Using an HDMI monitor with the basic fit-pc3

Audio codec and audio ports
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vtailor
Posts: 229
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 6:54 pm

Using an HDMI monitor with the basic fit-pc3

Post by vtailor »

Basically, HDMI sound does not work in Linux, period. Try everything plausible, and it still doesn't happen, in Mint Linux or Riplinux. HDMI sound works perfectly in Windows 8, simply no problem, no extra driver needed.

So, what to do? One solution which imposes itself is to make the HDMI monitor an honorary DVI-D monitor by unplugging your analog jack from the monitor and plugging it into the fit-pc3 spdif/analog jack. Under Linux, this is fairly easy. Herewith, the sample /etc/asound.conf file:

pcm.Generic { type hw; card Generic; }
ctl.Generic { type hw; card Generic; }
pcm.SB { type hw; card SB; }
ctl.SB { type hw; card SB; }
pcm.!default pcm.SB
ctl.!default ctl.SB

Note that this SELECTS the SB card, leaving any HDMI out. You then turn on alsamixer and raise BOTH the Master and the Front sliders to get analog sound. I like to raise the Surround slider, although I don't know if it really is getting surround sound.

Likewise, under Windows, you get the latest Windows 7/8 realtek driver and follow directions for acquiring the spdif/analog sound by clicking the file folder icon on the side of the realtek window.

One bonus of this honorary DVI-D monitor approach is that you can actually use your conventional screen saver to turn off the monitor, something that does not work in HDMI land.

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