All in one or separate cards

[blindjim]

I want to make one of my desktop PC's into a source fro audio and DVD playback.

 

I presently have an M Audio Audiophile 192 PCI card in it.

 

It also has a dated AGP video card with S vid, DVI & VGA out. it runs ok... no issues... just dated. (Dell Dimension 4600 2.8GHz cpu 1.25 Gig DDR ram 133 hzusing xp home.)

 

I'm wondering what to do to be able to gain SD DVD, and or, Blue ray video & audio out of this box. Should I add now only a multi ch audio card, or one of those ALL IN ONE wonders?

 

I'd like to go out with HDMI into my receiver for all this if at all possible.

 

Any recommendations would be super... equally appreciated would be recs on what card to use.. too.

 

I can use one of two Desktops... both Dells.. optiplex 620 running xp pro w/2.8 P4 - 2GB ram, or an oldrer Dell Dimension 4600 using xp home.

 

Many thanks for your time and thoughts..

 

 

[blindjim]

Am I asking about something here which could be better pursued in another forum topic or area?

 

Don't computers need to use audio & video cards these days still, to output such data to playback devices?

 

THX

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Jim - I haven't gone down the audio / video server path in a few years so I hesitate to offer an opinion. I suppose you could get one of those multi channel cards and call it a day. The creative X-fi series will output 24/96 via optical, but no HDMI. Here is a link http://us.creative.com/products/welcomenew.asp?category=1subcat208

 

 

 

[davidR]

blindjim, the ATI All In Wonder cards are a great solution for your needs! I have a Radeon 3870 in my Vista machine and have owned the All In Wonder 1900XT previously. The current Radeon 4800 series (4850 & 4870) support via their HDMI ports up to 1080p Blu-Ray video output and multichannel 7.1 output including Dolby Digital, AAC, DTS, and the Blu-Ray audio formats Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD. If you have any more questions please ask because I've been doing the video card thing with PC's for some years. I was an avid gamer, overclocker, and DVD watcher before I really got into music.

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Jim - One more thought. I don't want to hijack this thread but I want to ask. The newest version of iTunes is supposed to have better accessibility features. Have you tested them out?

 

[davidR]

Jim, re-reading the specs of your machines I don't believe a video card with HDMI out exists for your setups because the video card connection on your motherboard is more than likely AGP which is outdated by several years. All video cards today use PCI-Express. I will continue searching options for you.

 

[davidR]

Sorry to post once again but Jim after a good bit of searching I found you a solution. The HIS HD Radeon 3850 AGP card. It should work with your motherboard just fine and comes with a DVI to HDMI adapter and outputs up to 1080p video and 5.1 Dolby Digital audio. It doesn't state if it decodes the new Blu-Ray Audio formats DTS-HD and Dolby True-HD so I think that's only on the new 4800 series cards which use PCI-Express. If the Blu-Ray audio formats are absolutely critical to you an upgrade of your motherboard, RAM, and processor would be in order. Let me know what you wanna do and I'll give you suggestions either way. Have a good one.

 

[blindjim]

Thanks David... and certainly Chris too.. as everynoe else too.

 

Always your thoughts are most appreciated, welcome, and often necessary.

 

 

RE iTunes accessibility enhancement

 

Nope...

 

in fact it seems worse when used with my screen reader magnifyer... AI Squared Zoom Text 9.0 & 9.1.

 

This of course is applicable to version 8.0 and beyond.

 

previously I could point to a title, track name, etc in either the browser, or beneath it on the display, and my reader would read each word, sometimes the entire track name, album, etc. Now only those items displayed below the browser are articulated verbally. So IMHO things are less accessible for myself.

 

J River is no different... FUBAR... WMP... none are designed for those with visual challenges... I've been told however from folks that should know... it doesn't have to be this way.

 

I've not tried it with JAWS... J.A.W.S. is a dedicated non monitor all key stroke interface screen reader. JAWS most likely will read it... albeit the reading of it is quite important... its navigation is as paramount.

 

Thankfuly I'm almost entirely beyond the iTunes idiom now... and although arguably more clunky, I prefer to use J River MC for all music issues... Exact Copy for ripping to FLAC, and Cyberlink Power DVD for DVD playback. the latter solution is due to the driver conflict issues with ZOOM TEXT. As significant an aid as is this software it has many limitations. Platforms... OS.. etc.

 

RE Blue Ray

actually it's not terribly a necessity or desire currently, merely a thought. My FPJ is only 720P and likely won't be getting replaced for a while. Just figured, while I'm doing it that next step is less money than redoning it all later on for a second time..

 

The thing which prompts me to use 'the' or 'a' pc for DVD playback is the ability to use the accessibility software on the pc for adjusting, navigating, and configuring things mo' betta... that's all.

 

I think my Optiplex has a PCI express slot or two. and I could use it.

 

My singular concern there is just how configurable the display will be once it's sent out via HDMI... and for that matter it could be component if no upsampling is sought for SD DVD. Geezzz, for all intents and merely my own personal use, S Vid out or RCA would suffice.... lol.

 

I'm thinking ahead as I have guests here from time to time and would like to have my 116 inch display as well set as possible.

 

they almost all have Bose and plasmas, and I like the irony of my setup compared to theirs. The looks on their faces when I fire everything up is always grin city... n a few levels. :-)

 

I'll check out the PCI 'slots' and get back to you... as well I'll peer into the cards mentioned too.

 

[blindjim]

Apparently I have two PCI X slots. One being a 16x in the Dell Optiplex GX 620.

 

Due to the insights and notions here a resolution was made today. I filtered it down to the Invidia and ATI... and went with the 4870.

 

Naturally another power supply was needed too, so I went with a 550w one there with the PCI X links as well... whatever they are... I got 'em now.

 

A friend of mine did the install of both power sup and 4870.

 

It was not an easy install. That ATI 4870 IS not A SLIM CARD. It's huge in fact and required some alterations of the surrounding inareds. Following some hacksawing, cutting, bending folding, and general mutilations of the innocent and unassuming Dell tower, it - they is on board now! Oh.... and it works. Well, via the DVI/VGA out anyhow. I've no idea how to check the audio without a longer HDMI cable than I have on hand currently.

 

BTW... is there a way?

 

I'm currently still utilizing a USB el cheapo sound card, and won't be able to find out about the HDMI out until a longer cable arrives given the position of my receiver being atop a six shelf Sound Anchor rack.

 

In fact, I'll need to have to toggle back and forth between the two sound cards for casual use, or just dedicate it to HT 100%.

 

BTW, I have used only the driver (s) supplied with the CD.

 

Any tips or tricks on this card I should further know about?

 

ie., refresh rates, up & oversampling... etc. ???

 

Sincerely, all have my thanks for their timely and thoughtful input.... now only a table top 22-24 HD disp, and Blue Ray drive are needed/desired.

 

...and a 15ft DVI cable or extension.

 

[BEEMB]

 

ATI's 4800 series do indeed output the new high resolution audio formats but, don't expect to get the full 24Mbps bit rate. At the moment they max out somewhere in the region of 6Mpbs, still way better than normal DVD though.

 

If you want to have your the best quality cake, and eat it, achieving full output then currently a separate video / sound card is the only way to go.

 

 

 

[BEEMB]

 

Jim,

 

See the small print, point 4: http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonhd4800/specs.html

 

The new (and expensive) Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 appears to offer everything you need from an audio perspective.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-003-AS&groupid=701&catid=11&subcat=

 

Cheap route would be a 780G or 9400 based motherboard handling your video and the above card for audio.

 

It's ludicrous though that at £160, you can buy a standalone BD player that does everything.

 

Matt.