Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater HTPC GeForce 9800

So, the GeForce 9800 series were officially released today. They are quite expensive (400-600USD). The pictures pretty clearly show an HDMI port on the card. For the HTPC users out there, does anyone know if these cards will run both video and HD audio through the HDMI port?

The ability to run one HDMI cable from my PC to my Receiver for 1080p video and HD audio would make the HTPC a better solution in my book than my PS3, so if anyone knows please let me know.

They do, yes, but you can also do it with the 9600GT, which is significantly cheaper. However, they only take SPDIF input, which means that it probably won't run HD audio through the card.

My bet is it won't. From the reading I have done, passing HD audio through involves the implementation of more hdcp specifically for the audio stream.

I suspect that, like video hdcp it is non trivial and will not happen until there are a lot more people out there buying bluray players of one sort or another.

Is there anything in the specs regarding HD audio?

You can check out this review.

Benchmarks

I read it. SPDIF out only so its not HD audio.

"includes native HDMI video output and offers digital audio output through the attached S/PDIF audio cable, making this the closest thing to fully-functional native HDMI that NVIDIA offers."

Hmmmmm, I see an increase in terrabyte hard drives on the rise. Maybe I should buy some Maxtor stock.

Sounds like AMD/ATi might have what you're looking for. I know they do audio straight to HDMI, but I don't know if it's HD Audio. Try poking around other review sites.

In any case, there's no way I would use a 9800 in an HTPC. Too big, too hot. Unless you're planning on using it for serious (and I mean serious, as in you've got a 2650p TV) gaming, there's no point.

I agree, it's serious overkill for a HTPC. Except........See the end.

Cheaper Route if you have a 5.1 sound card already. Many PCs now have them on board.
Look for an older card that has a DVI port. My old Nvidia 7900 is probably less than $100 today, and it did 1080i. Add a DVI to HDMI adapter or cable and your set.

The 7900 is still a bad choice though as it was a power hungry SOB. Required two power cables from your power supply, on separate rails! However, if you were not doing MAD 3d gaming, it would run fine on just one power plug, for just video processing.

By the time the copy-write stuff is added into the mix to make the DVI part an issue, there will, hopefully, be a better card that is more suitable for the Hi Def, HTPC market. One that doesn't charge the premium for it's 3D prowess, if you don't need it.

However, after thinking harder for a second.....If you had to invest in:
a new sound card anyways to upgrade to multi-channel,
a new video cards as well for HD video,
plus add a DVI to HDMI adapter or cable.....

Suddenly the price tag of the simple solution 9800 actually becomes more interesting.

Bah! Just wait for the mobo with all the HD stuff on board. Given the preasure on AMD to distinguish itself and their recent mobo graphics releases, it might just happen.

Yeah, but the 9600GT has the same features for 1/2 the price!