WoW! m15x hdmi benefits!

i love the fact that its got hdmi output!

 

Can you get the audio out to work?

 

Yeah that rocks.

But that sucks for me, I do have a 47'' 1080i TV but it's a CRT one, wich really do crap with computer signals. It's only good to watch movies. Everything else is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to small in 1920x1080 (I couldn't read the chat box in guild wars ). But since it's a CRT, it only support 3 resolutions.
640x480
720x480
1920x1080

RanT: You need to enable "High Definition Audio Output" as the default sound device. Right click on the sound icon near the clock then playback devices.

 

ya, its definetly easier with the projector

 

for the audio to work i have to plug in differnet cable into the headphone slot

 

So the 15x doesn't support audio over HDMI?

 

nope atleast not that i can tell

 

So, it is indeed looking more and more like the HDMI does not support audio. That is not a good thing.

 

I would have to say that HDMI should support audio...isn't that the HDMI spec?? Has anyone tried pluggin the HDMI output into an A/V receiver that is connected to an HDMI display? That's the $1,000,000 question....

 

jesus christ, i say hdmi doesn't carry audio 1000 people try to tell me i'm wrong. i know hdmi is an audio+video format, but the m15x doesn't carry it. i don't care what the stupid alienware site says, there is something funky with the m15x that i have, and packer too. or maybe they have a misprint or something?

anyway, the audio is fine from the headphone jack, it is pure digital with the right cable.

 

Has anyone taken the time to call AW tech support to see if they can guide you setting up audio out using the HDMI?

 

I might do it tonight when I get home. Its always hard to understand them though

 

Well the same rep that told me the 1920x1200 is a matte finish says the HDMI out supports both audio and video, so I am anxious to see if he is correct or not, on both issues.

Thanks.

 

I've read before (for other systems) that you need to route the audio to HDMI out via a configuration setting (presumably in the audio settings) - it doesnt default the audio to HDMI... Dont know if this holds true but worth investigating

 

As soon as someone calles AW tech support and works out this issue, please let us know, as I am sure this is a question that many people have.

 

This would make absolute sense, it wouldn't make sense to have two cables. I read somewhere this is the case I will try and find it

 

The only reason I can think of to not have audio out over the HDMI is that the motherboard cannot support the audio out. This is just a guess, but so far, there is not one person who has been able to get the HDMI to send audio out, which makes the Blu Ray drive less desirable to me as I planned on using the lappy to play Blu Ray through my Pioneer VSX-92 for HD movie experience.

I may change my order to a regular DVD drive if someone confirms that AW tells them that the HDMI does not support Audio after speaking to tech support. I also feel confident as I have an AW rep e-mail that states that the HDMI out supports audio as well as video.

Time will tell.

 

rant- clearly from the monitor light issue, you can see that the reps don't always know what's the deal

i'm sure you have an open optical jack on your receiver, it wouldn't be too much of a pain to plug two cables in would it? of course hdmi is easier, but do you actually get any benefits over an optical toslink cable? (i honestly don't know, as my reciever only does component/optical, no hdmi).

 

No, you are right, there are no benefits between HDMI and optical as far as audio is concerned, but it will make the hook up process a little more difficult, although not impossible. And as you stated, it is a pain in the A$$ to have 2 cables rather than one nice short HDMI. I am a bit of a cable nut, and like to keep my ent. system as clean as possible.

mrwater, did you try and contact tech support on this issue, or do you not care enough to waste the time.

I really hope the HDMI supports audio, but you make a fair point. It is just frustrating to not fully utilize the technology available.

 

HDMI allows for higher quality audio than optical. Just a matter of preferance (based on your ear) and convenience (whether or not you have open optical inputs). I for one do not have any available inputs. I'd hate to have to unplug a different component everytime I want to use my sound system for the laptop's audio.

 

Raziel, thanks for the post...

At least I am not the only one who thinks the HDMI having audio out is important.

Man, thses 2 questions I have are burning and there does not seem to be an answer in sight.

 

I also ran out of optical inputs, i bought a 3 way splitter from monoprice for $8 though, no loss and it is easy to use.

I don't want to waste any more time with alienware reps, I've spent at least 3 hours speaking to them before my laptop came, and about 20 minutes when I tried to get a retroactive student discount applied.

I wouldn't even use the HDMI audio though until I got a new receiver with HDMI inputs though

 

You and me both! I have a work around through my tv but it's not as good as a direct connection. At least prices are coming down on them...

 

I tried to have my tv connected to my receiver with the optical out, so I could just have 2 hdmi inputs and 1 output instead of 2 to the receiver, but something funky happened and I think I broke the optical out on my tv.

I hope you can figure this out rant, because I understand your issues with cable mess

 

Catalina R.: Hi, my name is Catalina R.. How may I help you?
RanT: On the m15x, does the HDMI output support audio as well as video?
Catalina R.: I'm sorry about that, Please hold a moment while I find an answer to your question.
Catalina R.: I'm sorry it supports just vVideo.
Catalina R.: Is there anything else that I may help you with?
Catalina R.: Thank you for choosing Alienware, have a great day!
Catalina R. Has Disconnected

Not looking good, but again, AW reps contradict themselves. I was told the HDMI does support audio by a tech over e-mail, so who the heck knows.

 

the website also says it carries HDMI audio.

i'm sure they have tons of disclaimers all over the place saying they might have incorrect information up. that's got to be why they dont care about this or the light pipe issue.

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Well, I am on with tech suppot on the phone.

They say it does support audio.

Here are the steps to make it so:
Plug in the HDMI plug to your A/V source & the m15x.
Turn on the computer.
Open the real tech audio application.
Right click on the digital out tab.
Select "add defalut audio."

They say this should work.

We shall see...

 

Interesting, *fingers crossed*

Do you have a coaxial audio plug on yours? That's what I am using.

 

nah, just optical out. i tried the same thing the alienware rep told rant, it did not work at all.

the only option for digital out i have is for the optical jack.

 

As standard hdmi copes with video at a rate of 1080p 24fps over max length of guaranteed 5 metres. At this rate it can also transfer 5.1 Linear PCM channels or DTS True Master/Master Audio or Dolby HD. Over toslink max you will get is Dolby Digital or DTS. It can't even cope with SACD 5 channel only High Bitrate 2 channel SACD.

Therfor HDMI is inherently better than optical/coaxial digital cable for audio and better than scart, svid, composite for video. IT IS NOT Better than COMPONENT. Component is a better connection and can cope with 1080p at 24fps just like HDMI.

James E.: HDMI, the realtek program on the m15x allows you to route audio through HDMI or by audio jacks

 

DUDE!! I can not wait to hook this thing up to my 42" lcd 1080p television.
Doing digital painting on that thing is soooooo awesome, and with crystal clear picture from an hdmi cable. Shoot foo. Too awesome.
Oh, Was that audio thing fixed btw. And by the audio thing I mean not being able to get audio out of the hdmi

 

If your HDMI can't carry Audio, it's basically just a DVI cable then

 

yeah i agree, looks only HDMI and u can't plug it to LCD without DVI connecter,

i wanted HDMI for playing on TV screens movies,

Hope we see a patch to enable it with ease, as we see for LID light.

 

Not quite true, DVI can do audio, just there is no hardware around to cope with it or to introduce it.

 

Oh well you get my point lol. I use DVI to hook up my M9750 to my 720p TV and it looks fine.

 

Just a tiny disagreement from me on that...

Depends on the source device and the end device...most (if not all) HD sources are digital...displays are still a mix with displays rapidly progressing to all digital...

Component is analog...the best analog transport available but still analog...

If you're source device is digital and your end device is digital, HDMI bypasses a D/A and subsequent A/D that would be required by component cables...the conversion processes can introduce artifacts into the video data...

On the flip side, component cables are much cheaper than HDMI cables...so I run component to my projector...quality is great...but the theater enthusiasts say I would do better with HDMI...

 

Per Alienware,

Thank you for your inquiry

In order to properly route the audio through the HDMI port of your Area-51 m15x mobile system please follow the next procedure:

1. Open the Realtek audio application.

2. With the HDMI connected to the system select the tab listed as Digital Output.

3. Right-click on the Digital Output tab.

4. Click on Set default audio.

5. Confirm that the volume is raised on the output device connected to the HDMI port.

Audio should now be heard from the output device.



Thank you for your inquiry,

The Alienware Technical Support Team


The above info is on their knowledge base.

 

that doesnt work. i spoke to a rep, he did that alienware connection to my computer, had no idea how to enable it, and told me he'll call me back on wed morning to try and help me again.

 

Yeah, I tested HDMI last night as well and audio didn't work. Sorry to give anyone false hope

 

Lol Mrwater. The chances of him calling you back about your laptop are slim to none. Just give them another call on wed because they have never ever called me back and I've dealt with them "calling" me around 5-8 times.

 

FWIW the HDMI output doesn't output sound on my MSI GX600 (I would have got the Alienware but I couldn't wait!). The video is great but I keep getting that vertical sync line going up the screen every so often

I was also told about the "digital output" to get the sound to work but I could not find the "HDMI" option anywhere.

 

while I'm waiting for my m15x to get some repairs (it arrived scratched and with dead pixels), I have to ask about the hdmi audio. mrwater, did you ever get your hdmi audio to work? I followed the steps on aw's support site and it didn't work. when I called aw for help, the rep read the support article back to me.

I don't mind having a lot of cables, so, I tried the mini toslink. but I couldnt get it to output as surround sound when watching bluray movies. so now I'm trying to solve my hdmi mystery before my m15x comes back in a week or two.

 

i would really suggest you tell them to look at it before they send it back. Mine is working fine on mine

 

my m15x does output sound via HDMI.

 

.RanT. was it working when u try it or u did some configuration as AW said?

 

ya so did this ever get figured out?

Most said they couldn't get it working, but the last couple of guys said it worked with ease.

Am I to assume that maybe the first batch of m15's had this issue and that maybe the newer ones are good?

 

I would say so cause I got my back around mid Feb. and my HDMI works fine.

 

well, I just got my computer back. they were supposed to test the HDMI audio while they had it, but I still can't get audio to come through my tv or my receiver. of course, there is nothing in the box confirming that the HDMI audio works or not...

 

Hey i'm just wondering did you enable the digital audio through the software?