PC Connected to Surround Sound - Quality Sucks?

If you are using it for gaming, it is better to connect your surround sound directly to the 6 channels of motherboard. If your surround sound system have 3.5mm audio input jacks (where the headphone jack go), then it should come with 3 cable connectors that you should plug to 3 audio channel ports in your motherboard ( center/sub, front l/r & rear l/r ).

If your speaker's input jack is only the AV cord type, then you should have at least 3 of the headphone jack split into the red and white av cords. The headphone jacks goes to the motherboard while the av cords go to your speaker.

To clarify, what is your surround system & what is your motherboard brand & model?

Not sure my actual motherboard. it is stock that came woth my Acer Aspire T180. I know for a fact it has those 3 colored plugins: blue, grern, pink. My surround sound has a digital optical input so would it be best to buy a sound card for my pc with a optical output? Thanks

I thought your sound system comes with AV input?

Instead of connecting the headphone jack from the tv output, connect it to the green plug in & see if the sound improves ( but of course it will be only left & right ).

the issue is your connection from TV to receiver. if your mobo does not have an optical out, your best bet would be to get a sound card with one and run the sound directly to the receiver.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Yes I believe my only option is to get a sound card with optical output. The only audio input with 5.1 on my surround sound is Optical in. (Sorry i just realized this) However the sound card you gave me the link for was for newegg.com and since I am Canadian, I can not find it on newegg.ca. What is your suggestion for me to get a cheap optical sound card? I can shop on either ebay, or newegg, or anything else with a cheap price. Thanks

It is my understanding that NCIX.com is sort of the Canadian Newegg. Just checked their sound cards and I think this is the same one that was suggested to you :
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=56330&vpn=XONAR%20DG&manu... , and from my limited knowledge of PC audio this should do just fine for what you are looking for (I am currently studying the subject myself).

The only audio input with 5.1 on my surround sound is Optical in. (Sorry i just realized this) However the sound card you gave me the link for was for newegg.com and since I am Canadian, I can not find it on newegg.ca.

$18 after rebate on tigerdirect.ca

nightshift also linked the ncix site with the same card

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item...

Well, it sounds like you are going HDMI to the TV, then using the headphone out from the TV to the receiver. Because TV's have HORRID conversions from digital to analog, you are going to take a corresponding quality hit.

What inputs do you have on the surround system?

I can get a rocketfish sound card on ebay for $22 including tax and shipping. Would this be a good sound card for me to get?: http://m.rocketfishproducts.com/m/products/computer-acc...

it will do the job

OK. I will buy this card then. When I get it what do I need to do? Just plug it in and install the drivers? Or do I have to disable some onboard audio or something. I heard someone talking about this. Thanks

Best answer selected by wagstuff13.