Getting audio over HDMI from video card with no audio pass-through?

[Martoon]

My current setup has an ATI video card with HDMI output that includes audio, and I'm feeding this into the TV, then going from audio out on the TV to my stereo system.

The video card I've got in there isn't much of a gaming card, though, and I'd like to run more games on my HTPC. I've got an Nvidia GeForce 7900GS sitting around that I'd like to use instead of the ATI card. The HDMI output to the TV (via a DVI to HDMI adapter) on the Nvidia card works great, but it has no support for audio (not even S/PDIF pass-through). I'd like the audio going through the TV, though, so when I switch the TV to other inputs (component for the game consoles, etc.), the audio gets switched with it. The TV is an LG 42PC3D, and it has no separate audio input for HDMI (there are other audio-in jacks, but they're not active when I have HDMI selected as the input source).

Is my only solution here pretty much to get another video card? I don't care about 5.1 audio, etc., since my stereo is just a basic two-speaker system. But I'd really rather not have the sound go directly from the computer to the stereo, since I'd then have to switch inputs on the stereo whenever I switch them on the TV.

[paulbeers]

Sounds like you answered your own question. You will need to get another video card. You MIGHT be able to find some device that could mux together audio and video outside of your video card but I guarantee that device would be more expensive than just replacing your video card. The Geforce 7900 is an old card by today's standards and you should be able to find something considerably faster for less than $100 (that is, if you are using PCIE and not AGP).

[Martoon]

Okay, that's what I figured. I've never been entirely clear on the whole HDMI pipeline thing and how it works, so I thought I'd ask. I just have the other video card collecting dust, so I thought it'd be nice to use it if I could.

Anyway, thanks for the clarification.

[Striker:WG]

You can get devices that will take your sound card output and your video card output and merge them into a single HDMI signal by combining DVI and Toslink but the cost associated with such devices would typically parallel the cost of a new entry level to mid-range video card.

http://www.firefold.com/FREE-SHIPPIN...P2906C496.aspx

-Striker-