What's the difference between DVI and HDMI??...

[dave4shmups]

My HDTV has an input for an HDMI cable, but there's no HDMI channel, when I go to inputs on the main menu-just DVI. I'm unclear as to what the difference is. I know with my XBOX 360, I can only get a picture-no sound-using just the HDMI cable.

[shmuppyLove]

My TV won't switch to the HDMI input unless there's an active signal coming in.

A bit annoying, but I got used to it pretty quickly. I just remember to power my PS3 on before switching.

Maybe the TV doesn't support audio through HDMI for some strange reason? In that case if you want to use HDMI output from the 360, you'll need an adapter so you can get either analog or digital audio out of the multi-av connector, and I think you have to change a setting in the 360 dashboard somewhere.

Is anything I'm saying making sense?

[Fudoh]

The DVI specs are complete sub-set of the HDMI Specs. DVI is limited to RGB color space, while HDMI can carry both RGB and YCbCr. HDMI is often limited in the resolutions supported, while DVI technically does all the PC resolutions. And - as you noticed yourself - DVI does not carry audio.

Recommendation: take your 360 to another display and change the HDMI settings. Make sure you output 720p, 1080i or 1080p, not a PC resolution like 1366x768 and set the colorspace to (forced) YCbCr instead of RGB. You have to disable the HDMI auto setting, otherwise your 360 will change back to some other others once you reconnect it to the display in question. This way your TV should recognize the 360 as a proper HDMI with audio.

[dave4shmups]

The DVI specs are complete sub-set of the HDMI Specs. DVI is limited to RGB color space, while HDMI can carry both RGB and YCbCr. HDMI is often limited in the resolutions supported, while DVI technically does all the PC resolutions. And - as you noticed yourself - DVI does not carry audio.

Recommendation: take your 360 to another display and change the HDMI settings. Make sure you output 720p, 1080i or 1080p, not a PC resolution like 1366x768 and set the colorspace to (forced) YCbCr instead of RGB. You have to disable the HDMI auto setting, otherwise your 360 will change back to some other others once you reconnect it to the display in question. This way your TV should recognize the 360 as a proper HDMI with audio.

Ah, see I'm doing a PC resolution, but those are the only settings I can find on my 360.

[Ed Oscuro]

HDMI is often limited in the resolutions supported, while DVI technically does all the PC resolutions.

If you have a relatively recent dual-link connection, that is. Single-link will run nothing greater than 1920x1200 @ 59.97Hz (and then not always).

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Those early HDTVs sold in the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, had a DVI input (forerunner to the current HDMI setup with modern-day HDTVs). You might recall the American first HDTV programming service called "Voom" back in the day for those early HDTVs sets. It went bust as not enough subscribers to justifify it's expensive service base back in the day. Not to mention with prices in the $15,000 to $20,000 range for the high-end early HDTV sets back in 2000 -- they were gorgeous to look at but sure "burned a huge hole in the wallet" department, indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[shmuppyLove]

I just thought of something -- are you sure it's an HDMI input on the TV? Can you post a pic of the connectors on the back, or give us the make and model of the TV?

[Overkill]

My PC has an GTX 570 graphic card, with DVI output, i connected this to my lcd HDMI input, with an DVI to HDMI cable and i have sound. But my last graphic card i used the same setup and no sound on it.

[dave4shmups]

I just thought of something -- are you sure it's an HDMI input on the TV? Can you post a pic of the connectors on the back, or give us the make and model of the TV?

I can't post pictures, but I can give you a make and a model. I will post that sometime today.

[shmuppyLove]

My PC has an GTX 570 graphic card, with DVI output, i connected this to my lcd HDMI input, with an DVI to HDMI cable and i have sound. But my last graphic card i used the same setup and no sound on it.

Some PC graphics cards (and maybe other devices) can use some extra pins on the DVI connector to route audio out through HDMI.

Generally you need to use the bundled DVI->HDMI adapter that came with the card. I'd be surprised if any old generic DVI->HDMI cable would have those extra connections, let alone have them wired correctly since audio is definitely not part of any standard DVI spec.

[Fudoh]

Ah, see I'm doing a PC resolution, but those are the only settings I can find on my 360.

yes, that can happen if the 360 reads the display's edid data and only offers the reported (supported) resolutions.

That's why you should connect your 360 to another display, set the RIGHT Settings and then return to your display in question. Should work fine.

[dave4shmups]

OK, so my HDTV is an Olevia Model: LT32HVE.

Right now, I've got that VGA/HD kit from Microsoft, and the picture does look really good! Although I thought VGA was only for consoles like the Dreamcast.

[Ed Oscuro]

VGA is the '80s-'00s standard computer monitor connector, you still find it on lots of things (although your TV is a seven-year old model by this point, at least the model type). Before DVI, HDMI, and now DisplayPort really caught on, it was a reasonably simple way to provide that "doubles as a computer monitor!" bullet point.

For reference, your TV is also 720p (1366x768). It claims to be compatible with 1080p, but it's only listing 1080i for input video compatibility (dropped fields maybe?) and "fully supports up to HDTV 720p (1280x720, progressive)."

[dave4shmups]

Ok, thanks for all the helpful and useful info! How much are new HDTVs? I'm just looking for something small, that has HDMI. But I have no idea what brands are good, and which ones to stay away from. In terms of picture quality, LG impresses me the most.

I don't know anything about LED HDTVS.

[Endymion]

The DVI specs are complete sub-set of the HDMI Specs. DVI is limited to RGB color space, while HDMI can carry both RGB and YCbCr

My Panasonic monitors can do this over DVI. But you're right, it isn't exactly a part of DVI requirement, the same monitors can also do YPbPr over D-sub.

[dunpeal2064]

I was actually wondering this as well, as I just purchased a new LED and saw that it has a port that reads HDMI1/DVI

So, would this support both DVI and HDMI? Because I do get audio out of the input, but I want to make sure I am not getting a poor resolution

[Fudoh]

On new sets that's usually just an indicator that PC signals are supported as well and you might be able to assign an external audio source to this video input.

[BuckoA51]

Generally you need to use the bundled DVI->HDMI adapter that came with the card. I'd be surprised if any old generic DVI->HDMI cable would have those extra connections

Generic adapter used here and audio is working, I'm running a GTX580.

[neorichieb1971]

Don't forget encryption. HDMI is encrypted.

[blizzz]

Don't forget encryption. HDMI is encrypted.

HDCP is optional and works the same for DVI video.

[dave4shmups]

I'd like to get a Wii U, but I'm wondering if I could use my HDMI-to-DVI converter with it? I'd probably also have to get component cables for sound.

[ZellSF]

I'd like to get a Wii U, but I'm wondering if I could use my HDMI-to-DVI converter with it? I'd probably also have to get component cables for sound.

You can't do that.

HDMI output and analog sound output isn't active at the same time.

[shmuppyLove]

Yeah Nintendo seems to be the only console manufacturer that can't figure this out with their modern consoles, with the rare exception of the early Gamecube revisions that still had a digital audio out (but I believe required an expensive proprietary cable).

The PS2 and now PS3 have always maintained the multi-AV out port and a seperate TOSLINK audio connector, and on the original Xbox and now 360, the AV cables have a seperate TOSLINK connector on them as well.

I'd be curious to know if those generic Wii/PS3 VGA cables work with the Wii U, and if it supports the higher resolutions. It will support 1080P from the PS3, so I imagine it would work from the Wii U as well, but I'm not sure if that legacy AV port on the Wii U will output a proper HD signal?

[Fudoh]

but I'm not sure if that legacy AV port on the Wii U will output a proper HD signal?

it does. Quality is on par with the HDMI signal. It's the only way to get audio if your monitor doesn't have sound anyway. If you use HDMI the component (and audio) output is disabled.

[blizzz]

Sometimes I can't understand Nintendo's decisions. No analog audio + digital video? What were they thinking. I wouldn't be able to use HDMI sound if I hadn't upgraded my TV some months ago. And I don't even want to start about the policy that you can only download 18+ games at night because they were to lazy to implement age verification.
Also in case anyone is wondering: the Wii U doesn't use HDCP, but creates some artifacts when upscaling old Wii content to 1080p. I didn't try recording digital 480p yet, but I guess that should look nice.

Btw, if anyone picked one up send me a friend request (and mention the shmups forum, I get lots of kinda creepy requests). Nick & id is the same as here.

[BuckoA51]

Way off topic now but, wouldn't it be relatively trivial* to make a HDMI audio extractor and encoder that could take HDMI Video + LPCM audio and output HDMI video + dolby digital encoded audio via optical or coax? Isn't this what a lot of PC sound cards do anyway?

*relatively trivial for a hardware manufacturer I mean, not something someone could solder up in their back room.

[Ex-Cyber]

Some PC graphics cards (and maybe other devices) can use some extra pins on the DVI connector to route audio out through HDMI.

It doesn't need extra pins. Audio is on the same pins and using the same channel protocol as video, but packetized and crammed in during the blanking periods.

[shmuppyLove]

Some PC graphics cards (and maybe other devices) can use some extra pins on the DVI connector to route audio out through HDMI.

It doesn't need extra pins. Audio is on the same pins and using the same channel protocol as video, but packetized and crammed in during the blanking periods.

Ah ok, I didn't know that! But it makes sense now that you say it ...

Way off topic now but, wouldn't it be relatively trivial* to make a HDMI audio extractor and encoder that could take HDMI Video + LPCM audio and output HDMI video + dolby digital encoded audio via optical or coax? Isn't this what a lot of PC sound cards do anyway?

*relatively trivial for a hardware manufacturer I mean, not something someone could solder up in their back room.

By "trivial" I assume you mean "inexpensive"

I did a quick look through StarTech's products and I can't find anything that will do HDMI to HDMI with an audio breakout ... there are plenty of HDMI to component or VGA with an audio breakout, and there is one HDMI to DVI-D video with a coaxial SDPIF audio breakout, but no Toslink. And that one is > $150.

[O. Van Bruce]

Just to be sure... DVI can transmit sound?

[Fudoh]

I did a quick look through StarTech's products and I can't find anything that will do HDMI to HDMI with an audio breakout ... there are plenty of HDMI to component or VGA with an audio breakout, and there is one HDMI to DVI-D video with a coaxial SDPIF audio breakout, but no Toslink. And that one is > $150.

$35, has coax and optical and the greatest thing about it: it even kills HDCP, so you can record PS3 and such on a BMD.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... largeimage

Don't mind the DVI connection instead of HDMI, just use a DVI to HDMI cable...