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Thread ID: 93595	2008-09-24 01:33:00	HTPC questions	Geek4414 (12000)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
707429	2008-09-24 01:33:00	A few questions to all home theatre buffs out there . . . Scenario 1 Connect graphics card with HDMI output into the HDMI input on the TV . How can we then get sound from the sound card into the TV, as the HDMI 'channel' has no separate provision for either RCA or Co-ax sound input since the HDMI input suppose to carry both audio and video signals . Or are there combined video and sound cards that can do both jobs with a simple HDMI connection? Scenario 2 Connect graphics card with either plain old VGA or DVI with VGA converter to the TV . Would there be a big difference in image/movement quality compare to HDMI? Also with a Blu-ray drive installed, can the PC play HDCP protected contents via the VGA output? What players/software is needed for playing Blu-ray movies? Cables With digital medium such as HDMI, DVI, Coax, Fibre optics etc . Is it a still a neccessity to buy expensive cables? Unlike analogue stuff, I can't see the needs for expensive cables, the digital signal of 1s and 0s should either get there or not, it shouldn't affect the quality? Does HDMI, Co-ax, Fibre optics system have any provision for error corrections? Freeview I read about the lack of Freeview support in Vista, is it a real problem? Are there any Freeview tuner cards out there that can handle recording more than one channel at a time?	Geek4414 (12000)
707430	2008-09-24 01:40:00	As you've said in scenario 1 HDMI carries audio, you shouldnt need anything else . Just the right cable . Other than enable HDMI and HDMI Audio under sounds . Or in the BIOS if its onboard I dont think VGA can play protected content Programs like PowerDVD, I think can play blu-ray / HD	Speedy Gonzales (78)
707431	2008-09-24 03:13:00	Scenario 1 Connect graphics card with HDMI output into the HDMI input on the TV . How can we then get sound from the sound card into the TV, as the HDMI 'channel' has no separate provision for either RCA or Co-ax sound input since the HDMI input suppose to carry both audio and video signals . Or are there combined video and sound cards that can do both jobs with a simple HDMI connection? (another option you might want to look at there, is not using the TV speakers at all, I use a nice set of logitech speakers for my HTPC and they are way nicer than the speakers on my Samsung Plasma) Scenario 2 Connect graphics card with either plain old VGA or DVI with VGA converter to the TV . Would there be a big difference in image/movement quality compare to HDMI? Also with a Blu-ray drive installed, can the PC play HDCP protected contents via the VGA output? (Have a look at ANyDVD by Slysoft, You must have a fully HDCP compliant connector system before you can do it normally VGA doesnt count) What players/software is needed for playing Blu-ray movies? (if your buying a Bluray drive for an HTPC you will get a bundled version of Cyberlink Power DVD) Cables With digital medium such as HDMI, DVI, Coax, Fibre optics etc . Is it a still a neccessity to buy expensive cables? (I found there was minimal difference between a normal PS3 HDMI cable from ED games for 20bucks and the 110 Dollar one that was made in space by NASA robots that DSE sold me, Still using the PS3 one took the DSE one back) Unlike analogue stuff, I can't see the needs for expensive cables, the digital signal of 1s and 0s should either get there or not, it shouldn't affect the quality? Does HDMI, Co-ax, Fibre optics system have any provision for error corrections? (Dunno on that one) If your planning on playing Bluray Discs make sure your video system is up to it, there are many motherboards with onboard video that feature HDMI sockets but are so low spec that the video will play but stutter real bad, I use a 8600 512mb for my HTPC box and its very capable .	kersonan (13264)
707432	2008-09-24 04:12:00	As you've said in scenario 1 HDMI carries audio, you shouldnt need anything else . Just the right cable . Other than enable HDMI and HDMI Audio under sounds . Or in the BIOS if its onboard I dont think VGA can play protected content Programs like PowerDVD, I think can play blu-ray / HD Hi Speedy, I know that HDMI carries both sound and video, however, most graphics cards only do the 'video' part, so the HDMI cable coming out of the card would not have any audio . We must then connect the audio out from the sound card to the TV, but there is no corresponding audio input for the HDMI channel as the TV expects only one input for both with that particular channel . Hence my question, are there any combined cards that do both video and audio with simple one HDMI cable connection? I guess when you said . . . Other than enable HDMI and HDMI Audio under sounds . You meant that the onboard HDMI connector on some motherboards do in fact do both video and audio?	Geek4414 (12000)
707433	2008-09-24 04:26:00	Hi Speedy, I know that HDMI carries both sound and video, however, most graphics cards only do the 'video' part, so the HDMI cable coming out of the card would not have any audio . We must then connect the audio out from the sound card to the TV, but there is no corresponding audio input for the HDMI channel as the TV expects only one input for both with that particular channel . Hence my question, are there any combined cards that do both video and audio with simple one HDMI cable connection? I guess when you said . . . Other than enable HDMI and HDMI Audio under sounds . You meant that the onboard HDMI connector on some motherboards do in fact do both video and audio? I have seen graphics cards that come with a short cable that you attach inside the PC case from the SPDIF output on the mainboard/soundcard to the graphics card . This then feeds the signal into the HDMI output . My Toshiba 47" LCD has an option in the menu to select the PC audio input for the HDMI audio - This means that you can use the standard soundcard speaker output . The PC audio input is usually used with a VGA connection . Yes the onboard HDMI will do sound and audio .	CYaBro (73)
707434	2008-09-24 04:30:00	I dont know the answers to all your questions but A few questions to all home theatre buffs out there . . . Scenario 2 Connect graphics card with either plain old VGA or DVI with VGA converter to the TV . Would there be a big difference in image/movement quality compare to HDMI? Also with a Blu-ray drive installed, can the PC play HDCP protected contents via the VGA output? There'll be a possible decrease in quality using VGA compared to a digial connector (HDMI/DVI) . I use 1920x1200 on VGA on my monitor . The imperfections are noticable only if i put my face right up to the screen . As far as I'm aware, you need a connection that supports HDCP . VGA doesn't . Cables With digital medium such as HDMI, DVI, Coax, Fibre optics etc . Is it a still a neccessity to buy expensive cables? Unlike analogue stuff, I can't see the needs for expensive cables, the digital signal of 1s and 0s should either get there or not, it shouldn't affect the quality? Does HDMI, Co-ax, Fibre optics system have any provision for error corrections? I agree, there is no need for expensive cables when it comes to digital connections . There is no signal degradation like with analog (analogue?) Although for HDMI, apparently there are different speed grades, although I'm not sure if these make a difference . I know of one person who was sold a $700 HDMI cable, hoping to get better image quality . They would have gotten better image quality had they spend that $700 on a better projector etc . Freeview I read about the lack of Freeview support in Vista, is it a real problem? Are there any Freeview tuner cards out there that can handle recording more than one channel at a time? I don't think Vista supports NZ's freeview, since it is mpg4 . You'll need a separate program, but that is no issue; my brother says the media centre part of vista is really good . I don't know much about freeview, but I know there are at least 2 'signals'- one for tvnz and another for canwest . The TVNZ signal carries all of tvnz's channels (1, 2, 6, 7 etc), while the canwest signal carries tv 3, 4 etc . So if you get a single tuner, you'll only be able to tune into one of the signals at a time . If I remember correctly you can record and tune into any channel in that signal at once (eg you can watch 1, record 2 and 6, but not be able to do anything with 3 and 4 at the same time) . You could get a dual tuner, which means you'd be able to do pretty much anything you want . (if the freeview stuff is incorrect, correct me :))	utopian201 (6245)
707435	2008-09-24 04:30:00	(another option you might want to look at there, is not using the TV speakers at all, I use a nice set of logitech speakers for my HTPC and they are way nicer than the speakers on my Samsung Plasma) Well, the plan is to connect the sound to an AMP instead of the TV speakers, but the same issue applies as the video will also be connected via the AMP . The HDMI1 input on the AMP 'will' not have any corresponding input for sound . Unless I plug the HDMI directly from PC to TV and then the sound from sound card to AMP via Coax or RCA . But that means I will have to change channel on TV and the AMP; not the end of world stuff, but still a hassle . (Have a look at ANyDVD by Slysoft, You must have a fully HDCP compliant connector system before you can do it normally VGA doesnt count) Yes, I read some where that there are s/w that can decrypt and strip the HDCP protection and you will end up with unprotected HD contents . AnyDVD might be one of such app, I've used the older version for removing region restrictions on DVD drives that have exceeded the maximum number of zone changes . I guess once you can decrypt the video stream on a PC screen, it can then be displayed via the VGA port on the TV . Unless there is some form of control system in the TV to stop HD res being displayed via the VGA port . (I found there was minimal difference between a normal PS3 HDMI cable from ED games for 20bucks and the 110 Dollar one that was made in space by NASA robots that DSE sold me, Still using the PS3 one took the DSE one back) That's what I suspected, good to hear that you have done real world comparisons . I've heard from someone that there are substantial difference in sound quality between different priced fibre optic cables . They reckon the warehouse one has very 'dim' light compare to the two other more expensive ones . I guess if the light is not being transmitted reliably, then there are more errors, but I would have expected the sound to drop out instead of being degraded? If your planning on playing Bluray Discs make sure your video system is up to it, there are many motherboards with onboard video that feature HDMI sockets but are so low spec that the video will play but stutter real bad, I use a 8600 512mb for my HTPC box and its very capable . Thanks for the warning about the inferior onboard HDMIs .	Geek4414 (12000)
707436	2008-09-24 04:38:00	I have seen graphics cards that come with a short cable that you attach inside the PC case from the SPDIF output on the mainboard/soundcard to the graphics card. This then feeds the signal into the HDMI output. My Toshiba 47" LCD has an option in the menu to select the PC audio input for the HDMI audio - This means that you can use the standard soundcard speaker output. The PC audio input is usually used with a VGA connection. Yes the onboard HDMI will do sound and audio. Thanks CYaBro, I didn't know about the internal SPDIF connections exist on graphics cards, that would be a clean solution.	Geek4414 (12000)
707437	2008-09-24 04:43:00	Thanks Utopian201, I didn't know that the Freeview signals are carried that way . That's very interesting, so much to learn, so little time . Our normal broadcast signal is so bad even though we have direct line of sight to a transmitter, most likely due to some power lines in the path . We have been using the DSE DVB-T box since it was released and it's working well, we are so impressed with the clear/sharp pictures . The only concern is how hot the box can get at times, hopefully the tuner cards for PC do not throw out as much heat .	Geek4414 (12000)
707438	2008-09-24 05:16:00	Correct some mobos if you build one anyway, come with a HDMI card. (And some have HDMI onboard) On this PC, the HDMI card came as part of the package. Its a PCI-E card It's got the HDMI connection / video out / S-Video and SPDIF. In order to use it, you have to enable HDMI and its audio in the BIOS, then install the drivers.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
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