Hooking up the system to a 54" plasma

[Biggels]

Hi everyone.

 

We got a Panasonic 54 inch plasma last year and also have a Sony Amp. So I"m tihnking I'd like to hook the PC up to both to play fallout.

My video card is an GeForce 8600GT and the sound card is an old SB audigy. I"ve been looking at sounds cards, but I only have 1 PCIe and 2 PCI slots on the mobo.

 

Any suggestions on a sound card that is both PCI and has an optical out to connect to the amp so I can get nice full 5.1 sound on head shots?

Also, has anyone else done this and liked or didn't like the set up or it looked crappy or anything like that.

[bben46]

Easy to do

Your video card output is probably DVI and your TV input is most likely HDMI, Composite and possibly S-video. Some new videocards have HDMI output which will make it even easier. Some older ones have S-video output. And some big screen TVs have a VGA or DVI input (usually labeled computer in)

 

A DVI to HDMI adapter is readily available and works great for video, but DVI does not carry audio. On my system I use the DVI/HDMI adapter, then send the audio to my Amp using fiber optic (Toslink) which is available on my audio card. You can use any type of audio out (with the proper adapters) from your computer to TV or Amp. However on an earlier incarnation of my setup, (using S-Video for video) I got an annoying buzz when I directly hooked up the audio through RCA type cables. I got a ground loop isolator from Radio Shack - less than US $5 - that cured it.

 

Good source for adapters, cables and other stuff http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

Good quality, good customer service and very good prices.

[Illiad86]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271001

nice card, I got it for my mom's system. She has a Sony 5.1 surround sound system via optical hooked up to it...GODLY lol...1000W lol.

 

or:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019

I do believe that PCI x1 cards will fit into a standard PCI slot...so you can look at those too :)

People complain about Creative a lot...I haven't had a problem with my XFi Xtreme Gamer Pro...the drivers are a little bloated though.

 

or:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271003

expensive! sheesh

 

 

hmm plasma...what kind?You have specs of it? 1080p I'm guessing? Ya know the refresh rate?

 

8600GT is quite a bit old now....how well does it play Fallout 3? I'd really suggest upgrading your graphics card too. If you prefer Nvidia over ATi, something like this would have you set for awhile:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

 

phew those are the cheapest ones lol....unless you want to go back a generation:

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

[evilneko]

A friend of mine has his PC connected to a 52" LCD. The main issue with the setup is games (or anything else for that matter) that default to a resolution his TV doesn't like. At times he's had to hook up a smaller monitor just to change the resolution. Also, since he sits close, he pretty much must play in windowed mode, otherwise things near the edge of the screen are easy to mis. Otherwise though it's pretty awesome. Stuff always looks better on that display.

 

Your video card is a matter of some concern though. That 8600 may not have the oomph to push 1920x1080 without reducing other settings.

 

As for sound, he has the onboard sound going directly to his stereo. Pretty sure he had optical on-board already, so no need for a discrete sound card.