How to Get Audio to 8500GT via S/PDIF Header

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sfrasernz

162 posts

Master Geek

#27824 7-Nov-2008 15:05

I'm assembling my HTPC and have run into my first hurdle...I don't have any way of getting audio to my Sony Bravia TV!

I have an MSI 8500GT HDMI Graphics Adapater and an Asus M2N-XE Motherboard. The 8500GT has a small 2 pin header to take a S/PDIF audio connection but the problem is the motherboard doesn't have a S/PDIF connector to feed it.

There is a glimmer of hope and that is the mobo has an external coaxial S/PDIF port. Can I somehow engineer a cable to be able to pass audio to the graphics card? Will an RCA plug and a 2 pin header do the trick or am I likely to damage the graphics card?

I don't have an AV Receiver so the only way I can think of getting audio is through the HDMI cable.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#176657 7-Nov-2008 15:28

Should work fine. Just make sure you get the pinout the correct way with the +signal and -ground or you'll get no audio.

Nety

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#176659 7-Nov-2008 16:01

You may have a couple of options. I am not sure with the particular model of TV you are using but I know that my Sony Grand Wega there is a Stereo 3.5mm plug by the HDMI port. You can feed the sound via this -However- I did find that once I plugged my 8500GT in which supported sound over HDMI the 3.5mm plug no longer worked and there was no option to contiinue to use it however yours may have that optiion.

As you say the other option is to use the spdif out from the motherboard. You are not putting anything at risk however do make sure you get the + and - the right way around.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

sfrasernz

162 posts

Master Geek

#176667 7-Nov-2008 16:21

My TV is a Sony Bravia 40" LCD. I'm not sure if it has an audio input but if it does I suspect if the TV detects an HDMI signal it will disable it. I will give it a try though.

Does anybody know whether the inside prong of the RCA plug is positive or negative? Hopefully the header on the 8500GT graphics card is properly labelled so I can identify the postive and negative pins.

Thanks for your input.

eXDee

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#176693 7-Nov-2008 18:05

HDMI 3 on my Bravia D is designed to take an RCA input.

aucklander

403 posts

Ultimate Geek

#176834 8-Nov-2008 15:21

Hi!
see my signature for setup description.
I am feeding video through HDMI from DVI output of the 8600GT (DVI/HDMI cable looks like this)
Audio is separate 3.5mm / 2xRCA into the TV. I am usinhg HDMI-3 for this, it works.

Would it be possible for me to move the audio through the HDMI cable, as well?
Video card is Asus EN8600GT Silent 512MB DDR3.

mobo Intel DH55PJ, RAM: 4GB RAM, Nova-T 500 HD + Avermedia Trinity tuner card, Geforce 520 video, 120GB SSD Sandisk + 640 WD + 1000SG, Win7 Home Prem 64-bit, Media Portal 1.15.0; BTC 9019URF Cordless Keyboard, Panasonic 55" (HDMI cable), HTPC Case Silverstone Grandia GD05B.

chia

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#179794 24-Nov-2008 09:18

Hi guys, I FINALLY DID IT!!!!!

I'll tell you how:

I have the geforce or ASUS nvidia 8500GT with hdmi and dvi outputs. I hooked up my pc to my tv on hdmi. It's a 56" DLP JVC 1080p.

This is how after reading a lot from here and other forumd I got to the solution.

You have to check the video card. On the top part you'll see a white plastic with 2 pins inside of it. This is the connector SPDIF output from the video card. So what you have to do is look up in your motherboard for a connector with 3 pins that says SPDIF OUT. Even though it looks with 3 pins ONLY 2 of them are needed. You will basically need ONLY a cable like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=83000&CatId=69

I got it at a local pc technician shop for 2 bucks only.

Anyway what you do is connect one end of the cable to the two pins from the white connector from the video card and the other end of the cable to your motherboard on the first 2 pins of the SPIDF OUT connector. Now the way to know which ones are the first two, do it this way: The first two considering reading SPIDF OUT meaning that the first one is the one closest to the "S" letter of SPDIF OUT.

If it does not work trying connecting the cable differentely as you might be connecting ina reverse order (positive-negative). Don't worry about burning anything as it's only a sound cable, and it does not carry any power.

Once you do it, go to windows control panel and select SPDIF as your default sound playback.

And you're ready to enjoy sound and video thru HDMI now!

Good luck folks and thank you for all your input.

Jc

P.S. The white connector from the video card might look to tight but it's ok connecting, just be gentle and dont push too much.

rakslice

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#181129 29-Nov-2008 15:44

S/PDIF coax connections use +0.5/-0.5 volts, and those motherboard pin headers are often 0/+5.0 volts. Your video card documentation (or the manufacturer's technical support staff) may tell you if it supports both.

chia: are you talking about an Asus M2N-XE motherboard?

chia

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Wannabe Geek

#181137 29-Nov-2008 16:59

hey rakslice,

The documentation on the video card is not available as it came with the computer. I am not using any coax cable, I am using a simple two pin cable. Its the cable like the the one on:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=83000&CatId=69

My motherboard is intel DG33SXG2 with chipset Dg33

You will notice that the two pin able for the video card does not connect tight to the cable as it should, you actually have to push gently into the white plastic with the plastic two pin connector from the able but it works great after connecting to the motherboard and setting spdif on windows.

If you have any problem, please send me an email to the_best_pc_master@yahoo.com, include pictures from your video card and your mobo if you want to.

As a suggestion I'll tell you to be very observative as the SPDIF out on the mobo is hard to find as the letters are very small.