HDMI video AND audio out to TV

A Guy · 14 Jul 2011

Hello all, my Mom, bless her heart, has dropped a problem in my lap. She's really not bad with computers, but she isn't very savvy either. So she wants to stream Netfix to the PC, and connect the PC to her TV. She goes out and buys a 25' HDMI cable, and emails me asking how to connect it :)

So, I'm thinking the easiest thing will be to get a video card that outputs audio AND video through HDMI for her TV, and also has a DVI out for her monitor. I'm looking for suggestions. Mind she just needs a good picture, no gaming, etc. So as cheap as possible that will do the job.

I'm not sure if most GPU's will output both HDMI and DVI at the same time. Worst comes to worst, if her monitor has a VGA, I could get a card with HDMI and VGA. In a quick search I see the HD 4850 recommended, but then see issues with getting audio to work through HDMI.

So instead of just pursuing this, I'm asking all of you. Can I get a reasonably priced GPU, that will output audio/video through HDMI for TV, and video through DVI for her 24" Samsung monitor?

Recommendations? Issues? Experiences? I'm having her email the model# of her PC (Dell Inspiron of some sort, dual core CPU, 4 Gig ram). I assume even if it doesn't now have a discreet GPU, it will have an expansion slot for one.

In the mean time, just want some feedback. Thanks in advance.

A Guy

Beta · 14 Jul 2011

I have a ATI Sapphire 4850 and it works great. Both audio and video works great in Windows 7. Not sure where you hear that there where issues. You can get a OEM 4850 on ebay for $50.00 which would be the cheapest for the proformace that you will need to drive a 1080P TV.

stormy13 · 14 Jul 2011

A 4850 is overkill for what she is doing. That and with her having a Dell, you would most likely be looking at a new power supply with that card as well. Best bet for what she is looking to do would be a cheap HD 5450 or HD 6450, both of which can be found for less than $50.00.

Beta · 14 Jul 2011

It is not overkill. It is a cheap solution that is the same price as the ones that you have suggested and they will lag on a flat screen. Why spend the same amount of money for something that is a worse GPU?

mjm6783 · 14 Jul 2011

This is really funny. Just yesterday my mom asked me for basically the exact same thing. One difference is that luckily for me she's also looking to get a new laptop or pc, so I can find one that has the ability built in.

If you have any suggestions for a model of laptop that has the necessary graphics card, please post it. I'm still in the process of nailing down pricing so I'm open to suggestions.

sandman · 14 Jul 2011

I am using a HD5670 HDMI audio video setup and just added a second card for crossfire setup

A Guy · 14 Jul 2011

stormy13 said:

A 4850 is overkill for what she is doing. That and with her having a Dell, you would most likely be looking at a new power supply with that card as well. Best bet for what she is looking to do would be a cheap HD 5450 or HD 6450, both of which can be found for less than $50.00.

Thanks Richard, $21.99 after mail-in rebate card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121377

Do you know if the HDMI and DVI can be used at the same time? I see mention of having to set the HDMI audio as default to enable it's audio. I assume then there will be no onboard audio? A Guy

tman69 · 14 Jul 2011

"she wants to stream Netfix to the PC, and connect the PC to her TV"

if she signs up for netflix streaming--she will already have it on her PC--she need only install the MS Silverlight plug in for her browser---the TV-in my opinion--would be much easier to connect to netflix IF she already has a network capable Blu Ray player of DVD player--(assuming that she may have a router) connect that to the network capable device and register said device with netflix--and she will be good to go

Britton30 · 15 Jul 2011

Hi Bill, I did the same thing once and yup HDMI audio had to be default in my case at least. The TV is a 2nd monitor to the PC. Since I had to make several setting changes to see video on TV, I scrapped that idea.
Another idea (I'm full of ~~shxx~~ ideas) is to get a Bluray player, many of them come being loaded with Netflix, Hulu, Weather, etc. This can be direct connected to the TV and, voila! Just need the ole Netflix subscription form the net and you get a password to enter in the BD player.