We connect PC to TV via HDMI with sound

Problem

I am the owner of a computer with an NVIDIA video card, which has only two DVI outputs, and a sound card with an optical (TOSLINK) output. I recently bought a large LCD TV and wanted to organize a home theater. However, the wife said that column 5.1 is, firstly, there is no place to put, and secondly, they are expensive if you take good ones. Therefore, I was concerned about the problem, how can I connect the computer to the TV, so that in addition to the picture it would play the sound from the audio card. Obviously, the following device was required:



And it, fortunately, was found!

Decision

You can buy it, for example, on Amazon for about $ 30. Called DVI + Audio (SPDIF & Toslink) to HDMI Converter Adapter. Made in China in two versions - compact and not very. I got a compact one:
')




The stated characteristics (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

The input is DVI and one of the two S / PDIF - coaxial or optical, to the HDMI output. Audio outputs from the HDMI is unclear why, probably duplicated sound. The purpose of the On / Off switch is also unclear - in any position the device works and the device can be turned off 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 to a US 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
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 Video (2xDVI)
• Audio Creative X-FI Titanium
• NONAME cables: 2 meters optical audio, 1 meter DVI-DVI, 3 meter HDMI-HDMI - 100 rubles each

Windows defines the adapter as “Display Device for: DVI”.



Not the highest values ​​are initially available in the list of resolutions, up to 1600x1200, and 1280x1024 is recommended. 1280x720, i.e. 720p, works properly, 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 with a screen and occasionally wrote about receiving an incompatible signal. But 50Hz wound up without problems and work stably. When operating, the adapter heats up slightly, much like a home router or modem. The metal case effectively dissipates heat. I watched movies for several hours, no problems arose.

As regards HDCP support, the NVIDIA driver has a different opinion - it does not have it and that's it. I do not need HDCP, and did not understand.

The sound does not initially go. You need to enable S / PDIF Out in the volume settings or in the original sound card GUI. Because my TV is unlikely to have surround sound, I don’t see further tune up. About the quality, I can say that it is subjectively heard in the same way as in good headphones connected to a PC. No interruptions and 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 to a not very demanding user. Everyone is happy - both me and my wife.