5.1 surround sound connections?

[Geordie1955]

I recently bought a HP M01-F1055na Desktop PC - AMD Ryzen 5 with 1TB HDD & 256SSD and running on Windows 11.

In my old pc I had installed an internal sound card in ann expansion slot with 5.1 surround sound speaker system where the cables from the sound card went to the back of my sub woofer.

My question is: is there a way of connecting this machine using the two plug connections on the back of the box to my 5.1 surround sound speaker system or will I have to buy and install a new sound card to match my speaker system?

[itsmyname · Accepted solution]

@Geordie1955 -- In my old PC, I had installed an internal sound card in an expansion slot

Hmm. Can you "cannibalize" that sound-card, and connect it into the new computer?

If so, enter BIOS SETUP, and "disable" the integrated sound-circuits.

If not, then, as you wrote, you will have to buy and install a new 5.1 sound card.

Or, does your new computer have an "optical-audio-out" socket, that matches an "optical-audio-input" socket on your 5.1 speaker system?  If so, run the special cable to connect the two devices, and configure the "audio output" settings on your computer to route the audio output to the "optical" connector. 

Your computer seems to have the "ERICA-5" motherboard, with 

Back I/O ports

• (1) RJ-45 Ethernet port
• (1) HDMI 1.4b/HDCP 2.2 port
• (1) VGA port
• (2) Audio ports
• (4) USB 2.0 Type-A ports
• (1) Power input port

I don't see any listing for an "optical" port.

I presume that the "2 audio ports" are for two-channel audio-output & for mono microphone-input.

[Geordie1955]

Yeah the old soundcard disappeared over the horizon in the arms of the thief who took my processor box.

Been looking around and it looks like I'll be buying a new sound card that fits my 5.1 system.

For a brand new machine the on board sound is really poor. I would have thought in this day and age the sound would be top notch abut never thought it would be so poor.

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply.