HTPC video card 1 hdmi port & multiple components

[carlos28355]

i searched through this forum and didnt find my answer so let me start of by saying sorry if its already posted

so i am thinking of building an HTPC and most hdmi video cards come with one port. so my question is if i only have 1 port on my HTPC will a switch work in that situation. If i want to hook up an xbox 360 a ps3 and of course the tv and possibly a cable box if need be. and will the surround sound work with all of these if i go through the hdmi switch which in turn goes through the HTPC kind of confusing i know so i appologize if i didnt explain properly and thank you very much...


ps the HTPC i wanna build is going to be based off of this...
http://revision3.com/hdnation/maui

[usually_quiet]

Removed. I misunderstood the question.

[yoda313]

I tried looking at the website you posted but I'm not sure which article your referencing. Also I'm not gonna sit through the half hour video. It may not even be the current one you're asking about.

I have a hdmi switch TO my hdtv. It handles multiple inputs and has one output that goes to my hdtv (I actually have two hdmi inputs - my cable dvr goes to one and the game systems and pc go to the hdmi switch).

If this is what you are asking than yes this is quite easy to do. As far as the surround sound I can't answer that since I don't have an hdmi amplifier. I use fiber optic and have a fiber optic switcher since my amp only has one fiber optic input.

Now if you are trying to feed all these other units into your pc and not directly to your hdtv than that might be slightly different. I don't know of any inputs for pcs for hdmi other than the blackmagic intensity card - but that is for capturing and recording a single hdmi source. I don't think its ideal for watching programming "live" but I could be mistaken. I don't see why you couldn't but you might have delays with the capture function and that would not be ideal for gaming.

You'll have to do a little more diagramming for us to help you out in the direction you're wanting to go.

[ocgw]

i searched through this forum and didnt find my answer so let me start of by saying sorry if its already posted

so i am thinking of building an HTPC and most hdmi video cards come with one port. so my question is if i only have 1 port on my HTPC will a switch work in that situation. If i want to hook up an xbox 360 a ps3 and of course the tv and possibly a cable box if need be. and will the surround sound work with all of these if i go through the hdmi switch which in turn goes through the HTPC kind of confusing i know so i appologize if i didnt explain properly and thank you very much...


ps the HTPC i wanna build is going to be based off of this...
http://revision3.com/hdnation/maui

I hope I am understanding you correctly, but do you realize w/ DVI-to-HDMI adaptors you can have 2 HDMI from any ordinary "run-of-the-mill" dual DVI gfx card?

ocgw

peace

[carlos28355]

hey thanks for the responses sorry bout my confusing post that link was for a video that talks about the HTCP its not the full 30 mins but either way here is the same system in that video but this time its an article http://www.silentpcreview.com/article918-page1.html

i have seen some hdmi cards with 2 ports but even then thats not enough for everything i have. of course i need to port for my tv my ps3 and xbox 360. the only reason really i would want to hook up those to the HTPC and not the TV its self is for surround sound. if i have my speakers hooked up to my HTPC i was wondering if there is a way to hook up mutiple components to that and use the surround sound. the number of ports isnt as much of a concern for me as the audio situation.do u lose clarity with dvi to hdmi and if so is it really noticeable?

again i do appologize if i am still confusing. sorry and thanks again

*update* shorter simpler questions ha

1: can i have multiple components on HTPC
2: can my HTPC replace a receiver

and ocgw i love your set up! nice work!!

[ocgw]

hey thanks for the responses sorry bout my confusing post that link was for a video that talks about the HTCP its not the full 30 mins but either way here is the same system in that video but this time its an article http://www.silentpcreview.com/article918-page1.html

i have seen some hdmi cards with 2 ports but even then thats not enough for everything i have. of course i need to port for my tv my ps3 and xbox 360. the only reason really i would want to hook up those to the HTPC and not the TV its self is for surround sound. if i have my speakers hooked up to my HTPC i was wondering if there is a way to hook up mutiple components to that and use the surround sound. the number of ports isnt as much of a concern for me as the audio situation.do u lose clarity with dvi to hdmi and if so is it really noticeable?

again i do appologize if i am still confusing. sorry and thanks again

*update* shorter simpler questions ha

1: can i have multiple components on HTPC
2: can my HTPC replace a receiver

and ocgw i love your set up! nice work!!

Thx bro', DVI carries the same digital signal as HDMI as well as the analog signal of vga, pass thru, nothing more , nothing less

ocgw

peace

[carlos28355]

so ive seen a motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130206&cm_re=diva-_-13-130-206-_-Product that has a/v component cables dvi vga and hdmi, or like u said the dvi and hdmi cables if i have more than one thing hooked up to it can i easily move between them?

[ocgw]

so ive seen a motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130206&cm_re=diva-_-13-130-206-_-Product that has a/v component cables dvi vga and hdmi, or like u said the dvi and hdmi cables if i have more than one thing hooked up to it can i easily move between them?

I think it probably will only support dual monitors

ocgw

peace

[redwudz]

I use a 5 input HDMI switch, then a HDMI splitter to deliver the HDMI video to both my LCD monitor and my video projector at the same time. My HDMI inputs are my HTPC and a second PC and two Sony DVD changers and a WDTV Live device, all HDMI video. All audio is coaxial or converted to coaxial and goes to my surround sound amplifier. Works very well.

I'm still not clear on exactly what you want to do.

[carlos28355]

I use a 5 input HDMI switch, then a HDMI splitter to deliver the HDMI video to both my LCD monitor and my video projector at the same time. My HDMI inputs are my HTPC and a second PC and two Sony DVD changers and a WDTV Live device, all HDMI video. All audio is coaxial or converted to coaxial and goes to my surround sound amplifier. Works very well.

I'm still not clear on exactly what you want to do.

i think what you are doing sounds like its what i want to do except i would only be going to my lcd i have no projector. basically i want to have my xbox 360 my ps3 hooked up to my HTPC all at same time with out having to switch any wires around anytime i want to use one or the other and i want the surround sound to work for all of them as well. can you recommend the model of you hdmi switch and splitter or do u think they are all basically about the same. thanks for post!

[redwudz]

I got both from MonoPrice:

HDMI switch: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10110

HDMI splitter: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10113

For coaxial audio, I used a old four input component video switch, utilizing just the audio portion. But most any RCA input switch will work, video or audio.

One advantage with coaxial audio is all the inputs could be combined to only one output. Just use a 'Y' adapter. As long as only one input is active (On), that will be the one that the amplifier sees. No switch required in this case.

[carlos28355]

I got both from MonoPrice:

HDMI switch: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10110

HDMI splitter: http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10113

For coaxial audio, I used a old four input component video switch, utilizing just the audio portion. But most any RCA input switch will work, video or audio.

One advantage with coaxial audio is all the inputs could be combined to only one output. Just use a 'Y' adapter. As long as only one input is active (On), that will be the one that the amplifier sees. No switch required in this case.

awesome ill look into this. thanks!