5.1 sound card needed for the speakers I'm eyeing?

[chalmers]

Hi all, I'm currently researching some high quality, but not overexpensive, 5.1 speaker setup for gaming and HD movie viewing on my new rig using my 46" 1080p LCD as the monitor. My current sound card is just the onboard one on an Asus P5K.

My question is, do I need to purchase a seperate sound card to full experience these new speakers, or will the onboard suffice my needs? Thanks

Current speaker setup I'm oogling over:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16836121120

Logitech Z-5500

Thanks all!

 

[BoboKatt]

I am assuming those speakers take coax or opti right? If that is the case, your on-board will do JUST FINE. I have the same board and have my digital out from my mobo to my Onkyo 635. Sounds amazing. No need for a dedicated audio card, which you would probably have to spend quite a bit to get one that actually has the opti/coax out with a breakout box or panel or something.

 

[skulkingghost]

You will want the 5.1 analogue connections for gaming but optical works fine for movies with dolby digital and music.

 

[chalmers]

I do not see any digital sound output ports on the back of my computer with this P5K motherboard.
There's 6 outsputs that I see, all looking the same besides the colour. They are labeled as
CTR Bass
Rear SPK
Side SPK

And then the usual 3 that are customary, mic, line in, and line out.

Do I even have digital sound out? Thanks.

edit.

Reading the back of my motherboard box, this is what it says for the Audio Section

Realtek ALC 883, 8 channel, High Defintion Audio CODEC
Coaxial S/PDIF out ports at back I/O
ASUS Noise Filter

 

[skulkingghost]

assuming that this is your mobo:
Asus p5k

You would need a SPDIF cable to pass the digital audio for movies/music to be decoded from your z-5500 decoder. The set does not come with one so pick up one from monoprice:
SPDIF Cable

Then plug your speakers yellow/black/green cables into the appropriate spots on the mobo and switch to analogue mode for gaming and true 5.1 in games.