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[timmeh]

I just had an idea, and figured I'd ask here, see if it's even possible.  I currently use the speakers built into my monitor via the HDMI, this leaves me two further ports, one on the back of the computer (actually, several, for the different speakers) as well as another port on my Logitech G510 keyboard which is treated as a USB audio device by the computer.  My question is this: were I to plug my old speakers into the keyboard or computer, then place them, say, behind me somewhere... might I be able to set up some semblance of surround sound?

Thanks for any input in advance.

[Fayrik]

This won't act as 5.1 or 7.1. I've tried this and failed...
I did however once manage to do something similar, but it involved wierd stuff like running two instances of Winamp.

Clear answer: As far as I know, you can't make it surround sound. However, there are a few other neat things you can do with two sound cards.

[timmeh]

It's not two sound cards, rather, the keyboard seems to be acting as a second input, as I can play separate audio from the TV speakers and keyboard jack (I can play my PS3 on the TV and get it's sound out of the speakers, and continue a Skype conversation with a friend using the keyboard inputs)

[Lord Shonus]

Your keyboard IS a second, USB based sound card.

[The Scout]

Taking this over, I'm running XP. It wants to use the HDMI port to my TV to play sounds and stuff, and it won't accept anything else. It only allows the HDMI port to play.

[nenjin]

This might be sort of possible. The Realtek Audio HD Manager I have (which is pretty much the standard on-board audio controller these days) allows you to swap what plugged in speakers play what part of a surround sound system.

This wouldn't work for gaming though, probably. Positional audio in real-time is a wee-bit more complicated than simply getting 5 speakers to play ghetto 5.1 when playing music. I imagine have to read your keyboard in addition to your primary sound device would make most game sounds freak the fuck out and crash, or at least play the wrong channels.

Hell, I have a hard enough time getting games to play proper 5.1 with a real 5.1 system.