[c627627]

Found out the hard way I can only use two out of three video outputs at the same time on nVidia cards. They say ATI can do all three outs (2 DVI and 1 HDMI) at the same time but it's too late to switch to ATI for me.


I have a cheap second video card (ATI), can I install it next to nVidia and just use its HDMI out for audio?


I need to use one DVI for my computer monitor and the other DVI for my Plasma TV, which means I can't use HDMI out for High Def Audio when using two displays. I cannot use HDMI out for video because my Plasma has no HDMI inputs. I only need HDMI out to connect to audio receiver.

[c627627]

This completely works under Windows 7. No ATI drivers are needed, native Windows 7 drivers make it work.

Both nVidia displays are on from both DVI outs and HDMi is connected from receiver to a second video card (ATI). It is outputting True HD Audio. So the workaround is to install a cheap second video card with HDMI out!


I am having problems in Windows XP, however, I tried installing just the HDMI AUdio driver. I think you need to enable the third display somehow, which would actually be the receiver connected with HDMI. Since no ATI video drivers were installed, maybe that's what needs to be done....

[c627627]

Wow. This was complicated. To fully get it to work,

1. Only have the main video card in. No other cards in whatsoever.

2. Connect your receiver to your main video card using HDMI cable.

*FIRST* start playing a Blu-ray movie, and only after starting to play it, go to Blu-ray player Settings > Audio > SELECT: Use HDMI and output: Non-decoded high-definition audio to external device.

3. Now add the second video card. Since it's only used for audio, Windows 7 should be able to install it w/o you needing to install the entire drivers suite. Test it.

4. IMPORTANT: Disconnect the HDMI cable from second video card.

5. Add other PCIe and PCI cards.

6. Only after you finish adding the other cards, only then connect the HDMI cable to the second video card to test it.