Hooking-up gaming PC to home theater

Kain

Kain

Well-known member
Rage3D Subscriber
I sorta know what HTPCs are; (basically something to stream movies, videos, music, etc.) through your home theater, correct? But what if I want to hook-up a "real" gaming PC to a home theater and play PC games? Just connect the graphics card to the TV and use optical out on the sound card to get 5.1 sound through the home theater? That's it?

By the way, is loud bass and vibrations caused by bass bad for a PC? I assume it is for a HDD but what if the PC is SSD only?
 
Pretty much.

Although, you could set the audio output to HDMi in windows and not have to hook up an optical cable.
 
Thanks. But having the sound pass through HDMI from the graphics card would mean I would have to connect the HDMI out of the graphics card to the HDMI in on the A/V processor and then the HDMI out on the A/V processor to the HDMI in on the TV? If yes, what are my choices if I want to directly connect the graphics card to the TV and the audio to the A/V processor?
 
Generally you want everything to plug into your A/V Receiver and then the TV hooked into the A/V Receiver's output.

Alternatively. PC's video via HDMi direct to TV. PC's audio direct to A/V Receiver via optical from the soundcard/on-board sound.
 
If I want to connect the graphics card directly to the TV and the sound directly to the A/V processor through optical/coaxial, is it worth getting a nice sound card or will on-board sound do just fine since it is just passing a digital signal? In this case, would there be absolutely any difference between on-board sound and a separate sound card?

Secondly, AFAIK, you cannot pass Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio through optical or coaxial. If I were to hook up the graphics card's HDMI output to the A/V processor, would I get TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio?
 
First
- On-board would do just fine. Your not going to hear a quality difference.
- However, if you intend to game. Features like Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect would allow you to get 5.1 through optical or coaxial. HDMi can just send 5.1 uncompressed so it doesn't need the feature.

Second
- True, neither optical or coaxial can carry Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio.
- Yes, so long as the A/V processor/receiver can decode it of course.
 
Thats what im doing right now; htpc onboard video (vga) to tv seeing that my av rec doesnt have enough video inputs and then optical (soundblaster) to my av rec seeing that my oboard wouldnt do 5.1 because of driver issues.
I would love to stream line all of it with less cables, but it doesnt always work out in your favour. :(
 
Kain said:
is it worth getting a nice sound card or will on-board sound do just fine since it is just passing a digital signal?
Click to expand...
I went the better sound card route and 5.1 analog output to my receiver (been running this way for years). Less conversion steps* and pretty much guarantees the highest possible sound quality with my equipment. Your onboard audio may have analog outputs for 5.1/7.1 as well. Up to you which route you want to take.

*
DAC (digital to analog converter) on sound card -> analog audio cables to receiver -> receiver sends audio signal to speakers

vs

Dolby Digital or DTS encoding on computer -> digital audio signal sent to receiver over optical, coaxial, or HDMI -> receiver decodes DD or DTS signal -> DAC on receiver converts to analog -> receiver sends audio signal to speakers
 
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Thanks.

Will there ever be true 120 Hz 4K UHD TVs? Are there even any true 120 Hz 1080p TVs?

Lastly, how long do you think it will take before a single GPU can max-out games at 4K? Basically, something like what a single GTX TITAN does at 1080p now but at 4K.
 
DeathKnight said:
I went the better sound card route and 5.1 analog output to my receiver (been running this way for years). Less conversion steps* and pretty much guarantees the highest possible sound quality with my equipment. Your onboard audio may have analog outputs for 5.1/7.1 as well. Up to you which route you want to take.

*
DAC (digital to analog converter) on sound card -> analog audio cables to receiver -> receiver sends audio signal to speakers

vs

Dolby Digital or DTS encoding on computer -> digital audio signal sent to receiver over optical, coaxial, or HDMI -> receiver decodes DD or DTS signal -> DAC on receiver converts to analog -> receiver sends audio signal to speakers
Click to expand...

The problems is that it can introduce a ground loop hum when you go all Analog. Doesn't always happen, but damn annoying if it does.

Kain said:
Thanks.

Will there ever be true 120 Hz 4K UHD TVs? Are there even any true 120 Hz 1080p TVs?

Lastly, how long do you think it will take before a single GPU can max-out games at 4K? Basically, something like what a single GTX TITAN does at 1080p now but at 4K.
Click to expand...

The answer is sorta. The AVS forum has some lists of TV's that can pull it off.

But generally it's still just used to solve the 24,30 & 60Hz content problem.

Ryan45 said:
What are you guys using for keyboard and mouse? How is it sitting in a recliner or couch?
Click to expand...

Not very great with a standard Wireless KB/Mouse, but I don't really have a good place for the mouse. I need to get something like a Minix or Logitech K400.
 
Is it possible to get wired keyboard and mouse extensions so that I can connect them to the PC and use them from the couch? If yes, will there be any (extra) lag associated?
 
ive used my wireless logitech k800 and mx performance from my couch and didnt have any real performance issues, just cant stand having wires dragging all over.

For my htpc i use this.

wlt7ja.jpg


Again i cant stand wires :lol:
Just wished it was backlit.
 
Will making the graphics card output audio as well in any way decrease the performance of the graphics card as it will also be dealing with the audio?
 
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