Well after some deliberation, I have decided to put together a low end HTPC for streaming video. I mean why have a 42' Samsung with all the inputs in the back if you aren't going to use but one.

My question is for those of you who have HTPC's how do you do the audio/video?

!) do you use a card that is capable of HDMI so its one cable and the vid card handles audio streaming as well? or

2) use the vid card for strictly video only and use a sound card for sound? or

3) Use a dvi-hdmi adapter ( which may or may not support audio )

4) a method not listed here.

Right now I'm just using a VGA cable and the audio goes from the onboard sound to the receiver. (TV has no audio input associated with the VGA connection)

However, I'm going to pick up a HDMI cable tonight to handle both the video and audio from a 2400PRO.

DVI-HDMI adapters that comes with ATI HD series cards should be able to transfer the audio from the card (I'll know for sure tonight) Nvidia ones will be hit and miss as some cards - like my 9800GT - have a SPDIF connection on them to interface with your soundcard and then pass the audio on through HDMI/DVI

I have my HD4350 outputting video and sound through HDMI. 1 cable, simple & clean.

Tweakstur - that's exactly what I wanna know.

I was looking at that card actually - also seen some cards on kijiji and was considering doing audio using the card but with an interface.

I am thinking the clean method is more for me. I will be into MB to pick on of those up within the next week.

I've heard from people here at work that using HDMI for video and your soundcard for audio can be a pain to get working and even when it is "working" there can be problems with the video/audio not sync'ing up properly.

The only issue I've ran into with HDMI is when I moved into my new apartment. At random times, the sound starts becoming "fuzzy". I just have to switch to a different input on my TV then switch back to fix it.

When I had this PC back at my parents, it never was an issue, so I'm convinced it's something to do with the electricity in my building / I need a new power bar.

I've never had any issues with the HDMI port on my laptop.

I've got 2 ATI cards here, neither came with a freaking DVI>HDMI adapter FFS, and I'm not going back into work to get the one in my 9800GT's box.

EDIT: Seems the 2400PRO PCI DOESN'T have audio, luckily HDMI1 on the TV had audio in.