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I recently built a Windows 7 32 bit HTPC that plays Bluray discs great (Lite On Bluray drive + Turtle Beach Montego), but I'm already thinking about upgrading my system so it can play TrueHD instead of 'mere' DD 5.1. I had the TB Montego PCI card from my older HTPC that is now 'retired'.
The new PC only has 2 slots: 1 PCIe and 1 PCI. The PCIe is currently occupied by a EVGA GeForce 9400 (using DVI out to 1080p display) and the PCI slot is occupied by the TB Montego (toslink/optical out to receiver).
Bluray playback for 'TrueHD' tracks is fine (if not 'TrueHD' of course) because it is my understanding that every TrueHD track has an embedded Dolby Digital track within, to allow a degree of backward compatibility with older gear. But my Pioneer D912K receiver is now about 6 years old, has no HDMI inputs, etc.
So I'm thinking I need a new receiver and 1 of the following, to get TrueHD audio from my HTPC: 1. HDMI sound card for the PC (would need to be orig PCI, to replace the TB card ---OR--- 2. Replace the GeForce 9400 with a card that has not only a DVI output to use the existing cable to my display, but also has an HDMI out (for audio into the new receiver).
Either of these 2 cards would need to be fully Windows 7 compatible, driver-wise.
Any recommendations? Sounds to me like the cheaper/easier option for the HTPC is to find a Win7-compatible PCI card for HDMI. But what's a good/reliable one? Thanks!
The new PC only has 2 slots: 1 PCIe and 1 PCI. The PCIe is currently occupied by a EVGA GeForce 9400 (using DVI out to 1080p display) and the PCI slot is occupied by the TB Montego (toslink/optical out to receiver).
Bluray playback for 'TrueHD' tracks is fine (if not 'TrueHD' of course) because it is my understanding that every TrueHD track has an embedded Dolby Digital track within, to allow a degree of backward compatibility with older gear. But my Pioneer D912K receiver is now about 6 years old, has no HDMI inputs, etc.
So I'm thinking I need a new receiver and 1 of the following, to get TrueHD audio from my HTPC: 1. HDMI sound card for the PC (would need to be orig PCI, to replace the TB card ---OR--- 2. Replace the GeForce 9400 with a card that has not only a DVI output to use the existing cable to my display, but also has an HDMI out (for audio into the new receiver).
Either of these 2 cards would need to be fully Windows 7 compatible, driver-wise.
Any recommendations? Sounds to me like the cheaper/easier option for the HTPC is to find a Win7-compatible PCI card for HDMI. But what's a good/reliable one? Thanks!