[Blk02]

I have had my HTPC for a while now and I am on the waiting list for a Ceton InfiniTV card from Fluid Digital, which is right down the street from me. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-E7AUM-DS2H with Nvidia 9400 IGP and Realtek ALC889a. I know that the Nvidia 9400 IGP is not capable of bitstreaming HD audio, so I plan to install a ATI 5450 card as soon as I recieve my Emotiva UMC-1 A/V Processor. I am using the latest version of TMT with Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit.


My main concern is that I am not sure if the Realtek ALC889 chip on my motherboard will have anything to do with the audio signal after I install the ATI 5450?? Both the ATI 5000 series and the Realtek ALC889 are on the same "HD Audio Compatible Sound Card and Codec List" seen below (I believe the list comes from PowerDVD). However, ALC889 is apparently limited to 2-Channel 24bit/192khz while ATI 5000 series cards support lossless pass-through (??bit/???khz). What happens when you combine the two?? Will the ATI 5450 take over all audio processing or will I only be able to bitstream 192kHz/24bit 2-channels or 96kHz/24bit 4-8 channels??


Do I need to buy a new motherboard with the new Realtek ALC892 chip and then install the ATI 5450 to get 24bit/192khz 8 channel bitstreamed to my reciever through HDMI??


I know the Core i3/i5 H55/H57 Intel chipsets can also bitstream HD audio, but there still seems to be problems with 24p playback. Hopefully Sandy Bridge will fix the issue and I will upgrade to another IGP solution. The Nvidia 9400 IGP does 24p playback just fine for me and I hope the ATI 5450 will do the same (not sure??). I am using a Pioneer Elite 60" Plasma for the display, which outputs at 72hz for 24p playback (correclty triples the refresh rate to reduce slow pan judder). I have also heard about the Nvidia 430 cards supporting HD audio bitstreaming, but they are more expensive and only offer 3D/1.4 HDMI spec over the ATI 5450.


Realtek Website for ALC889:

• Ten DAC channels support 16/20/24-bit PCM format for 7.1 sound playback, plus 2 channels of concurrent independent stereo sound output (multiple streaming) through the front panel output
• Three stereo ADCs support 16/20/24-bit PCM format, multiple stereo recording
• All DACs supports 44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/176.4k/192kHz sample rate
• All ADCs supports 44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/176.4k/192kHz sample rate
• Primary 16/20/24-bit SPDIF-OUT supports 32k/44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/192kHz sample rate
• Secondary 16/20/24-bit SPDIF-OUT supports 32k/44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/192kHz sample rate

HD Audio Compatible Sound Card and Codec List

• Realtek ALC885 (support up to 192kHz/24bit 2-channels or 96kHz/24bit 4-8 channels)
• Realtek ALC889 (support up to 192kHz/24bit 2-channels or 96kHz/24bit 4-8 channels)
• Realtek ALC669 (support up to 192kHz/24bit 6 channels)
• Realtek ALC670 (support up to 192kHz/24bit 6 channels)
• Realtek ALC892 (support up to 192kHz/24bit 8 channels)
• VIA EnvyHD Vinyl VT1818S codec (support up to 192kHz/24bit 8-channels)
• VIA EnvyHD Vinyl VT1828S codec (support up to 192kHz/24bit 8-channels)
• VIA EnvyHD Vinyl VT2020 codec (support up to 192kHz/24bit 8-channels)
• Auzentech X-Fi HomeTheater HD (supports HDMI 1.3a bit-stream lossless pass-throughMore Info)
• NVIDIA GT2xx series graphics cards
• ATI Radeon HD 5000 series graphics cards supporting lossless pass-through
• Intel Core i3/i5/i7 with integrated audio and graphics

 

[krodami]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Blk02 /forum/post/19513952


Do I need to buy a new motherboard with the new Realtek ALC892 chip and then install the ATI 5450 to get 24bit/192khz 8 channel bitstreamed to my reciever through HDMI??


I know the Core i3/i5 H55/H57 Intel chipsets can also bitstream HD audio, but there still seems to be problems with 24p playback. Hopefully Sandy Bridge will fix the issue and I will upgrade to another IGP solution. The Nvidia 9400 IGP does 24p playback just fine for me and I hope the ATI 5450 will do the same (not sure??). I am using a Pioneer Elite 60" Plasma for the display, which outputs at 72hz for 24p playback (correclty triples the refresh rate to reduce slow pan judder). I have also heard about the Nvidia 430 cards supporting HD audio bitstreaming, but they are more expensive and only offer 3D/1.4 HDMI spec over the ATI 5450.

You do not need a new motherboard, the ATI 5450 and up all have the audio and video goods built into it.


You are correct the Core CPU's and H55 and H57 chipset have issues playing true 23.976, you can see my thread here on some more info on that. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1285932

 

[Blk02]

Thanks for the quick response. I read through the 24p thread and I found Rene's info interesting. I guess it is worth sticking with my current 775 CPU and a ATI 5450 for now. Atleast until 24p is worked out with the Intel IGP solutions.

 

[Blk02]

Do you know if the ATI 5450 will perform 24p playback without hiccups??

 

[krodami]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Blk02 /forum/post/19514126


Do you know if the ATI 5450 will perform 24p playback without hiccups??

Blk, I tested a 5450 with a Atom D510 last night and it played a few minutes of Avatar without any video problems, there is a minor audio issue that i am working through but that should be resolved tonight hopefully.

 

[Blk02]

Is it the buzz that was supposedly caused by the new ATI drivers?

 

[hirent]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Blk02 /forum/post/19513952


What happens when you combine the two?? Will the ATI 5450 take over all audio processing or will I only be able to bitstream 192kHz/24bit 2-channels or 96kHz/24bit 4-8 channels??

Your query has already been answered but here's my input.


You are comparing two different things here: Digital (HD 5450) & Analog (Realtek).

The HD5000 card will pass the HD audio as it is to an external device (UMC-1). It is not a sound card and as such there is no processing involved. It simply provides a path for the original digital audio signal to be sent out.

The Realtek controller is a sound card which will output the decoded analog audio signal from the motherboard ports.


Both of these will show up in Windows as a 'Playback Device'. Choosing the 'ATI HDMI Device' will do everything and pass all audio signals to your Pre/Pro.