Radeon 6850 - Sound through HDMI?!

Hi

This is my first thread in this forum and I hope somone can help me. I have a small problem; I have a ATI Radeon 6850, which is connected to my computerscreen (DVI) and my LCD HDTV (HDMI) via my receiver.

I recently bought the 6850 and connected it to the receiver, the sound works fine and so does the picture, but a few days ago I noticed that the were no "sound" in the subwoofer... So I asked around and I got some answers that I needed the HDMI Audio driver from ATI installed (which now is installed) and maybe the Realtek ATI HDMI Audio driver. The thing is that in windows, I can choose between my soundcard and the "ATI HD Audio rear output", and choose from stereo, 5.1, 7.1 and so on. I have looked at the CCC (Catalyst Control Center) for some settings to sound, select HDMI or something.. I have switched between many sources on the receiver; All channel, stereo, Pure Sound, but nothing helps..

On the receiver it says PCM Multichannel HDMI, which I thought would mean that all the speakers, plus the sub would work, but it doesn't. Is there anything you could think of, some driver I need to install in order to set the HDMI sound? I also heard that the graphic card onlydelivers 2 channel sound, but the 6850 should deliver 7.1. I really need help, please, is there anything I've forgotten to do??

I have:
Windows XP SP3
Asus ATI Radeon 6850
Creative X-Fi Soundblaster Soundcard
Onkyo SR507 Receiver

I really appreciate all help!! Thanks in advance!

/Richard

[HI, did you ever get this figured out?

I am running...

Windows 7 64 bit
powercolor ATI Radeon 6850
Creative X-Fi Soundblaster Soundcard

Just installed my 6850 today but cannot find or see any hdmi for this card? Not sure where to find it. I have installed and enabled/disabled the ATI high der audio... that's the only thing that shows up and nothing

Just curious if you had to link your SB X-fi to the vid card or should this all be auto? on board obviously disabled, not sure what to do next.

thanks.

Hi

I managed to get the sound I wanted, but through another solution involving HDMI. What I learned was that this card (6850) needs a Realtek Soundmanager, a program that will allow you to select sound through HDMI. This works on Windows 7, but not on Windows XP which I'm running.

You mentioned connecting the Creative sound card to the 6850, this would probably also work but I never had the time or energy to try.. What I did instead was; I connected the computer directly into the TV with HDMI. Then I took an ordinary 3,5mm sound cable and connected it between the TV and my receiver. Now when I'm watching a movie on the computer trough the TV I get 2.1 sound through my 5.1 suroundsystem. The thing is that I don't really care if it's 5.1 or 2.1, as long as the subwoofer is working, I'm happy. But I would recommend that you download (if you don't already have it) Realtek soundmanager for HDMI, that should solve the problem.

Feel free to ask me again along the road, so to speak, I'm happy to help you.

[Thanks for the quick reply.

I was able to get mine running (win7) by simply changing my DVI (from monitor) to the other DVI output on the 6850. Apparently the DVI out that is besdie the HDMI out are one in the same. The card supports 2 outputs only. So if you plug into the DVI beside the HDMI it will auto cancel the hdmi. By simply switching to the other DVI for my monitor the HDMI auto detected, and is sending both crisp 1080 video and perfect sound from my X-fi (no other conections needed).

Took me an hour of reading forums to find that answer but it worked like a charm. I do have one question about the realtek soundmanager... is there controls for EQ or sound management? So far my X-fi controls are working seamlessly but just curious.

Just for tech notes... My receiver is a Yamaha RX-V565 and once the HDMI auto enabled (after switcing my dvi cable to the other output) I did nothing... it all auto selected itself and worked on windows boot. What started out as a headache and a LOT of reading to solve such a simple thing is now exactly what I need/wanted. Thinking powercolor could have labeled the DVI '1 & 2' and I may have saved a few hours.

Thanks again for the post.

Great! I didn't know that the one DVI would cancel the other one out, wierd.. But I'm glad it work for you!

The Realtek Soundmanager is supposted to work as a EQ/Volume/Output and so on. It's designed to work as the Creative X-Fi Soundmanager, but for the HDMI on the 6850. Since you only can controll the EQ on the soundcard (X-Fi), you'll need the Realtek Manager to do the same for the HDMI output, if you want.

I have a question. I'm using a Yamaha receiver as well, I think it's the same as yours, but I'm using one set of speakers conected to the reciever in one room and another set of speakers to the computer (Creative X-Fi) in another room. So one set of speakers are conected to the Creative Soundblast X-Fi card and the other set is conected through HDMI to the receiver. Therefore I cannot get full 5.1 sound through the HDMI, because I don't have Win7 and can't get a Realtek Soundmanager for my XP (doesn't excist).. So I'm wondering if you are using only one set of speakers, or two like me?

I am using two as I have a small set of normal computer speakers plugged into the back of the computer (x-fi) and then the HDMI. I am assuming full sound is going to my receiver as I have sub/surround/front/centre/rear and it all sounds great now that I figured out the other prob. in fact I think the computer speakers are auto disabled when I run the HDMI... Let me check and get back to you on that one, I may be confused from the other day when I didn't have HDMI working.

As stated b4, you can only have 2 outputs total, so the DVI that lines up with the HDMI is either one or the other. My issue was simply to plug my Monitor into the other DVI and then the HDMI worked automatically.

The only issue I have now is that the card is reading my HDMI as my #1 monitor and when it doesn't detect power from my projector it shuts off my #2 (which is my computer monitor. What I am trying for is my computer as #1 and my projector as #2 because I am not leaving my projector on 24/7. I duplicate my desktop but for some reason it's continuing to label the HDMI as #1 and I need it as #2... working that issue out now, will repost when I solve it.