Dell M1530 laptop - 5.1 Audio over HDMI?

[Jimbo976]

I have a Sony 910 receiver which is HDMI audio capable and am looking at a Dell M1530 laptop. It has an HDMI out port. I'm wondering if anyone can verify that multi-channel (5.1 and maybe 7.1) standard Dolby Digital and DTS gets sent out correctly over the HDMI port on this laptop using powerdvd or something similar? I understand that losses codecs probably won't get sent but will the standard ones or would I be stuck with 2-channel audio?

I haven't had any luck getting this info out of Dell people since I don't think they understand what I mean.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

I have a Sony 910 receiver which is HDMI audio capable and am looking at a Dell M1530 laptop. It has an HDMI out port. I'm wondering if anyone can verify that multi-channel (5.1 and maybe 7.1) standard Dolby Digital and DTS gets sent out correctly over the HDMI port on this laptop using powerdvd or something similar? I understand that losses codecs probably won't get sent but will the standard ones or would I be stuck with 2-channel audio?

I haven't had any luck getting this info out of Dell people since I don't think they understand what I mean.

I currently own an M1530 with a HDMI output and I haven't been able to get it to work with my receiver. I'm interested to know other people's hopeful success.

[Jimbo976]

Well I still haven't got a solid answer on this but I ordered the laptop anyway. It's a pretty loaded machine that I got which includes the very overpriced Blu-ray/dvd/cd burner. I only wanted a Blu-ray ROM but couldn't find another laptop that I liked as much for everything else. The 20% off coupon code I had pushed me over the edge to buy though.

I have read that at worst case I could get a cheap external usb sound card that Would have a toslink out that I could use for 5.1 audio if the HDMI doesn't work.

The ship date isn't for 6 weeks though due to a battery shortage.

[Jimbo976]

Well to answer my own question i did get sound to work over HDMI. So far it's just 2-channel but this is only with the Dell Mediadirect player. I still have to get PowerDVD and try with it.