How can I hook up my HTIB to my Computer?

[niwi7]

I bought a 300ish dollar sony home theatre in a box for my room about 6 months ago, and it turns out that I pretty much never use it for movies like I thought I would

I am also in need for new computer speakers which is located in my room as well

The computer is a Dell Dimension and I was wondering what I would need to hook up my computer to my surround sound reciever so that I dont hafta buy new computer speakers and actually get some use out of my HTIB


What kind of wire/connections would I need...would i need to buy a seperate sound card?

 

[jpeyton]

Ideally you'd want to run digital optical or coax output from your sound card to your HTIB. The other option is just a straight analog connection.

For digital, if your sound card does not have optical or coax out, look at the inexpensive Chaintech AV710 (see thread in sig). Then just run the optical out to your HTIB. Shouldn't cost you more than $30 total.

Otherwise, if you only have analog, get a miniplug ---->stereo RCA cable (around $5 at ratshack). Just run it from your speaker output to your HTIB RCA inputs.

 

[powerMarkymark]

I have two Surround sound home theater receivers in my office, well worth the trouble to connect the computer(s) to one.

Do you have SPDIF or coax sound out on that machine?

As jpeyton said those are your best options as they will give you the best sound and Surround sound.

If you dont't, try the 1/8" to RCA to an auxilary in on your HTIB system. If you like the sound that way.............great.

If you want to try SPDIF or coax sound out, get a PCI sound card that supports that.

In two of my rigs I have the Hercules Fortissmo 7.1 in two of my rigs and it supports SPDIF out for only $49.00.

Have fun.

Marc