I won't go into a large amount of details, but I would like some opinions on my situation:
My PC specs:
i7 6700K @ 4GHz (stock clock)
16GB DDR4
AMD RX 570 4GB (stock clock) - Freesync compatible (I switched from nVidia 960 2GB which I had since 2015)
Other specs:
(monitor) Samsung 75 inch Q9FN - Freesync compatible, ARC, 120Hz
(receiver) Sony STR-DH790 - Freesync incompatible, Dolby Atmos, eARC, 60Hz
This setup works perfectly for 4K HDR 7.2 surround sound @ 60Hz on GT Sport (PS4 Pro -> Receiver -> TV), however I'm having lots of problems with PC gaming/iRacing.
The problem I have is that due to my sound system and TV set, I cannot achieve the entire benefits of the components I have because no matter the configuration, there are problems with passthrough caused by the fact that neither the monitor (which is a TV) nor the receiver has DisplayPort, and the GPU only has a single HDMI output; for example, I cannot send more than 60 frames through the receiver due to hardware limitations on video passthrough. No matter what resolution (480p), the hardware is restricted to 60 fps. I will experiment with an HDMI splitter which I will purchase in the future, but I am worried about latency. I also would like your opinions on how best I should be prioritising the power from the GPU towards fps, resolution, HDR, etc. because my GPU is a clear bottleneck. So here's a summation of the hardware limitations I've been dealing with consistently:
Receiver: capped at 60 fps passthrough, cannot passthrough Variable Refresh Rate technology ('VRR'/Freesync 2)
Monitor: refuses to passthrough 7.2 surround sound to receiver due to the PC refusing to send a 7.1 audio signal*, breaks the monitor's audio return channel (ARC) as soon as PC is connected (incompatible with eARC)
So my question for you guys is which do you believe, assuming there are some iRacing veterans here, would be the best configuration?
Option 1 by connecting to PC -> Receiver -> Monitor: Slightly lower than reasonably max settings at 4K. No cubemapping or HDR. Solid 60 frames per second which rarely dips but when it does, creates a large amount of screen tearing when falling to around 55 fps in heavy LOD scenes. No variable refresh rate, no V-sync, frame cap at 60. 7.1 surround sound PCM audio. LFE channel.
Option 2 by connecting to PC -> Monitor -> Receiver: Reasonably maxed settings at 1440p. No cubemapping or HDR. Solid 120 frames per second which dips to 105 fps in heavy LOD scenes, replays, or large grids. Freesync 2 to eliminate screen tear with low latency. Stereo PCM audio. No LFE.
Sorry if this was stupidly long, and I hope this is the best thread to write this, but I'd like an opinion on which of the two above configurations you would prefer, and/or opinions on what aspects of the setup to prioritise, ie. what is important?
Thanks.
*Windows 10 does not 'see' the passthrough to receiver, and the monitor's EDID tells the PC it has stereo speakers despite the fact that the EDID also tells the PC that it can accept lossy 5.1 and lossy 7.1. I am not an expert in this technology, but I understand the GPU wants to send LPCM because it doesn't have an encoder so the Windows 10 will want to default to 2 channel LPCM, but there's a setting on my monitor for input audio type between PCM and Bitstream before exporting lossy Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital+. Lossy Dolby Digital does come out of the monitor when the source media is streamed from Disney+, so either the Samsung has an audio encoder or it just sends the Bitstream downloaded from the net, the latter of which is more likely. Either way, the PC won't play ball and the monitor itself is not a hardware 'bottleneck' - it is capable of sending lossy but the PC isn't.
EDIT:
>Says won't go into large details
>Proceeds to go into large details
TLDR:
Please choose Option 1 or Option 2 above and why?
Click to expand...