PC to Plasma using HDMI with sound

[Pazza]

I want to connect my PC to my Plasma via HDMI and also carry sound over HDMI. Now, I don't want to buy another GFX card so is there a add-in card to provide a HDMI port and use existing graphics card & on-board sound?

I am aware I can do the DVI to HDMI and seperate sound, but I don't want loads of cables as the Plasma not that close to the PC. I just want to buy a good quality, long HDMI cable.

Any suggestions?

Edit> My GFX card only has 2x DVI ports.

[1stRaven]

Looking at your spec, you have an ATI 4870 card? I have the same one (though mine is a HIS) and mine provides HDMI with audio as well. Check the sound devices under the device manager and see if you have an ATI sound device. If so, you should be able to select this as the sound output device in whatever program you are using to provide sound over HDMI.

[Pazza]

Looking at your spec, you have an ATI 4870 card? I have the same one (though mine is a HIS) and mine provides HDMI with audio as well. Check the sound devices under the device manager and see if you have an ATI sound device. If so, you should be able to select this as the sound output device in whatever program you are using to provide sound over HDMI.

Thanks for the info.. but my card only has 2x DVI ports.

[Pazza]

or... can it transmit sound over DVI being "HDTV" compatible? I think the spec says..."on-chip HDCP, built-in HDMI with 7.1 surround audio" but when reading other posts, they all say no sound over DVI ??

[d3fiant]

I use a DVI to HDMI converter from my gfx card DVI port then a normal HDMI cable to the TV and it works fine. My gfx card is an nvidia so I need to feed an internal spdif cable from my soundcard to my gfx card but I believe the ATI cards have this already onboard their 4xxx and more recent cards so it must simply be changing a setting to specify that audio needs to be sent out of the DVI, most likely in the catalyst drivers somewhere, at least thats my guess but Im not an ATi user

[Output]

I believe you'd need the ATI DVI to HDMI adapter (as well as a HDMI cable of course) to do this, if you didn't get the adapter in with your card, then you would obviously need to source it separately - though making sure that it is listed as being compatible with your card as I believe there are two types available if I'm remembering correctly (one for the 2-series, one for the 3x/4x series) from when I also bought one separately.

From there it would be a matter of making sure the ATI audio driver is installed, and making sure that 'ATI HDMI Output' is set as the default playback device.

[1stRaven]

Sounds like exactly the same card. In the box, I got a dvi to vga adapter and a dvi to hdmi adapter. Looking at this, I would think that the ati card just outputs a digital sound signal over the hdmi cable.

If you dont have a hdmi adapter, I can see if I can find mine for you if that helps.

Cheers
Ryan

[Pazza]

Sounds like exactly the same card. In the box, I got a dvi to vga adapter and a dvi to hdmi adapter. Looking at this, I would think that the ati card just outputs a digital sound signal over the hdmi cable.

If you dont have a hdmi adapter, I can see if I can find mine for you if that helps.

Cheers
Ryan

That's very kind of you - I will hunt the box out tonight and see what I can find but I can't recall getting one....but it was a while back now. If I can't find it, I may come back to you

[1stRaven]

That's very kind of you - I will hunt the box out tonight and see what I can find but I can't recall getting one....but it was a while back now. If I can't find it, I may come back to you

Cool. PM me if you want - that way I will get an instant email alert.

Cheers
Ryan

[Pazza]

Cool. PM me if you want - that way I will get an instant email alert.

Cheers
Ryan

Hi, I actually found it!! amazing - normally I can never find anything I am looking for

I just need to purchase a 5m HDMI lead now and test it out

[1stRaven]

Good to hear. Enjoy the big screen glory.

[Pazza]

Just ordered a Fisual Super Pearl Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable - 6m so as soon as it comes, I will post if it worked or not. That cable supposed to be good and only cost £33.99.

[Pazza]

Well, got it all working now - sound setup was a bit tricky and how to actually use it was a little confusing. But, setup the Plasma as an extension to the desktop and drag a movie across then go full screen works for me.