Dell M1730 Gen2 Surround Sound

I am looking to get 5.1 surround speakers and after investigating I am concerned by the support my XPS has for surround sound. I can only locate that I have Sigmatel High Definition Audio (Codec) but my upgrades to the driver have not been installing because every time it says that proper driver was not found. How can find the exact driver I have on my motherboard? Ultimately, I want to be able to get support for surround sound. Also, I read the headphone jacks support digital audio and they are [left channel] [center channel] [right channel]. What does this mean? Does this mean I have to connect all three to get surround sound? This becomes confusing what connecting multiple speakers. So is there a simple method?

 

Latest driver which will work with the M1730 Sigmatel/IDT chipset that I know of is:

v6.10.0.5866 A04, Last Updated: 10/22/2008

See if this one will install for you - it should without issue as I was running it when I had my M1730. It is 32 & 64-bit compatible. Once installed, check the Windows Sound Control Panel and look under the Playback Devices - you should see 5.1 option (if I recall correctly, haven't had my M1730 for a couple of months). As for the actual jacks, I believe you have to configure each one via the Sigmatel Control Panel and then use all three jacks.

You might also try posting directly in the M1730 Owner's Lounge as I'm sure someone there is currently running 5.1. They might not see this thread.

 

The install says it is for XPS notebook M1330. For Windows Vista 64bit. I have Vista 32bit. Is this still the one I should use?

 

Yes - it will still work with the M1730. Dell has a habit of updating drivers for one platform (which will also work for another platform) but they fail to post said updated driver to the other platform's driver page.

 

Thanks I am doing it now and I will post update.

 

Do do see an additional option now. But I think I will have to get the surround speakers to enable the configuration fo rthe surround. I am look to get these http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Z-5450-Digital-Speaker-970181-0403/dp/B000AM6QHO. I hope it works and thanks for the jump start. I really do not think it is productive to use all three headphone jacks for the surround. I hope this allows me to use the single jack and configure it accordningly. Thanks again bud

 

Cheaper/better here if you are interested http://www.nextwarehouse.com/item/?126013_P:O SPDIF connection, is that what should be used for the surround? Which jack is that on the XPS m1730?

 

No problem. Be sure to post in the M1730 owner's lounge if you still have issues once you pick up your speaker system. Might also want to seek opinions on speaker systems which others use/have used for 5.1 with their M1730's.

Have fun!

See this link for an explanation on the connection route:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/xpsm1730/en/om_en/html/media.htm#wp1067164

SOURCE:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SYSTEMS/xpsm1730/en/index.htm