total htpc noob, few questions. (1 Viewer)

[genfool]

I will apologize first for not searching this forum for an answer, before posting.

Chances are my questions have already been answered. I have been searching internet since Friday evening, and just found this forum, I expect to spend a lot of time searching and reading...Need a little help to get started in right direction.


I have this HT receiver,.

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-5-1-Channel-1000-Watt-Receiver-Theater/dp/B000P6J79E


I have this mother board

http://www.viperlair.com/reviews/msi-p6ngm-matx.html


the receiver has digital audio in, choices are coaxial or optical

My mobo has a hdmi slot and 7.1 built in sound card.

The receiver is connected to tv and working fine for two years, we only turn it on a couple times a year...just a waste.

I have a need to purchase new speakers for my computer, why not use the HT?

I am confused on the best cable to use to connect. I just now reading and learning what hdmi, optical, etc...means.

Currently have a 6' long mini jack cable connected from the gray 5.1 on computer to line in on front of HT.

I need to purchase a new cable, 6' is to short, I need a 10' cable. I think using my current setup is a crappy idea.

The HT is showing 5 ch with it though.

What would be the ideal way to connect these?

I first thought a optical to mini jack

Now I understand a little about hdmi, am thinking of optical to hdmi

This old fart is lost with all the advancements made in the last 10 - 15 years.


The computer is the above board, a q6700, 4gigs ram, a nvidia 8400 gs, I am running gentoo and have xbmc installed.

Any links or advice, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[genfool]

Seems my cheap motherboard comes with the option of a s/pdif connector. I need this connector?

I was hoping to just use the hdmi that is available...or still confused on why I cant use the hdmi.

With what little I can understand, hdmi will carry both audio and video.

A friend is building the s/pdif connector for me,...I still wonder why I need it and the hdmi on my board will not work.

 

[gartronics]

Originally Posted by genfool

Seems my cheap motherboard comes with the option of a s/pdif connector. I need this connector?

I was hoping to just use the hdmi that is available...or still confused on why I cant use the hdmi.

With what little I can understand, hdmi will carry both audio and video.

A friend is building the s/pdif connector for me,...I still wonder why I need it and the hdmi on my board will not work.

I would just use the spdif out to the coaxial input on the reciever. I am gonna guess that the HDMI audio won't work because you are not using it as a display device, therefore it is "Off" If you were using Mother Board HDMI To a HDMI TV input you could probably pass the audio to the tv and then to a receiver but you would have to use the motherboard video and not your nvidia card. Onboard video will probably suck compared to your card too. So yeah, I think it just makes more sense to use spdif to coaxial . Hope this helps you.