Hi All! I currently use a 5.1 speaker surround sound system with my computer, and it works great. I am, however, considering hooking my computer up to a TV in a different room (via S-video) to watch stuff from the PC there if I want. The trick is, I need to somehow get an audio signal to the TV in addition to the video. My SB Live! 5.1 has no more audio outputs, but my motherboard does have audio capability. It is currently disabled in the BIOS, but could I enable it and use it along with my SB? Would both sound setups give off the same signal, or would I have to manually switch back and forth all the time? Or would I get a ton of compatibility problems? Would it be better to just split the audio signal as it exits the existing sound card (i.e. use a 1/8 inch stereo splitter, and run one end to the sound system and the other to the TV), or would that cause signal degradation? Any ideas/input you guys have would be great! Thanks!

MSI K7N2-Delta
Athlon XP 2500+ @2Ghz
2x512MB Kingston PC-3200
Diamond Viper 9600XT 256MB
SB Live! 5.1
MSI TV@nywhere Master
WD 160GB 7200rpm HDD
LiteOn 52x CD-RW
LiteOn 16x DVD

What I do is just run a seperate line from my audio out and switch between the two (ie take out the line to the 5.1 and pop in the line to the TV) depending what I want to do. I know this is a low tech answer but it works for me. You prolly won't know what problems you'll be up against if any enabling the mb sound until you try.

There is a limit on how far you can run your video signal. I'm not sure the out distance but it sounds like you may exceed it. Most S-Video cables are 6' I believe. Audio isn't as much of a problem.

I think you will probably have compatibility problems with trying to use both sound boards. They would try to use the same IRQ and ports, so it would be a mess. Splitting the signal with the audio y adapter should do the trick This is a line-level output, so there is plenty of signal to go around. In this case, I think low-tech is the best way to go. Do watch the video cable lengths, tho, as OtheHill said. Only so far for that. Unless you can find a signal amplifier for S-video. Good luck. :)

Okay, thanks for the info! Sounds like I will be using a splitter - I think I have one laying around somewhere. As for the S-video cable, I found one at circuitcity.com that was 12', and I think that may just be long enough, but I'll measure first. Wish me luck! :)

MSI K7N2-Delta
Athlon XP 2500+ @2Ghz
2x512MB Kingston PC-3200
Diamond Viper 9600XT 256MB
SB Live! 5.1
MSI TV@nywhere Master
WD 160GB 7200rpm HDD
LiteOn 52x CD-RW
LiteOn 16x DVD