Hey guys, need some help with 5.1 Surround sound and a laptop..

[SkylineR35GTRx]

Hey, I'm trying to help a friend figure this out. He has a laptop, a Sony VAIO PCG-K45 Notebook, and he also has a 5.1 Surround sound speakers. It's a Sony Dual Surround Sound Multimedia Speakers. Now, he tells me that when he connects the speakers into the laptop, only 2 of the speakers are used. I went and searched and found that the speaker sometimes only use the 2 speakers when whatever media its playing is not encoded in surround sound. My theory is that his sound card cannot support the surround sound. I use to be a big hardware guy with computers, but that was like four years ago and I'm not up to date with this tuff. So I'm not sure whether or not laptop these days come with sound cards that can support a 5.1 surround sound system. Can anyone chim in and help? Also, if it is the sound card, are there exteneral sound cards he can get for the speakers, because I know that changing parts inside a laptop isnt as easy as doing it for a desktop. Any help would be appreciated. thanks.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Welcome to AT.

Unless his laptop has three 1/8" output jacks for 5.1, then he's only going to be able to connect one of the inputs on the speakers and this will give him 2.1 or a fake surround mode at best if the speakers support it.

There are options for USB soundcards as well as soundcards that use laptop PCMCIA ports.

 

[alcoholbob]

Your theory is his sound card cannot support surround sound when you played DVDs on 5.1 channel mode, or you are just doing pot smoking theorizing without any actual tests?

 

[SkylineR35GTRx]

Uh..i didnt get a chance to test it out, and that was the first thing that came to mind, that his sound card could not support his speakers. What the hell is your problem asshole?

 

[alcoholbob]

Filling in the blanks of what you "didn't say", Mr. Skyline, because otherwise, all you are doing IS just idle speculation. Call me whatever you want.