Onboard 5.1 driver & Graphic Card's 7.1

[Timoteus]

I am having a hard time configuring an AOpen AX4SPE-N socket 478 Pentium 4 using onboard sound hardware with Realtek AC97 drivers and my ATI Radeon HD4670 AGP graphics card that comes with ATI HD Audio drivers. The Realtek AC97 is good for up to 5.1 surround and the ATI drivers are 7.1 surround. The HDMI connection doesn't seem to work so I am using DVI. Can I download and use a newer 7.1 surround Realtek driver on this motherboard?

 

[davcon]

Of course not it won't work.

 

[Timoteus]

Would the HDMI signal from the videocard deliver the 7.1 surround sound (if I could get it to work)?

For that matter would getting a soundcard also do the trick?

 

[davcon]

Would the HDMI signal from the videocard deliver the 7.1 surround sound (if I could get it to work)?

For that matter would getting a soundcard also do the trick?

What are you trying to output to?

 

[Timoteus]

A Samsung LCD display that has HDMI, DVI, and VGA inputs and can output 7.1 surround sound.

 

[davcon]

A Samsung LCD display that has HDMI, DVI, and VGA inputs and can output 7.1 surround sound.

A HDMI out from your gpu to monitor will work.
Otherwise you need a DVI to HDMI adapter for your gpu.
DVI will not carry audio signals.
Personally i recommend soundcards because they are superior to onboard sound.
You don't have to spend alot.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100009293%2050001315&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=57%7C29%2D132%2D007%5E29%2D132%2D007%2DS01%2C29%2D132%2D013%5E29%2D132%2D013%2DTS

 

[Timoteus]

Okay. I will first buy another HDMI cord to troubleshoot the HDMI and if that doesn't work I will get an inexpensive (no-frills) soundcard from Newegg. Thank you very much for your insight and recommendations!!

 

[Timoteus]

Replacing the HDMI cord did the trick! Thanks again for your help Davcon!

 

[Timoteus]

Best answer selected by Timoteus.