and only install the ATI catalyst drivers which already comes with the required audio drivers for the 4850 card?

 

[NoStateofMind]

Don't touch the sound in BIOS. The audio on the 4850 is only passthrough, not an actual card. Just make sure you uninstall old drivers first and then install new drivers for your new GPU.

 

[Qianglong]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Don't touch the sound in BIOS. The audio on the 4850 is only passthrough, not an actual card. Just make sure you uninstall old drivers first and then install new drivers for your new GPU.

Thanks for the info! So would getting a better sound card other than the integrated improve the audio?

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Qianglong

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Don't touch the sound in BIOS. The audio on the 4850 is only passthrough, not an actual card. Just make sure you uninstall old drivers first and then install new drivers for your new GPU.

Thanks for the info! So would getting a better sound card other than the integrated improve the audio?

You may or may not notice the difference. Depends on how sensitive your ears are and what speakers/headphones you use. Onboard is ok for basic computing but if you are an audiophile you'll want a stand alone card.

 

[Qianglong]

Thanks again for the reply..
I am using the HDMI audio out primarily for videos and the HTPC will be connected to a high end pioneer receiver. I guess if i use LCPM out on the card, the onboard sound card will not matter?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't think that the HDMI audio output on ATI cards is just a "passthrough". That would imply that you need to run the SPDIF output from your motherboard audio to the card, and that it just passes it through to HDMI. That's how some NV cards work, but that's NOT how ATI cards work. They require additional Realtek ATI HDMI audio drivers to be installed in the system, and then you need to select the default system audio driver as "Realtek HDMI audio output". (This is a per-user setting, btw.)

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
I don't think that the HDMI audio output on ATI cards is just a "passthrough". That would imply that you need to run the SPDIF output from your motherboard audio to the card, and that it just passes it through to HDMI. That's how some NV cards work, but that's NOT how ATI cards work. They require additional Realtek ATI HDMI audio drivers to be installed in the system, and then you need to select the default system audio driver as "Realtek HDMI audio output". (This is a per-user setting, btw.)

Correct. All of PC Surgeon's advice in this thread is wrong. Just use the vidcard's HDMI driver. A separate sound card (except perhaps the ridiculous Xonar HDAV 1.3) would actually degrade the signal.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Ha! I was confused on how to do the opposite. I just bought a new monitor, it has built in speakers. I hooked up the HDMI, and much to my dismay I was no longer getting sound through my Z5500's, the sound was going through the monitor speakers. Turns out you don't have to do a thing, it'll just work for what you want.

Incase anyone cares, I disabled the "ATI Function Driver for High Definition Audio - ATIAA01" in device manager and now the pass-through appears to be disabled, sound is back through my motherboard and to my Z5500's.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
I don't think that the HDMI audio output on ATI cards is just a "passthrough". That would imply that you need to run the SPDIF output from your motherboard audio to the card, and that it just passes it through to HDMI. That's how some NV cards work, but that's NOT how ATI cards work. They require additional Realtek ATI HDMI audio drivers to be installed in the system, and then you need to select the default system audio driver as "Realtek HDMI audio output". (This is a per-user setting, btw.)

It is, try disabling your onboard sound or removing your sound card and see if the ATI card can provide sound on its own. It cannot and will not. Passthrough.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: s44

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
I don't think that the HDMI audio output on ATI cards is just a "passthrough". That would imply that you need to run the SPDIF output from your motherboard audio to the card, and that it just passes it through to HDMI. That's how some NV cards work, but that's NOT how ATI cards work. They require additional Realtek ATI HDMI audio drivers to be installed in the system, and then you need to select the default system audio driver as "Realtek HDMI audio output". (This is a per-user setting, btw.)

Correct. All of PC Surgeon's advice in this thread is wrong. Just use the vidcard's HDMI driver. A separate sound card (except perhaps the ridiculous Xonar HDAV 1.3) would actually degrade the signal.

Then as I stated above, no need for an onboard soundcard or standalone if ATi has sound on its card. Go ahead and disable like the post to virtuallarry and you'll find out very quickly how wrong I am.