GEEK POST: How to Enjoy HD Video and Audio from Your PC

I spent 3 hours trying to figure out what HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is all about. Been reading some technical posts from CNET, user feedback and troubleshooting tips from forums, my TV's user manual, my motherboard's user manual, and my nVidia 9600GT Sonic graphic cards' user manual.

To sum up, HDMI provides you with a lossless and future-proof solution for BOTH video and audio. Keyword is BOTH. With just ONE cable (which means less clutter), you can connect your PC to your LCD flatscreen and enjoy lossless transmission of both HD quality video and audio.

"And why lossless?" Because unlike composite, s-video and component cables that transmit analog signals, HDMI transmits video and audio data streams in digital format. AND, unlike those cables that connect your speakers and headphones to the lineout or headphone jack of your computer, the HDMI cable once again transmits in digital format. Even TOSLINK cables that utilize fiber optics to carry light waves is no match against HDMI, as losses can happen depending on how polished the fiber optic ends are.

Documentation (for those who want to enjoy their HTPC):
1. Have 3 things:
a.) An LCD TV with an HDMI slot
b.) Graphics card with HDMI port
c.) Motherboard with S/PDIF output headers

2. Install graphics card onto the PCIe 2.0 slot of the motherboard

3. Connect the 2-pin male header (imput) of the graphics card to the 2-pin male header (S/PDIF output of the motherboard) via a 2-pin (female-to-female) cable. This thin cable usually comes with the graphics card. This connection means that the sound from the PC travels from the motherboard (output) into the graphics card (imput).

4. Connect the graphics card's HDMI port to the HDMI port of the LCD TV via HDMI cable. With this connection, digital video and audio from your PC can now be transmitted in lossles digital format to your TV.

5. Cook some popcorn and enjoy your latest DVD acquisition. (Optional)