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.
I believe 7.1 Surround Sound is only available thru the HDMI port. The optical port can handle 7.1. but only when the audio stream is encoded with Dolby Digital Plus.
As for 5.1 Surround Sound, there should have been a 3.5mm to optical adapter included with your system when you purchased it. If not, get in touch with one of the Alienware reps to get one sent to you (have no idea if they will charge you for it). You plug the 3.5mm end into the S/PDIF port on your R4, and then an optical cable between from the adapter to your audio receiver...and viola!
I think they stopped shipping the adapter because some people had to replace their entire mobo when they were using the adapter and it broke the S/P Dif port. You can email the AW rep and they should be able to tell you what exactly you need to buy.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
