Audio from DVI on 4850

[cly]

I am an idiot and just learned that my 4850 supports audio. However my card has two DVIs. It does not have an HDMI. My question is do you have to use the special ATI dvi to HDMI converter or will any converter work? I currently have a DVI to HDMI cable that I use to connect it to my TV. It does not allow audio with this cable even though some of the reviews on this cable said that it does transmit audio. The Realtek HDMI Output on my control panel shows as not plugged in. Is this because I need the special converter or is this a driver issue? Thanks for the help.

 

[7.62]

You do need the special convertor. I just bought one. I can tell you that the video quality is much better using a DVI to HDMI cable. NO converters.

Dont know if thats cause the audio takes up some bandwith?

If you can run your audio through a different source its much better, and the audio quality is crap. Well crap cause I can only get stereo through the HDMI using Blur Ray. The 4xxx cannot pass through HD audio. Just standard stereo.

 

[Mussels]

Get the grey ATI branded DVI to HDMI adaptor and it works.


you cant use other adaptors, or DVI to HDMI cables.


The reasoning is taht DVI doesnt support audio, so a few tricks had to be done out of spec to make the audio work - the generic adaptors support 5.1 audio, but since the ATI 3K and up cards support 7.1 audio, they need a newer adaptor (which pretty much only ATI supply)

they're <$10 on ebay so its not a large expense.

 

[Tatty_Two]

I can confirm you need the special convertor, it actually comes with extra pins.connections for the audio, sometimes ATi/AMD include them I beleive dependant on the card?

 

[Mussels]

I can confirm you need the special convertor, it actually comes with extra pins.connections for the audio, sometimes ATi/AMD include them I beleive dependant on the card?

most cards have them provided, some dont. my powercolor 4870's didnt.


The main difference is that the older cards (radeon 2K), nvidia cards (that i've tested at least, 8800GT era) and the older adaptors all followed the same standard.

since the 3K, 4K and now 5K and 6K cards support new audio standards (7.1, not 5.1) a newer adaptor is needed

 

[cly]

Thanks for all of the responses. Would the sould quality be better getting another 4850 with and HDMI output rather than using the DVI output with the converter?

 

[newtekie1]

most cards have them provided, some dont. my powercolor 4870's didnt.


The main difference is that the older cards (radeon 2K), nvidia cards (that i've tested at least, 8800GT era) and the older adaptors all followed the same standard.

since the 3K, 4K and now 5K and 6K cards support new audio standards (7.1, not 5.1) a newer adaptor is needed

I still wonder why ATi made the special adapter required. If they were just adding two channels, and needed the extra pins for that, why didn't they design it so that it would work with the old adapters but only supply 5.1?

Thanks for all of the responses. Would the sould quality be better getting another 4850 with and HDMI output rather than using the DVI output with the converter?

No.

Rosewill HDMI A Female to DVI-D (24+1) Male Adapte...

That is the adapter you need, and it only $9 shipped.

 

[Mussels]

I still wonder why ATi made the special adapter required. If they were just adding two channels, and needed the extra pins for that, why didn't they design it so that it would work with the old adapters but only supply 5.1?



No.

Rosewill HDMI A Female to DVI-D (24+1) Male Adapte...

That is the adapter you need, and it only $9 shipped.

uhh... no, that wont work. it has to be the ATI grey adaptor. Anything else and the ATI cards detect it as DVI, and no audio for you.


and there is no quality difference from using the adaptor, to native HDMI. digital just works that way.

 

[newtekie1]

uhh... no, that wont work. it has to be the ATI grey adaptor. Anything else and the ATI cards detect it as DVI, and no audio for you.


and there is no quality difference from using the adaptor, to native HDMI. digital just works that way.

Its working fine with my HD3850 in my HTPC. The important part to look for are the extra pins in the middle.

But if your paranoid, it is only a few extra bucks for the HIS adapter.

 

[7.62]

I can say from experience in the last 3 days, that you need the ATI converter, and you should bother cause the picture quality was poor compared to the DVI-HDMI cable.

I could only get a stereo feed through it, using Blu Ray, and DVD. I went back to Onboard SPDIF passthrough it was heaps better. I kept the DVI-HDMI cable for passing video to my new TV.

In my opinion, if you have the option, use DVI-HDMI to get video through, and use your PC audio connectivity to send the audio through.

 

[Mussels]

I can say from experience in the last 3 days, that you need the ATI converter, and you should bother cause the picture quality was poor compared to the DVI-HDMI cable.

I could only get a stereo feed through it, using Blu Ray, and DVD. I went back to Onboard SPDIF passthrough it was heaps better. I kept the DVI-HDMI cable for passing video to my new TV.

In my opinion, if you have the option, use DVI-HDMI to get video through, and use your PC audio connectivity to send the audio through.

you'll only get stereo audio, unless you use a HDMI receiver for the audio. you cant use a TV's outputs and get SPDIF, its not allowed in the HDMI specs as an anti piracy measure.


to re-iterate: if you want more than stereo HDMI audio, you need a HDMI receiver (and speakers connected to it) between your device (PC, games console, blu ray set, whatever) and your TV - not after.

 

[Widjaja]

I'm confused here with this adapter.
So you can get surround HD audio as long as you use the ATi DVI > HDMI converter provided with some or most ATi graphics cards?

 

[Dent1]

I'm confused here with this adapter.
So you can get surround HD audio as long as you use the ATi DVI > HDMI converter provided with some or most ATi graphics cards?

Yes.

With the exception of the 5xxx series which doesn't need a converter because it has native HDMI outputs.

Also to clear things up further, to get HD audio in non-stereo i.e. Dolby Digital True HD or DTS Masters 5.1, you need a receiver or amp.

 

[Kreij]

I am a bit confused at the moment with my setup too.
I plugged in the adapter that came with my 4870x2 and using a regular HDMI cable the sound worked on my TV. (The adapter has two of the little paddle like pins)
I bought a DVI to HDMI cable which has a pin-out just like the ATI gray and sound doesn't work.
I switched back to the adapter and sound still doesn't work (do I need to reboot after switching cables or something?)

Oh .. can I OC my TV? (just kidding )

 

[Dent1]

I am a bit confused at the moment with my setup too.
I plugged in the adapter that came with my 4870x2 and using a regular HDMI cable the sound worked on my TV. (The adapter has two of the little paddle like pins)
I bought a DVI to HDMI cable which has a pin-out just like the ATI gray and sound doesn't work.
I switched back to the adapter and sound still doesn't work (do I need to reboot after switching cables or something?)

Oh .. can I OC my TV? (just kidding )

For the 48xx series ATI provide you with the adaptor for a reason. When we don't use it we run into trouble.

 

[Kreij]

I realize that, Dent. What I was wondering was that I fired up my fig using the new cable (no sound).
I them pulled the cable and put in the adapter with a regular HDMI cable (no reboot) and still no sound.
Does the card detect the adapter on driver load or something?

 

[Mussels]

I realize that, Dent. What I was wondering was that I fired up my fig using the new cable (no sound).
I them pulled the cable and put in the adapter with a regular HDMI cable (no reboot) and still no sound.
Does the card detect the adapter on driver load or something?

when you open the CCC, i think it re-detects.