Considering speaker/sound card combo, would like another opinon

[MillerTyme]

i have these 2 things picked out and i wanted an opinion
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/3100420 and http://www.savingxoom.com/cmedcmi86cha.html yea the card is cheap, but its got 5.1 suppoort and eax support, and its got winxp drivers.
Also how important is 5.1 speakers? From what ive heard people say all the "best speakers" like those logitechs are all 4.1, does the 4.1 - 5.1 really matter?
Im not looking to spend over 150 total, someone reccomended a SB Live! value instead of that, could anyone tell me if that would be better, and why?
can anyone also tell me if http://store.yahoo.com/directron/av5121.html is the same as the other souncard? the chipset appears to be the same.
Thanks

 

[DN]

Save yourself a lot of pain and grief and get an CL Audigy OEM..

 

[Paladin]

The Inspire 5300 5.1 speakers are great, for $99. I have them, and when paired with an Audigy they sound terrific. Get a OEM Audigy Value with those, that should put you around $150.

 

[WhoDeeny]

I had an Audigy X Gamer on my AMD based system I and I just threw it out! What a POS I couldn't get it to work right on my ECS Board under Win98 & 2k nor on my Abit in Win98, Win2k and WinXP! I got a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz for 69$ (thank you newegg) and have been in heaven ever since. Throw in some Altech Lansing 4100's and she sings to you! All for about 200 delivered...

 

[saltedeggman]

i have audigy OEM with abit kr7a and winxp, without any problems

my logitech z560s should be here tomorrow