5.1 surround sound for computers?

Question

hello i have some movies on my computer, my computer is hooked up to my lcd tv i has a 5.1 surround sound Bose Home Theater System do i need a sound card to play 5.1 through my tv or is my home theater system enuff. i don't have any special sound card now only what came with the computer

Answer 1

the sound that  came with computer is most likely stereo, look at the back of your PC , if it only has one green colored input then its only stereo, if it has  a green , a blue and a black input it will play sound threw all 5 speakers but it wont be "true 5.1 "  for that it will need to have an optical output

Answer 2

If your computer is newer or has a seperate sound card on board, the will be an option for "Digital Output Only" in the advanced properties on your sound/audio control panel.  Make sure that is ticked on and then run a 1/8" (headphone style) from your digital output on your computer to a 1/4" coaxial audio cable to your receiver.  Select the appropriate input and source and BAMM digital audio.  

No special codecs or anything are needed by your system for this to work.