Maybe I'm going about this all wrong, please review the following:
Windows 7 System:
I have a 5.1 setup being run by a Onkyo TX-NR636. My primary objective is to push digital audio from the PC to the receiver, and my options are either TOSLINK (not ideal, bandwidth limits it to 2.1 PCM) or HDMI.
The problem is that when I engage the HDMI out from the 980ti to the Receiver, it virtualizes a second display out to the receiver as well as the HDMI will not send audio without also sending video. This puts my configuration into a multi-display setup on the GPU, and severely hinders GPU performance in full-screen video gaming. You cannot turn off or disable this second "monitor" output without also disabling the audio output from the HDMI source.
I've looked at alternatives, even giving a Soundblaster Zx a go with the purpose of using the volume control knob, but not only are my options the aforementioned 2.1 optical connection, but when outputting optical the volume control does not even adjust it. I've even considered throwing a 950GTX into the system so it can run two additional monitors + the HDMI audio out, reserving the 980ti for full-screen video games (while running the 950gtx for a second display + "soundcard") but I don't know how practical that solution would be..
The question: What would be the best way for me to output raw audio from my PC to my Receiver to allow the receiver to handle all of the audio processing, instead of the PC?
Windows 7 System:
- 980ti
- i7-980E
- X58 SLI3
- 24GB 2333-DDR3
- (3x) 256GB SSD RAID0
I have a 5.1 setup being run by a Onkyo TX-NR636. My primary objective is to push digital audio from the PC to the receiver, and my options are either TOSLINK (not ideal, bandwidth limits it to 2.1 PCM) or HDMI.
The problem is that when I engage the HDMI out from the 980ti to the Receiver, it virtualizes a second display out to the receiver as well as the HDMI will not send audio without also sending video. This puts my configuration into a multi-display setup on the GPU, and severely hinders GPU performance in full-screen video gaming. You cannot turn off or disable this second "monitor" output without also disabling the audio output from the HDMI source.
I've looked at alternatives, even giving a Soundblaster Zx a go with the purpose of using the volume control knob, but not only are my options the aforementioned 2.1 optical connection, but when outputting optical the volume control does not even adjust it. I've even considered throwing a 950GTX into the system so it can run two additional monitors + the HDMI audio out, reserving the 980ti for full-screen video games (while running the 950gtx for a second display + "soundcard") but I don't know how practical that solution would be..
The question: What would be the best way for me to output raw audio from my PC to my Receiver to allow the receiver to handle all of the audio processing, instead of the PC?