Windows 7: 5.1 Surround Problems with Realtek HD Audio Manager

Heres a screenie of what I see atm:



Meh maybe something isnt activated?



(btw yes everything is unplugged from the audio atm =P)

You don't have the plugs for 5.1 sound. The only speaker output plug there is the green front speaker plug. That will only allow stereo sound.

What physical plugs do you have on your machine and what colour are they?

Regards....Mike Connor

3 - One pink one green one light blue.

Problem is that I cant use my old soundcard as it completely blocks off the air intake of my GPUs fan.

Only alternative if this doesnt work is to try and find a slightly smaller soundcard that will not completely block off the card fan (seriously, there is 1mm distance between GPU and Soundcard).

I understand your problem, what I don't understand is that there are two plugs missing from your machine. The motherboard supposedly supports 5.1 sound, but the plugs for 5.1 sound have apparently not been installed.

You can only use 5.1 sound if you have the physical plugs to support it.

The plugs are connected to the motherboard headers. It seems that whoever assembled your machine only installed three plugs. The only speaker output plug you have is the light green plug.

I will cjeck your motherboard specs again and get back to you.

Regards....Mike Connor

Hmmm...it seems that your on-board audio chip supports 5.1 sound, but your motherboard does not. It only specifies 3 audio connectors. So it can not utilise 5.1 sound.

Seems very odd, and I have not come across this before, but unfortunately it means that without a sound card you can not use 5.1 sound.

I will have a further look at this in the morning.

Regards....Mike Connor

OK. The only simple alternative I can see for you is to get an X-fi external sound blaster, or similar.

You don't say where you are located, this is Amazon US;

This is an external sound blaster, plugs in to a USB port;

Amazon.com: Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro USB Audio System with THX SB1095: Electronics

There are other external sound blasters;

http://www.google.de/search?q=extern...ient=firefox-a

Look around to compare prices.

Regards....Mike Connor

OK, I found your board and a picture of the headers. The board is only set up for stereo sound, there are only three audio plugs, and only one stereo speaker output.



The board has a 5.1 sound chip, but no plugs for using 5.1 sound.

Regards....Mike Connor

From Northern Ireland mate so amazon UK or something similar would do the trick.

I was looking at this: Creative SoundBlaster 5.1 OEM PCI Sound Card - Online Store

Its a relatively small soundcard which would do the trick so I'm considering slotting that in; it will only slightly block off some of the GPU's intake meaning tht it should run fine.

Problem is that with the external cards theyre costing £80 here, which is a complete ripoff (around $110-130 i think).

What do you think about that wee card there?

Looks alright and it will give you 5.1 sound. No idea of what quality though.

Be careful about blocking any intakes. Good graphic cards are a lot more expensive than sound cards!

Have a look here, they have externals for a fiver !

Amazon.co.uk: x-fi sound card - Electronics & Photo

Read the reviews as well;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/External-Sou...4275730&sr=1-1

Slán go fóill

Regards....Mike Connor

From the shop you mentioned, for a tenner;

CIT 5.1 USB2.0 Sound Card Virtual Card Adapter (CMI-109 Chipset SC-U119) - Online Store

So, really time for bed now! Once again, Slán go fóill !

Regards....Mike Connor