Sandy Bridge plus eVGA nvidia GTX 570 on Z68

[BonzaiDuck]

When I originally built and set up my SB system with ASUS P8Z68-V Pro, I had also purchased the GTX 570 dGPU. Thoughtlessly, I inserted it into the PCI-E slot before first bootup. Quickly discovered that system defaults to dGPU when I had initial monitor connections to iGPU ports on back of mobo.

So the system "evolved" as one utilizing "dGPU" mode.

I am now troubleshooting a co-existence with my Logitech Z640 PC 5.1 analog speaker system and an HDMI connection to my Onkyo AV/Receiver and 5.1 speakers. (See post on the AV Home-Theater forum).

While I had been able to make this connection successfully, and enjoyed it for some two weeks of leaving the AV Receiver turned "on," turning it off to use "passthrough" mode to the HDTV and reverting back to the Logitech (the RealTek onboard audio of the motherboard) -- becomes a problem when I want to get BACK to the AV Receiver output (turning IT "on").

Even if I do the "right" thing and raise up Media Center to "Tasks->General->Set up Media Center-> Set-up speakers," it is becoming a real hassle of hit and miss.

Before I get it resolved, I get -- within Media Center -- failed "Test" to play through speakers, and then a Media Center error message of "Video error . . . . missing files . . . restart Media Center or restart computer."

This . . . is . . . a . . . . b****. there are times I'd like to turn the AV Receiver "Off" while using the computer and -- maybe -- getting HDTV and sound through the analog speakers.

Now I'm wondering if having the nVidia audio drivers (for GTX 570) configured and co-existing with the RealTek drivers. I'm wondering if I can't instead use the mini-HDMI port on the motherboard (and therefore the Intel Graphics 3000) to drive the Home Theater HDMI to ONKYO/HDTV hookup. In such a case, the system would use the RealTek digital audio drivers as well as the analog drivers for the Logitech speaker system.

Can I have one monitor hooked up to the onboard video/audio, and another monitor connected to the GTX 570? Of course, I might try and connect both to the motherboard and set up to "iGPU" mode -- saving power. But I've gone through a lot of hassle before trying to configure those mobo ports. the BIOS has to be pre-set. And you don't know what's going to happen until after you boot up.

The other option is to use the nVidia drivers and digital sound exclusively, leave the AV Receiver turned on perpetually, or just have no sound at all when the Receiver is turned "off."

Any thoughts? I HATE screwing around with things that lead me into more and more deadends and complications. I used to be GOOD at it, but I'm OLD and I like to avoid "complications."

What say?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

OK . . . Here's a solution I think may work.

Here -- I'm speaking about my own hardware, but this may be useful to someone else who posted this problem. I'm adding post to his thread and mine as well.

Assume that "simple is best" and that RealTek analog 5.1 and digital audio output (RealTek) driven by same or compatible drivers. Therefore -- eliminate the nVidia audio thru HDMI, and use SP/DIF cable to connect onboard sound to the AV/Receiver. I cannot see why this will not work -- but it's just an extra $40 cable. Inputs to the AV/Receiver can be reassigned.

I cannot confirm this yet, but I contacted a Cables-to-Go rep (now called C2G), who was only concerned about ability to disable computer's HDMI audio. But like Dylan says in "highway 61" -- This can be very easily done . . . out there on Hi-way . . . sixty-one! . . "

Comment? encouragement? Whatever?