HDMI Card with Sound, or look for another DSUB Cable?

[zeegy]

Guys,

Hope you can help.

I have an old core2duo desktop that I run as a HTPC running media portal with numerous DVB-T and DVB-S Connections.

I now have to run my PC about 3m from my TV (it used to be 0.5m).

I used to run a DSUB cable at 1080p with no issues at all, bought a new 'high quality' 3m Dsub cable, and it looks awfull, trully awfull - with the display white smearing all over white instances on the display - Tried a few cards, the same result on all.

Should i just invest in a better cable? or should i consider moving to HDMI?

What PCIE Card Can i install (on a budget) that will allow me to connect to the TV via HDMI with sound included.... note that I do not have a 2 pin spdif, or the room for an additional soundcard.

I read somwhere that the Nvidia 200+ Series now no longer need a cable. Can someone enlighten me please?

 

[james.miller]

ATi 6450 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-264-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1985 - 35 quid, supports hd audio and 3d bluray.

 

[zeegy]

so how does the sound pass through it? out to the hdmi?

 

[james.miller]

It doesnt, they have realtek spu's on-board so the graphics card also shows up as a sound device, no extra cables or other trickery required

 

[Orcvader]

Yup. The HDMI port on the 6450 can output sound. Just make sure you select the AMD card as the default sound device in sound settings.

 

[zeegy]

so (and sorry to sound dumb here) do i need to have a sound card installed too, or is the 6450 technically a gpu AND sound card?

if the answer is no (ie another sound card is required), can i just have clarification that no cables are needed to link audio from the sound card to the 6450?

 

[james.miller]

no, you dont need any other cables or any additional soundcards installed

 

[Surveyor]

Will a £24 HD 5450 not do the same job?

HD 5450

 

[atomic7431]

Will a £24 HD 5450 not do the same job?

HD 5450

it would indeed but for the sake of a tenner you get hdmi 1.4a and a better card overall, while technically hdmi 1.3 will do 3d, 1.4a is more standard and adds a return channel for audio i do believe.

Audio Return channel allowing audio from an HDMI 1.4 TV to be passed back to the receiver though the HDMI cable rather than having to run a separate audio cable to the TV

Higher resolution capabilities (allowing for Ultra High Definition 4K x 2K which is about 6x the resolution of 1080p)

Support for 3D video at 1080p with compatible Blu-Ray Players, Set-top Boxes, PCs and TVs.

 

[zeegy]

Bought a 6450, many thanks for your help all