laptop hdmi sound quality

[mtmer1]

If I buy a cheap laptop to watch downloaded programs or youtube/netflix streaming via hdmi through my yamaha 7.1 stereo receiver and on to my tv will I lose a lot of sound quality due to the cheap sound hardware in the laptop or does it bypass that?

[abracmike]

It'll bypass that.

[mtmer1]

Another question. Will any laptop be able to provide 1080p via hdmi or are some limited to 720p? I know most laptop screens are limited to 720p but if you're using the hdmi port is it able to provide 1080p?

[abracmike]

Sorry for the few days late reply, haven't been watching the notifications.

If the TV supports 1080p, then yes HDMI from the laptop will.

Edit:
I should probably note this before i forget:

If you have the laptop set to clone mode, then it'll only output the laptop's resolution to the TV. To get around this, go into screen resolution by right clicking an empty spot on the desktop and change the multiple displays checkbox from 'duplicate' to 'extend'.
Also, if it's windows and 7 or newer, you should be able to access that by using the windows key + P.
You would then just have to drag youtube/netflix etc... over to the 2nd screen (that being the TV)