Audio over HDMI from video card?

[Dida]

I am building a HTPC and would like to have both audio/video over HDMI to cut the cluster of cables behind my TV. If I get a video that has HDMI out such as the HD 5450: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131339
Would it be able to transmit audio over HDMI cable to my TV? Does it make a difference whether I use onboard or discrete sound?

 

[Cutlass]

HDMI cables do audio and visual in one cable. So if your output is both your TV will get both.

 

[Dida]

HDMI cables do audio and visual in one cable. So if your output is both your TV will get both.

No need to hook up audio from the sound card to the video card?

 

[Cutlass]

That depends on the video card. If it has audio output via hdmi, you need to look at the specs on the card to see how it wants the audio in.

 

[shadowplay]

I don't know for 100% but searching through discussions on the topic all signs point to yes, although with some older model cards you might need to connect the video card and the sound card:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2188832
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110822191525AA0f5Rw

 

[illram]

The video card will output video and audio via HDMI to your TV using the video card's own audio chipset. According to Powercolor's product page website that card is HDMI 1.3, and can output 7.1 surround.

If you want to use a sound card or your onboard audio you need to hook up the sound card to your TV or your receiver separately and select that as your audio device, rather than your video card. You can have as many different audio devices as you want, it is simply a matter of selecting which one you want to use.

Your onboard audio is likely no better than a modern video card's audio chip though, so not much reason to do that. IMHO there is not much reason to have a sound card either these days, unless you consider yourself a real audiophile.

 

[Dida]

The video card will output video and audio via HDMI to your TV using the video card's own audio chipset. According to Powercolor's product page website that card is HDMI 1.3, and can output 7.1 surround.

If you want to use a sound card or your onboard audio you need to hook up the sound card to your TV or your receiver separately and select that as your audio device, rather than your video card. You can have as many different audio devices as you want, it is simply a matter of selecting which one you want to use.

Your onboard audio is likely no better than a modern video card's audio chip though, so not much reason to do that. IMHO there is not much reason to have a sound card either these days, unless you consider yourself a real audiophile.

Oh, this is the part I wasn't understanding before reading this. So a video card with HDMI has its own audio chips, basically it's a combined audio/video device when using its HDMI port. That's good to know.

 

[illram]

Check out AVS Forum and [H] forum as well as silentpcreview for a lot of good stuff on HTPCs. I've built a few and the most important thing, once you have figured out what you want to do with it, is silencing it adequately while also keeping the hardware properly cooled. A loud HTPC is worthless but fortunately it is not too difficult to put together a quiet low power machine if you do your homework.

 

[Dida]

Check out AVS Forum and [H] forum as well as silentpcreview for a lot of good stuff on HTPCs. I've built a few and the most important thing, once you have figured out what you want to do with it, is silencing it adequately while also keeping the hardware properly cooled. A loud HTPC is worthless but fortunately it is not too difficult to put together a quiet low power machine if you do your homework.

the only hard pill to swallow in this regard is potentially spending more $$$ on the HSF than the CPU itself. I am going with a low powered Sempron 45W CPU that goes for only $40. I will try its stock fan first. If it turns out to be too aggravating, I may get this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064
It may be the cheapest low noise HSF around.
I use onboard video, so the only other fans are the PSU and 1 case fan. The PSU is a new Corsair unit, they tend to be pretty quiet. The case fan is a basic 120mm Cooler Master, it shouldn't be too bad especially if I can turn it down.