Can my soundcard handle 5.1 surround?

**jimmy_fowler** · #1 27th Jul 2007, 14:51

Hey guys,

I'm wanting to upgrade to surround sound speakers. I have an M-Audio Firewire Solo external sound card, which I bought because I do a lot of recording guitar, vocals etc, and I use it the other way for sound too. I was just wondering, can it handle 5.1 surround sound? I've been looking at specs online but none mention this.

Also, how are the Phillips MMS460 5.1 speakers for a budget set? Thanks.

**Hybr!d** · #2 27th Jul 2007, 16:45

Looking at the M-Audio site I very much doubt the sound card supports 5.1.

**geforce** · #3 2nd Aug 2007, 01:37

Well, the reviews say that it does not support 5.1 surround sound. I am sorry to suggest you this but you will have to go for a new sound card. Look for an internal one and these days even the cheapest of the cards support 5.1 sound. So you can safely go for one.
Thanks.

**jimmy_fowler** · #4 9th Aug 2007, 06:22

Ok guys thanks for the help. I have another question though:

Would my computers built in Soundmax Integrated Digital Audio thingy handle 5.1? The M-Audio Firewire Solo is just an external recording interface for guitars and microphones, which I use for recording demos, I just run the sound out through it too.

If I were to just use the M-Audio box for recording into the computer and not playback, and then use the built-in Soundmax thing for audio playback, would I then be able to use surround sound? If so, to what extent would it be able to handle surround sound? 5.1? or higher?

Thanks!

**Hybr!d** · #5 9th Aug 2007, 06:32

Depends if your motherboard sound card is 5.1.

If it isn't... a 5.1 dedicated sound card would be cheap as and will be much better quality than the on-board sound card anyway.

**jimmy_fowler** · #6 9th Aug 2007, 06:40

Thanks Dave, how do I go about finding out if my motherboard soundcard is 5.1? I'm not very good with this sort of stuff. I tried looking in Device Manager but couldn't see much, or didn't know where to look. Sorry for my ignorance!

**Hybr!d** · #7 9th Aug 2007, 06:42

Do you know the make and model of either the PC or motherboard.

**jimmy_fowler** · #8 9th Aug 2007, 06:49

It's a Fujitsu-Siemens Scaleo P, and according to Belarc, it's a FUJITSU SIEMENS P5SD1-FM2 Rev 1.xx motherboard (I think that's right?)

**Hybr!d** · #9 9th Aug 2007, 07:19

According to their website it is, but anyway, just try it.

If it doesn't work you have lost nothing.

**jimmy_fowler** · #10 9th Aug 2007, 09:39

Thanks for the help, really appreciate it :)

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