Question about HTPC HDMI Setup

[GTaudiophile]

I am thinking about building an HTPC. I will the specs for a different thread...

My question strictly pertains to the HDMI output on say an ATI videocard that offers both video and audio over HDMI.

In addition to the HTPC, there is a HDTV and a surround sound receiver as well.

So what happens to the SINGLE HDMI cable carrying the video and sound?

HTPC>Receiver>HDTV (via two HDMI cables)
HTPC>HDTV>Receiver (via two HDMI cables)

Or do some of you output video only out of HDMI and audio output via SPDIF on say the motherboard?

 

[velillen]

It can be a bit of a hassle just getting drivers and settings the first time but you can (and should be able) to just use a single hdmi from your htpc to your receiver. Then of course hdmi from receiver to tv.

You need (i believe) the ATi gpu drivers AND ATI hdmi audio output drivers. You might also need some realtek drives but not sure on that one.

Me personally, i dont have an HDMi video card so its a dvi-hdmi cable and spidf audio for me.

 

[Binky]

HTPC>Receiver>HDTV (one cable per link)

If you have other devices input devices like cable/sat box, XBOX, etc., they all pipe into the receiver and the receiver does the switching. The HDMI output from the receiver to the TV will generally stay on the same output (e.g. HDMI-1). Most modern receivers have 3-4 HDMI inputs so you can have a total of 3-4 input devices without additional switching devices.

 

[alcoholbob]

Receivers can be quirky. Mine turns audio off when I turn off the TV or switch to other video sources.

Sometimes I want to just listen to music from the htpc with the screen off. Othertimes I want to be reading/doing something on the htpc but want to have audio from another source, like a SACD/DVD player.

I ended up using the hdmi port for audio to the receiver, and DVI port to the TV for video.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Thanks for the explanation/suggestions.