[Steve0212]

I am running the latest XBMC on Windows 7 x64 on a dedicated home theater PC. I do not use the PC for anything else, just watching movies via XBMC. I was having the stuttering video problem and found this page. http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Win...udioEngine.

A little background on my PC:

1. My video card is a SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814102822). The 4830 is supposed to support TrueHD and DTS HD per the manufacturer's web site.
   
2. I updated the video driver to the latest from AMD.
   
3. My receiver is a Denon AVR-3313.
   

From the wiki article, I found that the issue is that when I look at my "Supported Formats" for my "AMD HDMI Output" in the Control Panel -- Sound, it only supports DTS Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital, even with the latest driver. That is very frustrating since HD audio is supposed to be supported.

So, here are my questions:

1. Is there any way to make my current video card work with HD Audio?
   
2. If the answer to #1 is no, what HDMI video card would you recommend that supports HD Audio? I do not want to break the bank. Are there any recommended options less than $100?
   

Thanks for any help you can give.

[Dougie Fresh]

AFAIK, HD audio bitstreaming (DTS-MA/Dolby True-HD) is not supported with AMD/ATI GPUs prior to the HD5xxx series so I don't understand the claim by the manufacturer the HD4830 supports the uncompressed Blu-ray audio formats.

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation...=212&lid=1

If you want a card that can perform all the PQ optimizations present in the driver, the HD5670 or HD6670 will work. If you don't care about that stuff, the HD5450/6450 will work.

When you look at the properties for your HDMI playback device, do you see the HD audio formats as supported like here? Are you sure you have the ATI HDMI audio as your playback and not the Realtek or other sound chip in the motherboard?



http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=146911

If they aren't there then the EDID is telling your audio playback device those formats are not supported.

[Steve0212]

Correct - they do not show up on that screen. I am just going to get another card. Now, the question is, which one. What are "PQ optimizations"? Would I want them with my receiver?

Thanks for the quick reply...

[KraziJoe]

Correct - they do not show up on that screen. I am just going to get another card. Now, the question is, which one. What are "PQ optimizations"? Would I want them with my receiver?

Thanks for the quick reply...

Just get the one you can afford.
As for stuttering, make sure your audio in xbmc is set to wasapi hdmi amd.

[Dougie Fresh]

In the Catalyst application, there are several video settings, some of which you need a more powerful card for. I am not sure what settings you have now but AFAIK, the minimum to not have some of them grayed out because the card isn't powerful enough is the HDx670.

---

Just get the one you can afford.

Or just do this. It will save me time explaining what your options are and I can do other things with my life instead.

[Steve0212]

thanks for all the help - I went with this card. Heck - if I can solve this issue for < $50 after rebate, how can I argue!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6814102988

Thanks for all the help...

[fabes253]

If anyone else has this problem here is another card that will work and not break the bank - http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-1024M...dia+gt+610