HDMI (Audio) Out not Configured

Hello. See the HDMI Audio FAQ for all of our instructions and tips on setting up HDMI audio. There is no BIOS setting that I know of. Usually the problem is wit the the graphics driver, which controls HDMI audio.

Jimco,

thanks for the quick response!  

I tried all of the options/alternatives and still have no HDMI, though now I do have S/PDIF (which is better)!   I would like to get HDM I to function so that I can send multi-channel audio to my DAC, which worked really well before the "C" drive died.

I have attached the latest display of the Sound Devices.  I am running with the 'basic' Intel HD graphics driver, the proper drivers are installed for the 2x HD Audio devices shown in Device Manager, all sound device have 'exclusive' unchecked, and I have downloaded/installed ALL driver Dell recommends (using their detect software, which I believe is how the S/PDIF port showed-up) ...  not sure what to try next. 

Any other ideas??  Sorry to make this one hard!

Joe

Hi Joe. Sorry but I don't have any other suggestions that aren't in the faq.

Your XPS probably has both Intel integrated graphics and nVidia discrete.

About Dell "recommendations" -- those mean what is recommended versus optional when upgrading a driver version. When installing from scratch, those terms don't apply because some drivers listed as "optional" when upgrading are not at all optional to have at least one version of (sorry for clumsy way of putting it). But it sounds like you have everything you need.

You can't use spdif for surround?

How to insert a screen shot.

The good news is that many audiophiles consider S/PDIF to be superior to USB and HDMI for fidelity, though only HDMI supports multi-channel.

To your point, I went through the 'recommendations', which did very little, then I installed most/all of the 'you choose' drivers, so I think I have the correct ones (except maybe of eSATA, but that is another time).

Is there any means to know if the machine has discrete graphics?  I 'sort of' remember an NVidia program there before the "C"drive crashed, but I am not certain.  The last time I tried loading a NVidia driver, it complained, but that could have been the wrong driver for my device.  So, if there is discrete devices, how can I determine which it is for proper driver selection?

Secondly, with the proper driver installed, the HDMI port "should" appear; is that correct?

thanks again for all of your timely help, Joe

though only HDMI supports multi-channel.

Hello. The surround channels in spdif are compressed and encoded within the primary channels. You need a surround DAC to decode it.

The audio jacks of it the XPS L702x model can also be configured for surround ( the mic jack becomes a 3rd 2-channel output jack.) That option is for owners who have the common type of 5.1 speaker setup that doesn't have a built-in decoder. See page 27 of the XPS L702x Setup Guide.

Before Dell laptops had the 3 audio jacks or an HDMI port, the only way to get surround was by using the spdif port.

Is there any means to know if the machine has discrete graphics?

See page 99 of the XPS L702x Setup Guide. Your laptop has Intel integrated and nVidia discrete. Usually the Intel is the default because it saves laptop battery power, but it automatically switches to the discrete for more intensives uses (games etc).

So, if there is discrete devices, how can I determine which it is for proper driver selection?

I would go to the XPS L702x html page and scroll down to Video, then pick the nVidia driver for 550M/555M for the operating system installed on the laptop. Dell supports Windows 7 and 8 on your model.

Secondly, with the proper driver installed, the HDMI port "should" appear; is that correct?

Yes, if the options to "show" have been checked. HDMI audio could be disabled, and thus would not show until the box is checked. If that were the case, then after getting it to show, one would right click on it to enable it, and set as the default. I didn't explain that too well in the faq and need to change it.

Afterthought. Your laptop has Intel 3000 graphics, so you should be seeing "Intel Display Audio" in the Device Manager under Sound...Controllers. That is the name of the Intel HDMI audio driver that is included in the Intel graphics driver. If you don't see it then something is not right with the graphics driver.

It is good to know that the S/PDIF can be configured for multi-channel audio, that will be a back-up plan.

After some days away from the problem, I made some recent progress... In conversations with Dell customer support (about another system, currently under service) I asked about this problem.  Using his help, I have uninstalled the Intel video driver, and the HDMI port "appeared" in the playback devices, though it had no driver.  The needed driver is for the NVidia board, as you indicated earlier.  It seems the intel driver created some conflict.

After installing the NVidia drivers (based on Dell's web site), those drivers complain about incompatible hardware.  The proper device shows up in the device manager.

Any suggestions?

thanks for your continuing support, Joe

Joe, I am really sorry -- I have been working a lot lately and your last post slipped through the cracks. I just remembered it.

After installing the NVidia drivers (based on Dell's web site), those drivers complain about incompatible hardware.

Video drivers are outside my area. Try posting on the Laptop Video board to see if someone knows what the problem is. Mention your operating system.

PS the forum will be read-only on Thurs & Fri this week.

Jim,

thanks for your help.  I will look for answers in Laptop Video forum.  With your help, and a new driver, *hopefully*, I will have HDMI working again.

Joe