Video card with DVI->HDMI Advice

jvesey · **30th September 2008, 05:31 PM**

I have been scouring the net for a definitive answer and would like some advice....

I want to get an Nvidia based graphics card that will take a S/PDIF signal from my motherboard (Asus P5B) and output A+V via HDMI (DVI->HDMI Dongle OK as well). The GPU needs to be BlueRay/HD capable H264 etc... and be fanless taking only one slot on it's chipset side. The NX8600GT-TD512EZ seems to fit my requirements as the heatsink bulk is on the other side - but I cannot find anywhere that have it in stock.

I have seen many posts indicating that VMC will only output sound via one point. I need audio to my AMP and TV at the same time (No HDMI on AMP) My MOB does output via Optical + Coax at the same time. The S/PDIF headers on the MOB have 3 pins whilst most graphics cards have 2 pins (explaination here would be apreciated) I assume the 5V pin would be ignored? I am assuming that these PINS are active as well - if not I would need to get a card with an Optical IN port.

Advice on a card that will meet my requirements and can be sourced in Aus (Online) or in Melbourne.

Thx

jvesey · **2nd October 2008, 10:28 AM**

Bump - Anyone?

NSComputer · **9th October 2008, 09:27 AM**

When I purchased my Asus D22 is came with a nvideo 8500 that had s/pdif pass through.

It used the on board audio and i got sound from the back of the case and hdmi port at the same time.

the cards was hdcp compliant but could not drive blu-ray or hd-dvd.

I would love to know the answer to your question. card manufactures aren't promoting these features - it's seems impossible to find these video cards on the net.

I have the exact problem but I also need a low profile card.

pmunger · **10th October 2008, 02:53 PM**

Hi,

Hopefully my recent experiences can help.

I just built a system with a ASUS 512M 9800GT - This does have a fan but it is large, slow, and quiet. Link to website

The audio works fine through HDMI, and the optical SPDIF connector on the motherboard (G-B EP45-DS4P) works at the same time. This card includes the internal SPDIF cable that goes from the motherboard (GND & Data) to the graphics card. Note some cards do not include this cable and they can be hard to get. This card was $161 at MSY last Month. I have also used a MSI 9600GT (included cable) and this was OK as well.

I am very happy with image quality on both cards, and they both work with Blu-Ray, HDDVD @1080p (and 24 Hz)

I assume that you wanting to send digital audio to your AMP. I can't get analogue audio out of the motherboard, and digital audio over HDMI concurrently.

Note that your TV may not accept multichannel audio over HDMI (My Sony does not), if not this will force you to use 2 channel PCM in Windows, so therefore only 2 channels will also be sent to your receiver.

Good luck, always seems much more difficult than it should be.

NSComputer · **12th October 2008, 01:04 PM**

I found an answer. You'll have to use an ATI card however.

Go for a model with a the HDMI dongle and Avivo HD. This has built in sound that outputs via HDMI.

Go grab this software: http://software.muzychenko.net/eng/vac.html

It does many things but one if it's tricks is allowing sound to be output from 2 sound adapters at the same time.

The only downside is if your running Vista it can't do multi channel. It can only handle stereo. XP is fine for multi channel.

I have been in touch with the author and he is working on a Vista update - hoping for November. If more people request this it might come sooner. His email address is on his website.

When this update comes it looks like I'll be able to get 5.1 analogue out of my Xonar card and stereo out of my HDMI port at the same time!