QFT = Quoted for Truth la.

Hi! Just need some advice from the sifus of HTPC here.

I just built myself a HTPC with both Sapphire HD5670 and a HDAV 1.3. Seeing that I've read in this thread that the 5670 can bit stream HD Audio out to an AVR (I have the Pioneer LX72 AVR), to let the AVR do the decoding, did I just waste my money in getting the HDAV 1.3 sound card? AIYAAAAAA   

Would it be better to have the HDAV in the chain? or no difference - the HD5670 can do the job as well with no degradation in quality.?

Right now it's like this

HD5670 --> HDMI --> HDAV 1.3 --> HDMI --> LX72 --> TV + Sound System.

Thanks and appreciate any help/advice!

Thanks guys for all the responses and advice! Appreciate it. I might just go exchange the sound card, top up some $$ and do a 4 HDD Raid 5 config in exchange.
Right now I'm just trying to get the bit streaming to work (wanna see that sweet sweet DTS-MA/TrueHD word on my AVR). I've got TMT3 with 170 patch working. Tried playing a movie file with DTS-MA on it but can only get PCM.

Anyone knows what's wrong? Been pressing every button on the AVR and tried every option/settings in TMT/Win7 but still can't seem to get it right 

Thanks a lot Ronaldjoe  , will try it out and see how it goes hopefully, I'll get to enjoy HD Audio this weekend 

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Added on March 27, 2010, 3:46 pmAiya, looks like the driver updates didn't work. I'll have to go the EDID Override route. Haihhh.. spent like 10 hours trying to figure this thing out 

Thanks for the advice, will run that Driver Sweeper. Never heard of it. Sounds like a great idea. After about 15 hours of wrestling with my HTPC, I've finally sorted out my HD Audio. GOODNESS! So much work but I'm glad it's all settled.

Best program for me in getting HD bit streamed is PowerDVD 10 Ultra. I use TMT3 for BDMV. MPC for mkv for movies that require subtitles and misc files.

Now my final HTPC spec is WITHOUT the Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 (Thanks guys, you saved me some money
And is as follows:-

Intel Core I5 750
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD5670 1GB
5x Samsung 1.5TB 5400rpm SATA HDD
Win 7 Home Premium
Sony DRU-870S DVDRW
TP-Link TL-WN951N Wireless
Xigmatek PSU 650watts NRP-MC651
Silverstone ATX LC20B-M

Time to enjoy the movies/music       

What is TMT3 and PDVD?

My car got Dynaudio speakers.

Ya it's a great casing. I've attached a picture showing how the 5 HDDs are fit in. I still have space for 2 more HDDs.

Kianwee is a genius mind reader. My thoughts exactly.

Yonggoh: The LCM20B-M may be over kill to you, but I wouldn't want to see a tower case in my setup. Also I need something that looks good enough to sit next to my Pioneer AVR.