Windows 7: HDCP

High Definition Control Protocol,

I do not fully understand, but if you are having sound issues with the newer equipment, it might not be a driver problem! Whomever has started applying control mechanisms to content. Be it TV manufacturers or Vid card manufacturers.
This I know, my older computer with no HDCP parts will allow me to connect to HDTV, DVI>HDMI for video and mini stereo plug>rcs splitter for sound, and I get sound. My new puter which has HDCP compliant vid cards will not give me sound with same type connections???????????????????
Any one more clear about this stuff and can illuminate me?
Is there such a thing as a Realtek HDMI driver?

I use an ASROCK ion 330 as my HTPC... Yes it has a separate HDMI Audio driver that has to be installed before you hear sound from the TV set.... I have no idea how common this is but I can confirm it does exist.

I'm certainly not any more clear about it but do have a couple of observations.
At the bottom of Realtek download page is an ATI HDMI Audio Device. This tells me that in some cases HDMI audio is handled by the Graphics card. ??

Realtek

The other option would be to check any hidden output devices.

Right click on the Microsoft speaker icon, select playback devices.

Next, right click almost anywhere in the middle of the window that opens and select both "show disabled devices" and "show disconnected devices".

What devices are showing and which device is set as the Default Output?

Ap

There's one on the NVidia page for their chipsets as well...

I know that I installed a 2 wire jumper from 1 of my video cards, theres 2 in SLI, to the mobos onboard s/pdif header. I only ever used the standard stereo plug out, tho.
My LCD's HDMI input also has a left/right rca input.
The puter has two styles of s/pdif outputs. 1 optical, square, and 1 rca looking. I tried the rca output to a rca splitter, but no sound.
As I metioned above the older puter worked and gave me sound, not the new one, except with the PC input.
nVidia based cards, not ATI.
What am I missing,here?

[/QUOTE]

There's one on the NVidia page for their chipsets as well...[/QUOTE]


This probably for an nVidia chipset mobo, mines an Intel chipset. I saw something surfing about HTPC systems. Home Theatre PC mobos by nVidia.

Yes.

ATI Radeon? HD 4000 Graphics Family

[/QUOTE]This probably for an nVidia chipset mobo, mines an Intel chipset. I saw something surfing about HTPC systems. Home Theatre PC mobos by nVidia.[/QUOTE]

I would think the nVidea HDMI driver is for your graphics card and probably enables all of the audio options.

Other possibilities, look at your graphics card control panel and see if there's an option to route HDMI audio out to your audio card. Sound like the RCA (coaxial) s/pdif output might work for you if the monitor has an RCA -digital input-.

Ap

Yes ATI cards since the HD 2xxx series have all had a Realtek audio chip on them hence the download link for ATI HDMI Audio, and all are cabable of outputting audio over HDMI either using a native HDMI port or a special DVI-HDMI adapter that came with the cards (or came with most that didn't come with a HDMI port).

There are very few Nvidia cards with their own built in audio. Not sure if any of the new GT 2xx or GT 3xx re-brands do, but pretty sure that nothing from the 8xxx series up to the GTX 295 has one. In fact to get audio over HDMI out of any of them you have to do this,

Guide: 8800GT/9800GT/9800GTX Sound over HDMI (Now including Creative cards) - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net

All it basically is is plain old SPDIF passthrough, and then it is hit and miss with the lower model 8xxx and 9xxx series of cards as to whether they have the required SPDIF connector on the card.

So,
It looks like I have to buy a DVI/spdif>HDMI converter if I want the true digital audio experience. From there I'd have to use the HDTV's spdif optical out and connect to receiver and all the surround sound speakers. That ain't happening cuz the receivers to old and has no optical in. Too much to spend. Thats an $80 converter and a new modern receiver, easially $300+.
So then, how do I get the new puters analog out, to work with the HDTV's HDMI input, like the older puter will? bleeping bS
Sound works for PC input but not HDMI input. HDMI input has a left/right analog input with it???????? bleep