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Wicked, exactly the answer I was after. My concern was a slow UI, but we'll give it a go. If its crap, i'll use it my upcoming Freenas box
Cheers.
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2015-03-07, 14:23
(This post was last modified: 2015-03-10, 13:12 by kapral.)
Hi,
Let mi refresh old topic as it refers to my question.
I'd like to build HTPC (XBMC Win/Linux, doesn't matter for me) with the least effort using the hardware which I own
Currently I have Dell Optiplex 780 SFF with E8400 on board, integrated music card witout any int/ext SPDIF, PSU 280W. I'm planning to buy ZOTAC GeForce GT 720 (ZT-71202-20L), which theoretically supports DTS-TrueHD, DTS-HD
HTPC will be connected to AVR Onkyo TX-SR578 -> Optoma HD26. What I want to achive is to obtain DTS-HD from .mkv files or BD.
Is it enough to invest in graphic card or I need to buy additional music card and connect SPDIF internlally?
Regards,
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noggin
Posting Freak
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2015-03-07, 14:51
(This post was last modified: 2015-03-07, 14:55 by noggin.)
nVidia (and AMD) cards have built-in HDMI audio sub-systems these days, which are totally independent of any other sound devices. In Windows, with the correct drivers, they will appear as another sound device in the Windows Control Panel. With OpenElec similarly.
Only the very early graphics cards with HDMI outputs (effectively the first generation or two) needed an external SPDIF feed for HDMI audio (thus limiting the cards to DD/DTS and PCM 2.0)
Any current, or recent, nVidia consumer graphics card with an HDMI output will bitstream DTS-HD and Dolby True HD audio over HDMI AFAIK.
I doubt it will be an issue - but make sure that any graphics card you purchase is compatible with the power supply in your PC - some may need an additional power connector, or draw more than your PC is really able to supply. For modern low-end (no need for a high-end card for HTPC use - even mid range can do high quality deinterlacing and very high quality scaling?) this is unlikely to be an issue - but it is something to bear in mind, as is GPU fan noise. If you care enough about audio to listen to HD Audio, you presumably also want your HTPC to be as quiet as possible. (That's why many of us are now using very quiet solutions like the Chromebox. The Pi 2 is lovely and silent - but won't bitstream HD Audio though)