Computer Surround Sound Help...?

I'm not sure how to go about this, so any help would be appreciated. I have a computer with onboard 5.1 surround sound 3.5mm outputs.. What I want to do is somehow output this to my surround sound reciever. I was thinking I could use three 3.5mm to RCA Stereo plugs to get this. I've seen DVD Players that have the six rca outs for surround sounds, so would this be similar to them? Also is there any converters like this out there? Would it be easier to just buy a new sound card and use the coax/optical it has on it?

Using the 3.5mm outputs would be pretty much the same as the ones you see on a DVD audio player. You would have to get three sets of stereo 3.5mm jack-2 RCA connector plugs and each of the 6 connectors will be for your front, center, surround and subwoofer channels.

Make sure you use a program like Windvd or Powerdvd without those you are stuck with 2 channel sound that will played on all your speakers. Windvd and Powerdvd have decoders for Dolby 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic Xll and DTS 6.1 and DTS Neo6.

I've used this type of connection in the past with a receiver that was only Dolby 5.1 and regular pro logic...this gave me the chance to hear the DTS sound and the at the time new pro logic 2 decoder without having to upgrade my receiver.

If you were to get a sound card with either coax or optical out then you would have to rely on whatever decoders your receiver has. If your receiver is fairly new and has all the Dolby and DTS decoders then you would get a better sound using optical or coax since the stereo RCA cables are analog.

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