Ivybridge onboard GFX & Audio over HDMI

[V1N]

Hi there,

I'm looking at several options for a HTPC.

I was thinking about an Ivybridge i5 or i7 and use the onboard HD graphics to decode video, including bluray playback.

It would be much easier to connect to my amp if the audio could also be sent via HDMI, like the discrete graphics cards can. The systems all come with onboard audio these days, but has anybody managed to get video+audio through the HDMI cable with just the standard onboard devices?

I may potentially add a discrete graphics card at a later date and use it as a HTPC/Gaming rig on the telly, which I know will do audio+video, but for now I want to know if it can be done without. Just trying to keep power and noise levels to a minimum for now.

I'm just looking at some of the off the shelf systems here at OcUK, and hoping it would "just work" to start with, without having to add anything else. I already have a bluray drive to fit to it, and PowerDVD. Actually I'd have to check if PowerDVD can use the hardware acceleration of the HD graphics, though I'd imagine so.

Thanks,
Vin.

 

[V1N]

Now I think about it, I'd NEED to have HDMI audio support from the i7/Mobo to properly support bluray audio?

If I used an optical output from the onboard audio I'd be limited to standard Dolby digital and DTS/PCM up to 1.5mbps. Optical doesn't support DTS-HD MA, or PCM 7.1, so the only way to make this work would be via hdmi.

Part of me thinks surely this system would support that, and yet I can't shift the doubt that it probably doesn't.

I'd love to know before spending any money.

The limited research I've done about the Ivybridge HD video sounds pretty impressive for what it is, I checked out if it could decode full 1080p h.264 video onboard, which it sounds like it can, but I'd really like the audio to go with it.

Also, one of the major advantages to having the video and audio onboard would be for workstations in offices. A major advantage to go along with it would be needing less cables, just the HDMI to feed a monitor with basic speakers.

Again, it seems like an obvious thing to do, and so surely the clever bods at Intel considered this and made it possible.

I realise the OcUK users are rather more hardcore than that, and will be using decent graphics cards with their Ivybridge systems, but does anyone know if the onboard audio can be delivered through HDMI along with the onboard video?

Part of the reason for my choosing an Ivybridge system to do this job is because of the decent onboard video, but if this isn't possible then I could consider a system / CPU less powerful and then use an NVIDIA card for graphics and HD Audio. I'd then want to find out if the NVIDIA HD audio can output the surround sound from games via hdmi, either as a Dolby digital/DTS signal, or better, as PCM 7.1.

It would make quite one hell of a gaming system on my TV and projector actually (my amp outputs to both my Bravia LCD and my HD projector). I just didn't want a card with fans in there, burning up more electricity, making more noise, and another fan to clean periodically. That said, my current GTX460 runs relatively low power at idle, and I specifically selected the Gigabyte dual fan version because of all the chatter on OcUK at the time about how they were virtually silent, which it is, so I gather the current Gigabyte GTX660s are similar.


Anyway, gone a bit off topic there, and I realise graphics card questions belong in the graphics card section. I was just hoping I could do without a discrete card, at least to begin with.

So, is anybody reading this using an Ivybridge, and it's onboard HD graphics and audio via HDMI. If so, please reply

Thanks for your help,
Vin.

 

[JonSmith]

Alternatively you could buy a pentium system and stick in a discrete 6450 (about £20) which I know for a fact can do it.

Although I am fairly certain you can do audio over HDMI with an ivy bridge CPU.

 

[V1N]

Well this is the thing, "fairly certain", so was I to begin with, but now I'm not so sure.... But that's why I'm here, to ask someone who has one if it can do it!

But yes, exactly... I have an old C2D E6600 dual core chip here in a cupboard that I haven't used in years, since I got the Q9550 to extend the life of my current PC.

I could get a cheap C2D motherboard, put the £20 cheapo fan less NVIDIA card on it that OcUK sell (GeForce N210), and get the video decoded on that, and also get the HDMI audio.

Thing is, there are often deals here on OcUK, one of which I JUST missed. One of their Titan systems was on this week only, that ended this morning. I wouldn't mind getting one of these systems off the shelf for now and use it as is, and maybe stick a discrete card in it later and use it a bit like a console. Plug my 360 controller into it, and enjoy some console style gaming, but with the extra horsepower of the PC. I'd also use it for other jobs, including video encoding, so the i7 wouldn't go to waste. Or indeed i5, but I didn't really want to go any less than that.

So I was going to keep my eye open over Xmas and see what deals OcUK do. The i7 3.5ghz Ivybridge system was a little over £400, with 8gb ram. I've seen complete i5 systems for £350-£400 from time to time. That would be a lovely little system, and with the simple addition of a GTX660 would make a pretty decent gaming system, for 1080p.

My current setup has started to die, so will need to buy something soonish.
If someone can tell me if their Ivybridge onboard audio and video works via HDMI, better if it works with HD audio, then at least my mind will be at rest and I'll be happy to buy.

If it definitely doesn't support HDMI audio, then I'd leave the Ivybridge upgrade for now I think, and maybe build the C2D. I just aren't sure yet. I really wanted to make a system with as low electricity consumption as possible, and also not use any chassis fans, so I don't want to be generating too much heat. My current server is in a fanless desktop case (yes, I'm going to use it as a combined server and HTPC)

So yes, I'm quite indecisive so far, but that's because I don't have all the information, and like many at Xmas, I don't have too much spare cash either. So one of these OcUK Ivybridge systems would be ideal for me, if I can use it as is for now.

Apologies for rambling.
My head is full with different ideas and "what if" this and "what if" that, depending on the onboard audio/video.

Thanks for your help..
Vin.

 

[JonSmith]

Well If you do have a spare core 2 CPU it'll be far cheaper to get a compatible motherboard and pair it with a cheap discrete card. I'd not recommend the N210 though, it's quite inferior to the HD 6450.