DVI-HDMI with analog sound (not working with Nvidia drivers)

[MperR]

Hello all

I hope you guys here can help me out. I've had an interesting little problem and I always thought that my TV (Sony SXRD) was not faulty:

I connect my video card (8600GT) to the TV's HDMI port with a DVI-HDMI cable. As DVI doesn't carry audio and I don't have a receiver yet, I connected the analog audio to the TV's HDMI analog audio input. However I never managed to get sound out of the TV speakers. I confirmed that there was indeed audio coming from the analog output of my HTPC.

Last night I decided to start over again and restored an image of a fresh Vista install (no drivers just a few windows updates) and surprise surprise I had sound. I almost fell off my chair.

I then proceeded to install drivers and the moment I installed the Nvidia drivers, I lost audio again. When I un-installed the Nvidia drivers the audio came back.

Any ideas as to why this is happening? I can't see how installing video drivers can affect sound! I need the Nvidia drivers to output 1080p.

It almost appears as if once the Nvidia drivers are installed the TV thinks that there is audio coming through the HDMI cable and so disables the analog audio inputs. I couldn't find any settings in TV to change this.

I was thinking about getting a DVI-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable. Does anyone think this will be any different to a DVI-HDMI cable.

Thanks in advance
MperR

[MperR]

Just thought I would post a quick update on this. I've done a bunch of testing - tried connecting only the audio to the TV, tried the different DVI ports on video card, tried changing resolution of the video card, refresh rate of the monitor and even a different cable.

Still the same though. I'm pretty sure the TV still thinks that there is audio coming through the HDMI cable and hence disabling the analog audio.

Anyway, when I figure out the problem I'll update this.

Regards
MperR

[Raptor]

I was thinking about getting a DVI-HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable. Does anyone think this will be any different to a DVI-HDMI cable.

Nope, no difference at all. Not knowning all your connections on your set but is it possible to connect the audio up digitally/ optically? I'm not sure if it would make a difference or not but probably worth a test to rule it out.

[MperR]

Nope, no difference at all. Not knowning all your connections on your set but is it possible to connect the audio up digitally/ optically? I'm not sure if it would make a difference or not but probably worth a test to rule it out.

Hi Raptor

Thanks for chiming in. I haven't actually done much just recently on this. Just using the PC speakers at the moment. Ran out of ideas.

Unfortunately no, there are no optical/coaxial audio connections to the TV. There are two HDMI ports (1 and 2) and one set of HDMI analog audio ports (only for 2). I also don't have a receiver yet, so can't even test if my SPDIF module for the Shuttle works or not. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

My most recent thought is that perhaps a BIOS setting might help. I'm going to have a check in the BIOS tomorrow to see if I can change anything with the Video card behaviour and maybe even update to the latest BIOS.

Cheers
MperR

[peterkip]

Have you tried connecting the analog audio out from the pc to another device to see if it's the pc disabling the audio and not the tv?

Just a thought

Pete

[dgaust]

ignore. Wrong post.

[David75]

Just thought I would post a quick update on this. I've done a bunch of testing - tried connecting only the audio to the TV, tried the different DVI ports on video card, tried changing resolution of the video card, refresh rate of the monitor and even a different cable.

Still the same though. I'm pretty sure the TV still thinks that there is audio coming through the HDMI cable and hence disabling the analog audio.

Anyway, when I figure out the problem I'll update this.

Regards
MperR

I had something similar happen when I moved from a 6600 to 8600GT. My TV speakers started making odd noises, I just figured it was crosstalk in the cable due to a dodgy cable. But it sounds as though it could be a problem in the drivers.

Some TVs you can setup to use the analog inputs for sound even if the HDMI has audio. Never tried it personally.

David.

[MperR]

Thanks for the suggestion Pete. Yes, I have tested the anlaog audio. I connected it to another input (video 3 for example) and changed the TV to that input and there was in fact sound.

David, one of my first thoughts was that there was setting somewhere which was disabling the analog audio. I checked all the TV settings possible and couldn't find anything. I also went into the service menu and changed all the options that referred to HDMI and still no luck. I also wasn't very comfortable messing with the service menu, so I'm not sure if I just simply missed the required setting.

Anyway, a technician is booked to come and see the TV tomorrow. They've got a kit for my TV that supposedly contains all the parts for the TV besides the case itself. So fingers crossed it is just a problem with the TV and it will be fixed tomorrow.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys
MperR

[MperR]

Quick update. The technician wasn't able to come by today, not enough time apparently, so it will be next Friday before I can get a fix.

Until then my plan is to try installing XP perhaps in a dual boot setup to see if that works.

Interestingly, I have just got a new laptop (Dell M1330), which has an HDMI port. I've had to change it over to Windows XP though. I would have liked to have tested the HDMI in Vista, but didn't have the chance.

Anyway, I tried connecting my laptop to the TV via HDMI, picture was there, but no sound. This is when playing a DVD. Played around for a while and for about 2 seconds I got sound and then it went away again. So I'm pretty sure there is a problem with the TV.

Regards
MperR

[jankena]

MpeR,
I'm deailing with exactly the same problem, however, the TV is SAMSUNG LE40N87BD.
Vista + NVIDIA 8600 GT (Gigabyte GV-NX86T256H) + NVIDIA drivers, 1920/1080p.
Until the drivers are loaded OR the display is not recognized (generic PnP monitor), the sound works well.
I'm wondering whether the technician find any reason of this problem.

Regards

Jan

[David75]

MpeR,
I'm deailing with exactly the same problem, however, the TV is SAMSUNG LE40N87BD.
Vista + NVIDIA 8600 GT (Gigabyte GV-NX86T256H) + NVIDIA drivers, 1920/1080p.
Until the drivers are loaded OR the display is not recognized (generic PnP monitor), the sound works well.
I'm wondering whether the technician find any reason of this problem.

Regards

Jan

I've got exactly the same card. The common factor seems to be the Gigabyte 8600GT Silent - GV-NX86T256H. Could be drivers or could be hardware.

David.

[MperR]

Hi Guys

I think this is becoming more than a coincidence - three of us have the exact same card and are having the same problem.

I did another test tonight. I took my setup to my sister's place where they have a Sony Bravia LCD. Same result, no analog sound.

Hopefully the technician will be able to fix it. I'll let you know next Friday.

In the meantime I'm going to do some research into some more video cards. I'm thinking about the Gigabyte HD2600 XT, the one with the same passive heatsink as the 8600GT.

Regards
MperR