HTPC 7.1 HDMI sound?

[numzie]

I'm looking for a way to only use an HDMI to get video and audio from the HTPC to my amp, only problem is all the video cards only have built in 5.1. How else could i get 7.1 sound and HD video output? Would i have to drop $$ on a sound card and run optical out or is there some secret video card that has GOOD quality 7.1 built in?

As i said i want GOOD quality audio and video(my dads speaker system is about $20000 so i want to use it :)).

[Fr3@k3r]

as far as i know there is not 7.1 HDMI sound from motherboards or video cards yet.

i know the ati cards with hdmi dongle does 5.1, not sure about the motherboards with hdmi tho.

[numzie]

could i use HDMI for video and optical audio from a sound card for sound? I'm sure it should work just need to make sure.

[Fr3@k3r]

you mean video card?

sound cards dont have hdmi from what i know?

the HD2 series from ATI have Video and Audio out from HDMI

[smokie mcpott]

if you are running digital audio.. spdif or optical, the onboard sound card will be plenty enough for you, since spdif and optical are only passthroughs

[numzie]

if you are running digital audio.. spdif or optical, the onboard sound card will be plenty enough for you, since spdif and optical are only passthroughs

passthrough meaning pre-amp?

[smokie mcpott]

passthrough meaning, all it does is pass the audio signal through it, whatever the source, thats what it will be on the other end without the sound card encoding anything.

[jimmsch]

could i use HDMI for video and optical audio from a sound card for sound? I'm sure it should work just need to make sure.

Yes, that is how I do it. I use the HDMI from ATI HD2600XT for video, and the optical out on my sound card for audio.

I mistakenly installed the audio drivers for the video card, so I had to disable that in device manager. Your best bet is to NOT install the audio driver for the video card.

Some playback apps have to be set to allow SPDIF out in their settings (ie. Power DVD).

Some people say as Smokie says, that the mobo SPDIF sound is good enough...others say there is a possibility of interference using the mobo SPDIF. I didn't want to take any chances, so I found a sound card for cheap in the classies. Either way if you just do not install the audio drivers for the video card, or just disable them in device manager, it can be done.