Maximum PC

Hi all,
I have a home theater pc that i built, currently i have it connected to my 46" tv via DVI & audio cable (pc) --> HDMI (tv)

I have all my music, movies on my pc and i watch tv online on there as well. Currently i only have the sound coming thru the tv speakers, but i'd like to connect my pc to my receiver

Here's what i have:

PC: Asus M4A78 Pro Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131362
4 GB RAM
Dual Layer DVD+/- RW

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V630: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_1 ... -2003.html


I know that i need to get an audio card but this is where i'm beyond confused, trying to determine what card to get. I dont do any gaming on the pc, its only used to watch movies, tv, listen to music.

Can anyone tell me what audio card i need and cable(s) to get this set up to work?

THanks!!

Are you running Windows 7?

The problem you're going to run into is that you'll have to switch the sound devices in your computer when you want sound via HDMI, then back to the sound card or onboard sound when you want to use the receiver.

For whatever horrible reason Microsoft chose to limit DirectShow to only output sound via one device at a time.

That's the experience I've had anyway, and it's a huge inconvenience.

The only way I could overcome this was to update my receiver to one with HDMI; the PC connects to the receiver then the receiver to the TV. But now I need the receiver on as well as the TV to get sound/picture.

Wow that does sound stupid and a PITA

I was hoping for a solution that by default my PC sound would be on the tv (by default) like it is now and if i turned the receiver on - then i would have audio via the tv as well as through the receiver.

Ugg why must things be so difficult?? LOL


Thanks for your input

Some more information on this situation if you care to read more about it.

You'll notice some 'friendly' behavior when connecting a set of headphones to a laptop, it usually asks if you connected speakers or headphones and it sets your selection to the default connection. Windows DOES have the possibility of setting up a dialog box when a NEW sound connection is made. In practice it's really just letting you set the 'default sound device' in that dialog box.

You can get this behavior turned on in a desktop environment, so when you physically plug in the sound cable it might ask you if you want to output sound via that port. But desktops rarely need to be plugged and unplugged, so even that is still kind of a pain, especially when you're aiming for one of 4 or 5 1/8-inch jacks on the recessed rear of your case.

There is a problem here though too, because HDMI isn't in the DirectShow windows filter path by default, when you want to switch back to HDMI (often supported separately by your graphics card drivers) then you STILL have to manually bring up the sound panel and select HDMI. Unplugging and plugging back in the HDMI cable will bring up the video fine, but sound will have to be set manually.

It would sure be nice if Windows were able to output sound to every port, in a different quality, or format, it shouldn't matter, all at once.

There have been some professional-level sound cards that supported this back in the Windows XP days, but it's been a LONG time since I've been in the market for that level of sound hardware, so I'm not sure that possibility exists any longer.