Upgrading my PC!

[vnmathur57]

Though my knowledge about computers and electronics is very limited, after going through a lot many threads and reading about so many modern devices, I became bold enough and shifted my PC and the Broadband connection to my entertainment den in order to integrate it with my AV system! First I opened the CPU and took some snaps of the innards which Im posting here( hope these will explain better). Then I detached the monitor and connected the VGA chord to my TV. Connected earphone jack to the AVR, through st- RCA cable. The basic purposes are:

(1) Listen to internet radio, contents on music sites
(2) Watch U-tube, movies on TV
(3) Play A/V material from PC/USB/Seagate HDD
(4)Play ACD/VCD/DVD through PC and avoid my Pana DVDP. PC has a CD and another DVDRW player.

With the above connections, everything is working fine but with following limitations:
(1) No monitor, so no PC!
(2) Sound quality is average/ below average.
(3) Keyboard/mouse handling very inconvenient.

My computerwallah told me that provision are there and he can fit a good quality sound card . He will take away the PC this weekend and fit a good soundcard (I suggested ASUS- Xonar type) with dgital-out, so that the PC could be connected to the AVR through a SPDIF/ co-ax cable. But now I am getting confused and seek help urgently (before the PC gets operated upon). My concerns are:

(1) If the digital audio signals are sent to the AVR , is a high quality sound card required ? If no, then I can get a lower quality sound card for digi-out only and buy a BDP later for playing my CD/DVD if required.
(2) Can anything else be added for enhancing video quality?
(3) How to retain the PC monitor also, for general surfing, home jobs.

Sorry for the long post. Hanumanji had to carry the entire mountain as he was not able to identify `sanjivani!!
Gentlemen, need your suggestions please.

 

[baijuxavior]

1. If you are using analog inputs of the avr then a sound card will improve the SQ.
2. You can also buy a good graphics card and use the hdmi out of the gpu to avr. This will handle both audio and video.
3. GPUs have multiple outs so you can connect the vga out of the gpu to monitor and hdmi to TV through avr.

 

[vnmathur57]

Many thanks for such prompt reply @baijuxaviour! Does it mean that instead of buying a sound card I should get a Graphic card? Can you suggest a good one? My AVR has 2 optical and two HDMI vacant ports.

 

[baijuxavior]

Buy a basic gpu like nvidia gt610 or 620. It will play all hd videos, 3d blu-rays and supports bitsreaming hd audio like dts hdma and dolby truhd. It should cost you around 2.5K.

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

Your motherboard (gigabyte G41M combo) has SPDIF out header on the motherboard itself. If you buy a header, you can get SPDIF without adding a sound card. As long as the second monitor is concerned, where do you intend to put the monitor in you living room? wouldn't it spoil the appearance? IF it does not, then only option is to go for a additional graphics card.
For keyboard mouse problem, get a wireless combo. Also if you have a android mobile, you could use gmote server on PC and gmote app on android to use phone as a wireless keyboard mouse.

 

[vnmathur57]

Thanks vaibhav. The total system is in a separate study room and I have a place earmarked for the CPU & UPS. This room is for all sorts of my gear and sinful activities. But yes, I'll have to find a place for the monitor.If I get a graphic card like baijuxaviour suggested, will there be improvement in the video quality also, apart from HDMI/digi-out facility? If no, then I will try only for the SPDIF out as you have suggested and connect it to optical input of the AVR.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

if the digital audio signals are sent to the AVR , is a high quality sound card required ? If no, then I can get a lower quality sound card for digi-out only

Your motherboard (gigabyte G41M combo) has SPDIF out header on the motherboard itself. If you buy a header, you can get SPDIF without adding a sound card.

In theory, digital out is digital out and the bits are the same, however, a pro engineer, a guy very much into the hard practicalities of audio rather than audiophile luxuries, tells me that he prefers not to use the motherboard S/PDIF. Another interesting information source on this is: Archimago's Musings: MEASUREMENTS: Do bit-perfect digital S/PDIF transports sound the same?

Putting all that to one side, I suspect that the motherboard S/PDIF would be a good start at a low cost, and very much better than the headphone-out. If you can get the bracket that goes with your board --- go for it!

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

I dont think there will be a markable difference in video quality. This being said, a discrete GPU will offer better possiblities like 3D bluray play back, capability of dual display, Hardware acceleration when using XBMC and other media players. What i would suggest is if your AVR is capable of HDMI passthrough, add a discrete graphics card. If not, then dont add a graphics card, just go for on board SPDIF. SPDIF will be huge difference in clarity and loudness over analog.
Also a point to look for is what resolution your TV supports on VGA connection. sometimes TVs dont support full HD on VGA (computer connection)

 

[vnmathur57]

My friend who is in this business has seen the innards. He is going to install HDMI connection and connect the PC to the system. Afterwards we shall decide for mod/upgrade, whatever required.

 

[shibashis]

If you get a basic graphics card like Radeon 5450, you can connect the HDMI out of the card to your AVR's HDMI in. For watching DVD or high quality rips you can then get bit perfect picture quality from the PC to the AVR. HDMI will carry both Video and Audio, given that the AVR has good quality built in DAC, through the HDMI you are likely to get much better sound quality than your motherboard's onboard sound card's analog outs (3.5mm outputs). So if you are willing to engage the AVR all the time in my opinion it will be better to get a basic graphics card with HDMI port.

 

[vnmathur57]

^^ In my setup the AVR is the central unit. I wonder if there is any alternative. So whether watching TV, playing CD, input through PC/USB, the AVR is always on and everything goes to the speakers via AVR. Regarding the Graphic card, we shall first use the existing mobo by installing an HDMI linkage between PC & AVR. After sometime we shall finalize the cards/components to be replaced/upgraded. I think my friend was suggesting the same Radeon what you have mentioned.

 

[vnmathur57]

Yesterday my friend attached his old Nvidia Nuforce card ( on loan basis) in my PC for a few days trial, before I decide the card to buy. Since I had no spare HDMI cable , the system was operated with a VGA connected TV only. He has gone back. Today I bought a Bandridge HDMI cable and plan to connect like this : PC HDMi--> AVR--HDMI-->TV. Will it work? Or, I'll have to connect the TV through VGA also?

 

[baijuxavior]

HDMI connection should work. You can remove the VGA cable.

 

[vnmathur57]

I connected TV with AVR & PC through HDMI. Video is working but no audio. Help required pl.

 

[baijuxavior]

If you connected PC HDMI to AVR then do the following:

Right click the volume control icon at bottom right of taskbar> playback devices > set hdmi as default device. You can set the speaker system to 5.1 or 7.1 in 'configure'. Now you have to set your media player to send DD and DTS signals to AVR in raw format (bitstreaming) so that the decoding will be done by AVR. The setting varies on different players. XBMC is easy to set audio properties. Also for xbmc, remember to turn on the avr before starting xbmc.

 

[vnmathur57]

I tried. The Volume control page is showing only Realtek HD Audio which was present earlier also. There is no mention of nvidia. I checked up. The card no.is GeForce9500GT. When I saw the `properties', it is showing only display settings & video settings. There is no mention of audio. Although I am able to get audio from the earphone jack, like earlier. It appears that the card is not able to transmit audio signals over HDMI. I googled but could not know the specific driver which is to be downloaded and installed. Can you suggest pl ?

 

[manniraj]

I tried. The Volume control page is showing only Realtek HD Audio which was present earlier also. There is no mention of nvidia. I checked up. The card no.is GeForce9500GT. When I saw the `properties', it is showing only display settings & video settings. There is no mention of audio. Although I am able to get audio from the earphone jack, like earlier. It appears that the card is not able to transmit audio signals over HDMI. I googled but could not know the specific driver which is to be downloaded and installed. Can you suggest pl ?

May be you can uninstall the Realtek drivers and install only the Nvidia drivers and then check. The Realtek drivers might be buggy sometimes.

 

[vnmathur57]

I am reviving this thread as I need some help again. I had to give back the Nvidia 9500 Card which my friend had loaned me, as he has been transferred to another city. Till now, I had connected the card to my TV via VGA chord and was getting 1080P video. For audio, I had connected the earphone out socket to the AVR through a normal RCA cable. The mobo is a different model of Gigabyte G 41M Combo, which does not have any SPDIF pins. Hence the card could not be connected and the card was not giving any audio through HDMI. I had to continue with this arrangement.
Now I have to buy some components to upgrade this PC for getting HD video and digital audio ( which I could send to the AVR). If I buy a new Graphic Card, Ill land up in the same situation as earlier, i.e., analogue audio out. I am not into gaming. The system will be used only for net surfing & entertainment. Therefore, I am considering following options :
1) Graphic card + new motherboard having SPDIF or HDMI for audio.
2) Any other card which will give audio & video through HDMI with the existing mobo.
Shall be grateful for suggestions. Thanks.

 

[cyber_cat]

Why don't you buy the card from him ?

What is the motherboard make and CPU ?

What is the budget for your options 1 and 2 ?

 

[haisaikat]

Why don't you buy the card from him ?

What is the motherboard make and CPU ?

What is the budget for your options 1 and 2 ?

I think it is always better to go for new models in "buy" option. Because newer GPUs may likely be cheaper providing the same throughput with lesser heat dissipation and of course can take advantage of newer technologies.

But yes I would also like to know the budget and the existing PC hardware that you have, specify the exact model.