Sigh at VERY BAD HDMI SUPPORT!!

davidw89 · **29th August 2008, 11:12 PM**

Just built my HTPC today, specs are follows:

AMD AMD4850e CPU
Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H v1.0 Motherboard
2GB RAM (667 ddr kingston) ($50)
W.D. 500GB Hard Drive
Antec 2480B (cheap case!!)
Windfast DTV 1000S (cheap!!)
Microsoft MCE Remote
Shintaro Wireless Keyboard

Just installed Vista x86 with SP1.
Then i installed the latest Drivers from the website, including ATI catalyst v8.8 for the onboard HD3200.

VGA works but HDMI doesn't.

In the BIOS i have tried changing DVI/D-SUB to D-SUB/HDMI but that doesn't exactly work.

Any ideas?

Why is it that HDMI don't work? I change the source of the TV to HDMI..but it says no signal?? I refresh, no signal..this is frustrating considering this motherboard is suppose to support HDMI..grrrrrr

Ben Wilson · **30th August 2008, 07:14 PM**

I've got a MA78GM here and HDMI is working fine (I assume the GPM should be very similar).

I don't recall having to change anything when i plugged the HDMI in.

Have you tried hooking up both HDMI and VGA (on another monitor) and forcing it to detect your minitors through the Catalyst Control Center?

DDH · **31st August 2008, 12:50 PM**

Still a few days and a cable away from being able to help. So far the HDMI device and all drivers appear to load and report OK. I have no upgraded the Catalyst drivers (and may not), I tend to stick to tried and tested. Will report back.

pantonious · **1st September 2008, 02:59 PM**

are you booting up with the HDMI plugged in? is the VGA connected aswell?

What resolution are you setting?

Do you see the BIOS POST and loading screens?

ausky · **2nd September 2008, 04:02 PM**

I have a similar Gigab motherboard. The HDMI connection is certified. This means, it follows design guidelines created to prevent copying of HD video. The side effect of this is that you must have your HD TV connected and switched on first. Then switch on (although wake up from hibernation also seems to work) your PC. When your motherboard detects that the HDMI connection is connected to a suitable device and no threat of piracy is present, HDMI is enabled. However, this is not fool proof. Say if I press on the Windows key on the keyboard to go back to Windows (out of Win Media centre), the HDMI display goes blank immediately. For this I also use a VGA connection from the PC to the TV (the TV also has VGA input) so that I could switch to it when HDMI is not available. Not ideal, but will do me.

RedFoxxx · **6th September 2008, 11:49 AM**

mate i think you have to set the hdmi screen as screen number 1 in your video settings
have a play with that

bobafett_h · **9th September 2008, 03:51 PM**

I have the same motherboard and CPU and a very cheap HDMI cable and am having no problems at all with it. Posted with display the first time I turned it on. I changed the BIOS setting to VGA+HDMI rather than VGA+DVI but I don't think that really matters unless you have something plugged into both of the digital outputs.

As long as the TV is turned on and set to the correct HDMI input before you turn on the system, it should work fine. If it isn't working, it's possible that either the board is faulty or the TV might be using an out of date HDMI standard (ie, doesn't have HDCP support). Some TVs do have inputs reserved for PC connections though such as mine, but my TV works the same no matter what input I use...

You will have to make sure you adjust the Scaling settings in the Catalyst Control centre though to get 1920 x 1080 to work at full screen though if it's on a Full HD TV...