The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Best 5.1 soundcard for inspiron 1720

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by kippers, Jun 23, 2008.

  1. kippers

    kippers Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi,

    I'm looking for a decent 5.1 sound card for my inspiron 1720 so that I can connect to my surround sound system (preferably by optical in/out). It is so that I can play movies/listen to music on my surround sound system (logitech z-5450) Can anyone suggest a decent soundcard that woudl achieve this (internal or external usb)?

    Any help gratefully appreciated.

    cheers,
     
    kippers, Jun 23, 2008
    #1
  2. sonyfxa36

    sonyfxa36 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    190
    Messages:
    330
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    sonyfxa36, Jun 24, 2008
    #2
  3. jetstar

    jetstar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,095
    Messages:
    7,034
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    I'll second the Creative X-Fi recommendation above.
     
    jetstar, Jun 24, 2008
    #3
  4. Suprfli6

    Suprfli6 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I'm also looking at having a way to use my z-5500 5.1 speakers with my notebook. The combined price of the x-fi and the surround sound speaker adapter is over $100, which is a little more than I'd prefer to pay. Is there another alternative that might be a bit cheaper? I have a thinkpad t43p, so the $55 option of the Audigy 2 ZS wouldn't work since that's PCMCIA, right?
     
    Suprfli6, Jun 24, 2008
    #4
  5. mentalwall

    mentalwall Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    53
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    mentalwall, Jun 24, 2008
    #5
  6. kippers

    kippers Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    ok thanks guys- didn't realise it would involve buying an adapter as well!! also there doesn't look like there is any optical out to the sounds card or adapter- is digital out not better??

    if the adapter is need for the quality then I'm prepared to pay for it

    if so I've seen some 5.1 external usb sound cards with optical out- would this be a better option??

    cheers for the help!
     
    kippers, Jun 24, 2008
    #6