HDMI to HDMI Cards - Is there such a thing

exup · **7th December 2005, 01:26 PM**

Hi

Basically I am looking to buy a new video card to output a signal to a Sony Bravia V series 40" LCD, it has VGA input as well as Component and Composite, it also has HDMI. Currently it is running VGA to VGA from a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB and the picture is great, very sharp. But being the perfectionist I would like to utilise the HDMI connection as this should be the best.

Q1) Is there such a thing as a Video card with HDMI to HDMI connections

Q2) What is the best analogue TV/FM card for Foxtel digital

Q2) Is DVD-D to HDMI exactly the same quality as HDMI to HDMI connections

Q3) Are DVD-D to HDMI cables roughly all the same quality.

Q4) Are Gender benders ok to use - DVD-D Gender to HDMI to HDMI cable

Finally this is just a suggestion, for the site. What about a sticky on best system setups kinda like a Beast machine (no expense spared) and a Beastie machine (budget) setup? I have trawled the site looking for such a list and the closest was this MCE Hardware Component - Working Examples but its a bit out of date (April 05). I know this is a voluntary site so it may just be a resource thing. So please don’t take this as a whinge as I love the site, I don’t often need to post as most questions are answered already.

GlenR · **7th December 2005, 01:40 PM**

I can't answer all your questions, I'll leave some to those who are more experienced, but I can answer the HDMI one.

I don't think yuo will get a graphics card with HDMI ouit, only DVI. DVI is exactly the same as HDMI, ecept for the shape of the plug and the fact that HDMI also has connectors for audio. If you are running your audio through an external amp (the best solution IMO) you can readily buy a DVI - HDMI cable to use your HDMI TV input.

infra · **7th December 2005, 09:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenR

I can't answer all your questions, I'll leave some to those who are more experienced, but I can answer the HDMI one.

I don't think yuo will get a graphics card with HDMI ouit, only DVI. DVI is exactly the same as HDMI, ecept for the shape of the plug and the fact that HDMI also has connectors for audio. If you are running your audio through an external amp (the best solution IMO) you can readily buy a DVI - HDMI cable to use your HDMI TV input.

Also, I think you will fing that the panel will only accept standard HD res. like 720p or 1080i, so you won,t be able to match native res of the panel like you can with vga.

farnold · **7th December 2005, 10:22 PM**

But that is about to change. If you look at the new SONY devcice under Sony Previews High-End Media Center - it has a HDMI graphics board... and to my best knowledge that would be the first one - maybe even custom built for SONY. But it's just a question of time to see more HDMI cards. I would probably wait for a few months and see what new products come out.

yodanz · **8th December 2005, 12:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by exup

Hi

Q1) Is there such a thing as a Video card with HDMI to HDMI connections

Q2) What is the best analogue TV/FM card for Foxtel digital

Q2) Is DVD-D to HDMI exactly the same quality as HDMI to HDMI connections

Q3) Are DVD-D to HDMI cables roughly all the same quality.

Q4) Are Gender benders ok to use - DVD-D Gender to HDMI to HDMI cable

Q1 - Not yet.... but soon! After a bit of a google search, it seems ATI and nVidia have started implementing a new chip on their reference cards which can support HDMI. Seems that further down the track, DVI will be dropped, and HDMI will be introduced... but not any time soon

Q2 - Not 100% sure, head into a large harvey norman and ask for them to give you a demo ... and hope someone there has a clue

Q3/Q4 - Cable quality varies... you can pay many hundreds of dollars for 'high' quality cables... with 24 carat gold plated connectors blah blah... or just get a normal one which is a little cheaper. If not satisfied with it, take it back

colpeady · **8th December 2005, 05:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by yodanz

Q2 - Not 100% sure, head into a large harvey norman and ask for them to give you a demo ... and hope someone there has a clue

That's a bit optimistic..

The Hauppage PVR150 MCE is a popular choice for getting Foxtel digital into MCE.

NedKelly · **8th December 2005, 06:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by exup

Hi

Basically I am looking to buy a new video card to output a signal to a Sony Bravia V series 40" LCD, it has VGA input as well as Component and Composite, it also has HDMI. Currently it is running VGA to VGA from a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB and the picture is great, very sharp. But being the perfectionist I would like to utilise the HDMI connection as this should be the best.

Q1) Is there such a thing as a Video card with HDMI to HDMI connections

Q2) What is the best analogue TV/FM card for Foxtel digital

Q2) Is DVD-D to HDMI exactly the same quality as HDMI to HDMI connections

Q3) Are DVD-D to HDMI cables roughly all the same quality.

Q4) Are Gender benders ok to use - DVD-D Gender to HDMI to HDMI cable

1, Not as far as I am aware.

It's likely to appear pretty soon though I reckon, with HDPC compliance coming to Vista. Although that is looking like being Monitor bound at this stage.
It’s even more likely to appear on all in 1 solution like Intel’s Viiv platform 1st though, as being proprietary they would be able to push out both Vid and sound from the one output. Maybe one day we will see ATI and Nvidia cards with both Vid and Sound built in and HDMI out?? Who Knows!

2, I’ll go with any of the Hauppauge PVR150 MCE, 250 MCE and 500 MCE.

3, I have HDMI to HDMI from DVD to TV and DVI-D to HDMI from PC to TV and both “seem” to perform equally well. I have no hard data, just what I see.
Both cables are high quality ones. $$

4, I had a HDMI to HDMI lead with a DVI-D adaptor on one end for a while until, I bought a proper DVI-D to HDMI cable for my MCE PC. I can’t notice any major quality difference. Both cables are high quality ones. $$

This might be worth a read also;

http://www.lindy.com.au/tips/Digital..._Explained.htm

Cheers
-Ned

exup · **11th December 2005, 07:01 PM**

Thanks everyone for you advice.

I think I will for the time being will purchase just keep using the existing ATI Radeon 9800 pro with DVI-D and purchase a cheap DVI-D to HDMI cable from Mr D Smith

TiggerK · **12th December 2005, 10:47 AM**

Hi exup,

a cheapie from DSE would be OK if it's only 1m or so, but if you're going longer, pay more and get a good quality one, it does make a difference, and if you're the perfectionist you say you are, a cheap cable cheapens the whole system!! People pay thousands of dollarsd for their TV and MCE box, then complain at spending $100 for a high quality connection cable.... Not that you were complaining though ....

But really, a good cable not only improves the picture and/or sound quality, it makes you feel good as well!!

But some of these 'high-end' cables are just hype, overkill and marketers dreams, 'our new plutonium shielded, argon & xenon free rubidium/silver/platinum blend of 100% gamma-ray-free cable can dramatically improve your video quality by up to 350%!!!' Yeah right, $100 for a fancy looking half-decent cable, and $549 for the packaging and attempted snob factor!!!!

Cheers everyone
TiggerK

P.S As GlenR said, HDMI is nothing special or better than DVI, it just combines a DVI signal with multiple audio signals into one trendy cable.