Is it possible for Windows 7 to play sound via HDMI and SPDIF at the same time?  I'm only interested in AC3/DTS and not Dolby "TrueHD" (or those other 7.1 versions).

Thanks for any help!

If you have a sound card that has a spdif header, then yes.  You can run the spdif cable from your soundcard that outputs spdif to the video card to supply sound to the hdmi output.  Otherwise no.  The problem is Windows can't output from two sound cards simultaneously.  This gets around that.

 Sorry, meant to say "If you have a video card that has a spdif header".  Of course you will need a header on the sound card as well.

Thanks a lot for the reply.

I'm using the onboard HDMI video (GA-E7AUM-DS2H motherboard) which as an nVidia Geforce 9400 chipset).

Any idea if I can split the audio on something like that?

I think it's possible although I haven't done it.  I'm fairly sure some people on this forum do something like this.  Looking around I saw these two devices:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817707065&cm_re=hdmi_splitter-_-17-707-065-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815158121&cm_re=hdmi_spdif-_-15-158-121-_-Product

So you could split the signal and use one of them to get the audio off of.  These are just example, I'm sure there are cheaper products, maybe even ones that do both.  I've never used something like this so I can't really comment on it being successful.  Depending on the price, it may be cheaper to consider other alternatives.  Do you have an open PCI express slot?

Yeah, those do seem a bit expensive.  Although I could always try to find cheaper alternatives like you mentioned.

I think I do have an open PCI Express slot though.  How would that help me?

If you picked up an Nvidia graphics card with an spdif header you could connect it to the onboard sound card, assuming it has spdif header.  You could easily find card that's under $100.  This solution gives you:

1.  What you are after, HDMI with sound plus spdif sound from your onboard sound card.

2.  An upgrade to you video card.

3.  Possibly cheaper that external splitters.

Just make sure your onboard sound has an spdif header.

 Hi

I just solved this problem, but with hardware....and luck.

 I didnt know about this bug with windows untill after completing my HTPC and trying to connect to the AV amp.

However I was lucky enough to have purchased a Motherboard with integrated optical SPDIF on rear and SPDIF header on board (Gigabyte ga-eg41mf).

After testing found both were active together.

Bought a Gt9500 card (Asus Bravo 9500) with SPDIF connector and hooked this to the motherboard header.

Now HDMI with audio to TV, and optical SPDIF to AV amp at same time.

Only really helpful if specifieing new build.

regards

Peter