Recommendation for a DVI to HDMI adapter

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Recommendation for a DVI to HDMI adapter

Ramjet99

85 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 11

#37566 15-Jul-2009 14:55

Hi all,

Briefly I have purchased a new video card, an ATI 4850 (http://www.hightech.com.hk/un/product2-431.shtml) and want to connect this to my Samsung 1080p LCD TV. I currently use an onboard HDMI out to achieve this (AMD780 chip) and can get video in 1080p and audio.

I need to get an adapter to work with this card and see that a higher priced model would have come with one. Is there any difference between an ATI DVI-to-HDMI adpater and an off the shelf one as I can't find a specific ATI model for sale in NZ?

Is there a particular configuration (DVI-I or DVI-D) or PIN arrangement I need to be looking for?

I understand I'll need to source an SPDIF cable to link the sound to the card so can manage that OK.

Any advice welcomed.

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#235719 15-Jul-2009 16:07

Any DVI to HDMI adapter should fit the bill. Or you could get a DVI to HDMI cable which you can pick up quite cheaply.

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

Four_seven

38 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#235726 15-Jul-2009 16:29

2 options:

any adapter (DVI->HDMI) will work for video, not sure on audio though, as some tv's recognise it's DVI and offer a seperate audio input plug as passthrough, which i believe works, until you run HDMI - HDMI, as most TV's detect HDCP signals and disable the passthrough plug, and you need an adapter that bundles the SPDIF cable into the HDMI connector.

Alternatively if your video card has HDMI as an output you will have two pins that act as a SDPIF pass-through, you jumper a cable from either your sound card or motherboard's connector and that will pipe the digital sound signal from the sound source to the TV.

I don't believe DVI offers the ability to transfer sound through the DVI output on the card, usually it is added on conversion from DVI->HDMI.

Hope that makes sense.

Dingbatt

6804 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3694

Lifetime subscriber

#235729 15-Jul-2009 16:33

Not sure how you are doing sound but this thread from last year covered something similar. Hope it helps.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Ramjet99

85 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 11

#235773 15-Jul-2009 18:16

Since posting I have been grazing around the web and found more conflicting info such as:
-ATi DVI HDMI adapters have a special chip in the adapter to appear as HDMI when connected (although this is no longer for sale and appears to have been for x2000 series chips
- 4870 and 4850 automatically output audio without an SPDIF connector etc
- all will work unless you use an AV receveriver
- all will work unless you have a certain brand of TV

If anyone has actually got these componets and can advise one way or the other - I'm hesitant to even open the box when it arrives!

Ramjet99

85 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 11

#235814 15-Jul-2009 20:11

Scratch - just found an official ATI adapter on TradeMe - sorted either way.

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#235927 16-Jul-2009 06:31

Four_seven: I don't believe DVI offers the ability to transfer sound through the DVI output on the card, usually it is added on conversion from DVI->HDMI.

Absolutely DVI transfers sound. As long as the video card supports audio pass-though.

However thing to keep in mind is that it is only SPDIF sound so no HD formats.