We connect the PC to the TV via HDMI with sound

Problem

I am the owner of a computer with an NVIDIA graphics card that has only two DVI outputs, and a sound card with an optical (TOSLINK) output. Recently I bought a large LCD TV and wanted to organize a home theater. However, the wife said that, firstly, there is nowhere to put columns 5.1, and secondly, they are expensive, if you take good ones. Therefore, I was preoccupied with the problem, how can I connect the computer to the TV so that in addition to the picture it plays sound from an audio card. Obviously, a device of the following plan was required:



And, fortunately, it was found!

Decision

You can buy it, for example, on Amazon for about $ 30. It is called DVI + Audio (SPDIF & Toslink) to HDMI Converter Adapter. It is made in China in two versions - compact and not so. I got a compact: Declared specifications (Chinese spelling preserved):

• DVI input up to 1080p
• Supports HDMI 1.1 & HDCP 1.1
• Audio input DTS-HD / Dolby-trueHD / LPCM 7.1 / DTS / Dolby-AC3 / DSD
• HDMI resolution 24/50 / 60fs / 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 576p / 576i / 480p / 480i
• Max transmission bandwidth 5.1 gbps
• Input video signal 0.5 ~ 1.5 Volts pp
• Output DDC signal 5 Volts pp
• Output cable distance <= 20m AWG26 HDMI 1.3 standard cable
• Max working current 480mA
• Power adapter format, input: AC (50HZ, 60HZ) 100V-240V; output: DC5V / 0.8A
• Dimension (LxWxH) 85x70x33 mm
• Weight 185g

DVI is input and one of the two S / PDIF - coaxial or optical, to the HDMI output. The audio outputs from the HDMI side are unclear why, the sound is probably duplicated. The purpose of the On / Off switch is also unclear - in any position, the device works and you can turn off the device only by pulling out the power cord. Two LEDs are lit, red at the input and blue at the output. The device comes with a 5-volt power adapter for an American outlet.
The documentation says that all image formats are supported - 480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. And really, do not cheat. I checked the work on the following configuration:

• Windows 7 x64 SP1
• Video NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 (2xDVI)
• Creative X-FI Titanium Audio
• NONAME cables: optical audio 2 meters, DVI-DVI 1 meter, HDMI-HDMI 3 meters - 100 rubles each

Windows defines the adapter as "Display Device on: DVI."



In the list of permissions, initially not the highest values ​​are available, up to 1600x1200, and 1280x1024 is recommended. 1280x720, i.e. 720p, it works fine, but I want it even cooler. To do this, manually add 1920x1080 to the NVIDIA control panel:



With a refresh rate of 60Hz (more precisely, 59), I had problems, the TV blinked on the screen and occasionally wrote about receiving an incompatible signal. But 50Hz wound up without problems and work stably. During operation, the adapter heats up slightly, much like a home router or modem. The metal case effectively dissipates heat. I watched films for several hours, no problems arose.

As for HDCP support, the NVIDIA driver has a different opinion - there isn’t it and that’s it. I do not need HDCP, and did not understand.

The sound does not initially come. You need to enable S / PDIF Out in the volume settings or in the proprietary GUI of the sound card. Because my TV is unlikely to have surround sound, then I don’t see the point to adjust any further. About quality, I can say that it is subjectively audible in the same way as in good headphones connected to a PC. No interruptions or other troubles were noticed.

The maximum task is to make the adapter work under Ubuntu, but this is a separate topic for research :)

Total

The described device from the Chinese works successfully and does not cause any complaints from a not very demanding user. Everyone is happy - both I and my wife.