Tutorial: HDMI - The Ins & Outs

Post by **skipclarke** » 10 Jan 2007, 16:37

Due to many post discussions & questions, I am putting this together & will add to it as needed.

HDMI is a newer input/output circuit (& cable) style
It carries both the sound & the picture datastreams.
It was implemented for copyright protection reasons (piracy) only.

The best HDMI verson are the latest & most recent two V 1.3a (best) & V 1.3a
- as the previous HDMI circuits (prior to V1.3) were not put into hardware devices with the "proper" high bandwidth capability & needed specs, to properly carry the full Video & Audio datastream bandwidth.

V1.3 & V1.3a are purported to be the only one to transmit TrueColour & the newer higher level Dolby Digital & DTS HD sound formats.

If one has a DVI output/input it can be adapted to a HDMI.
However, if HDCP HDCP (DRM) circuitry is in effect (I.E. downconverting resolutions) - then to have no restrictions, you would have to have DVI with HDCP circuits to enable the DVI to HDMI using an adapter.

NOTE: Some HDMI inputs/outputs don't have HDCP

For PC use however, HDCP doesn't seem to really be an issue - as only a few have reported not having full potential when playing DVDs, CDs via the PC. This becomes more common (but only for some) when trying to rip CDs &/or DVDs.

HDMI = High-Definition Multimedia Interface *1(copyright Itel)
DVI = Digital Visual Interface
HDCP = High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (copyright Itel)
DRM = Digital Rights Management
PC = Personal Computer/Confuser :D

*1
4 Versions (2 revisions 2 catagories)
oldest to newest
HDMI 1.0
HDMI 1.1
HDMI 1.2
HDMI 1.2a
HDMI 1.3 (plus Catagory 1 & Catagory 2 specs)
HDMI 1.3a
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Newer cable types :roll:

UDI = Unified Display Interface (coming soon Q4 2007)
Current revision is 1.1, new in 1.1 is that it supports HDCP content-protection. Revision 2.0 is planned.
Supposedly "compatibility with the DVI standard. UDI will be also be compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface"

DP(?) = DisplayPort (no acronym yet) :D (coming VERY soon Jan 2007)
Current revision is 1.1, new in 1.1 is that it supports HDCP content-protection. Revision 2.0 is planned.

Post by **Gilly** » 13 Mar 2007, 13:52

just one thing that wasnt mentioned, HDMI spec 1.3 allows up to 1440P (2560x1440P) images. However, i dont think anything is recorded in that yet :P

m0u5y · Post by **m0u5y** » 16 Aug 2009, 05:26

Can anyone tell me why the audio isn't working via HDMI to my television after I updated the NVidia driver? I've tried everything ever said about it on the internet and nothing works.

[email protected] · Post by **[email protected]** » 16 Aug 2009, 18:24

Some nvidia cards have a two wire cable for digital audio that needs to hook up to something.

packerfan · Post by **packerfan** » 16 Aug 2009, 20:18

Some nvidia cards have a two wire cable for digital audio that needs to hook up to something.

Something being a similar 2 pin port off of your motherboard and soundcard.

As far as I know no Nvidia card has built in audio so you must supply it with digital audio from a sound card either integrated to your motherboard or on a separate soundcard. Sorta similar to how some CD drives have a 4 pin cable that wires to the soundcard.

m0u5y · Post by **m0u5y** » 16 Aug 2009, 23:35

Wouldn't it already be properly connected if it was working before I installed the new driver? So what's really the problem?
Like here and tons of other forum posts but nobody seems to have the answer. http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=103307

m0u5y · Post by **m0u5y** » 17 Aug 2009, 03:48

Oh well, I fixed it. I downloaded the original driver and now it works.

Post by **Gilly** » 17 Aug 2009, 07:52

Oh well, I fixed it. I downloaded the original driver and now it works.

<3 nvidia drivers

m0u5y · Post by **m0u5y** » 18 Aug 2009, 22:19

Oooh yeah. NVidia, the KIA of drivers. Oh, my, that was like a quintuple entendre.

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