Advice needed on proper video card upgrade for my system

[Alex1833]

HI,

Hoping someone can give me some advice.   I have a HP Pavilion 398-D desktop.    It doesn't have an HDMI video output port which I need to have for giving presentations on a larger TV set.    I tried buying a Radeo HD 6870 card for a few hundred bucks which had the HDMI port, but this didn't seem to work. (please let me know if this should have worked - the install seemed pretty straightforward but a small cable that plugged into the HP Factory card, didn't seem to have a port in the Radeon. The computer had no display when powered up and just kept beeping.

The current factory card in my HP Pavilion Elite 398D system is:

nVidia GeForce GTX 260 PCI Express x 16 Dualk Link DVI 1.8 GB D10U Fisker2

I've tried using a DVI-HDMI converter and this does work and would be an easy answer.  But it doesn't carry the sound with it.   So I am assuming there is no other way to carry sound along with the HDMI Signal,  other than to run a seperate audio cable somehow.  I don't want to do this as I am running a Wireless HDMI kit which transmits the signal 20 feet across a room.

Can someone recommend a good video card that I can upgrade to which will fit and work well in this HP Pavilion-398D system, and include an HDMI output on it?

thanks,

Alex

[cnfrisch]

A 500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express power connectors is required for a Radeon 6870 card.  All you really need is a Radeon HD 6770 which requires a 450 Watt or greater power supply with one 75W 6-pin PCI Express power connector.  Your HP PC has a 460 Watt PSU.

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

If you are using HDMI and want to pass audio then you have to go into the Control Panel --> Sounds and be sure that HDMI is set to the default sound device.  You have the Realtek on board audio so while you are in the Control Panel go to Realtek HD Audio Manager to set the default audio output device.

TIP:  Once you set HDMI audio as the default sound device then the PC's speaker will go silent.

[Alex1833]

Thanks for that advice Carey.

I did notice that the Radeon 6870 card had 2 connectors, which I was only able to plug one cord into.

So just to confirm, if I can trade in the 6870 for a 6770, then I should just be able to plug this in and I'm all set?

Or, if the Radeon 6770 is not available, then just make sure the replacement card I am getting requires nothing greater than 460Watt PSU? 

thanks!

Alex

[Alex1833]

If there is an easier way to get an HDMI port (with audio) running out of this HP Pavilion Elite Desktop without having to change video cards, that would be great too. I see some expansion ports/bays on the front of the machine, so I'm not sure if there were any other methods I am missing out on which would accomplish what I am trying to achieve.

[cnfrisch]

If your Power Supply Unit has just one (1) connector, you can only install a video card with one (1) connector. The card I referenced will work fine.

[Alex1833]

Hi Dave,

I did manage to get my new card working, and your info below on how to pass the sound through the HDMI worked.   Is there any way I can have the window open on the TV (HDMI) have seperate sound, and retain regular sound through my desktop speakers?

I seem to be able to do this on my laptop when I run an HDMI cable to a TV.   The TV picks up the sound from whatever window is extended on to that desktop.  Not sure if I can do this with my desktop?   My goal is to let a video feed run full time with sound on the seperate HDTV (via HDMI), while I continue to use my desktop as normal.

Is this possible?