DVI Detective Plus w/ATI 4850 cable flow

Well, I think that the time has finally come; I've had it with the display switching problem on my HTPC!

I am looking at the DVI Detective Plus, and I've heard that it will do what I want, but I'm a little confused as to the correct cable flow when using an ATI 4850 with HDMI audio out.

The ATI 4850 has DVI ports on the card, however, it comes with a "special" dongle that converts DVI to HDMI WITH sound. I'm not exactly sure what this thing does, but I do know it's not a regular DVI to HDMI dongle.

Anyway, so back to my question; the DVI Dective doesn't have HDMI ports, they are all DVI. What I want to know is how/what cables do I need to make this work.

This would be "cleanest":

4850 -> DVI -> DVI Detective -> ATI DVI to HDMI dongle -> AVR

However, I'm not sure if the 4850 will see that dongle the "right" way if it's connected through the DVI Detective; ie, will my sound still work?

Here's the most certain to work:

4850 -> ATI DVI to HDMI Dongle -> HDMI to DVI converter -> DVI Detective -> DVI to HDMI cable -> AVR

However, that's a ton of cables, and really ugly; I'd like to avoid that if possible.

Also, what type of DVI cable can carry audio? Do I need dual-link, DVI-I, DVI-D, etc?

I'd appreciate any advice, and certainly, if someone has the 4850 with a DVI Detective, please let me know how you have it connected!

Thx!

Yeah, that's no big deal, and I'd be happy to do that. But do you carry audio on your cables, because, if so, to the best of my knowledge, you need that DVI->HDMI adapter that comes with the 4850.

Can you detail your cable flow? What comes out of the computer, where is the DVI->HDMI adapter, etc? Thanks!

I was looking at the monoprice DVI->HDMI cables, all the ones I looked at had the following message:

"6FT HDMI Male to DVI-D Male CABLE for HDTIV PLASMA DIGITAL VIDEO

This cable connects DVI devices to HDMI devices such as DVD, satellite boxes, LCD, projectors, plasma and HDTVs. HDMI provides an interface between any HDMI-enabled source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, and A/V receiver, video monitor, and projector for Video only."

Video only, looks like audio isn't carried on those cables?

Yup, and to the best of my knowledge, that's actually a special DVI to HDMI converter, a "standard" one will not work.

So, unfortunately, I still remain in deadlock. I'm not sure what the right cables are to make this work, can I just come out of my video card via DVI to the GenFen, and then put the DVI to HDMI adapter on the other side of the GenFen? If so, that would be perfect! However, I'm afraid that I have to come out of the video card, into the "special" DVI to HDMI adapter, and then HDMI to DVI into the GenFen, and finally from DVI to HDMI out of the GenFen. I can do that (if necessary), I'm just not sure what cables to use. Does a DVI-D cable carry audio? Do I need dual link? Etc, etc.

Thanks again for any help, especially the poster who actually has this exact configuration. Please let me know what cables you have in the mix between your video card and the GenFen, it would be very helpful!

Well, that certainly helps a bit! As for the type of cable, any ideas there? DVI-D, DVI-I, DVI Dual Link? I'm sure that has to matter, right?

And what about the statement on the monoprice cables (these are for video only) that I posted above? Any ideas, or are they just covering their butts.

Thanks everyone for the help. Ordered the DVI Detective Plus today (along with the recommended cables above from Monoprice), really looking forward to seeing the end of this problem. I realize that the drivers will probably eventually fix this issue, but, frankly, for 100 dollars, it's just not worth the hassle anymore.

I appreciate all the help!!

Oh crap.. I ordered it from KVM Switches. But it's the DVI Detective Plus; I thought that was the one that had the HDCP/HDTV support?

I still can probably cancel the order, can someone else confirm/deny this?

Here's what I ordered:

http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/ext-dvi-edidp.html