I am planning on using my home PC to drive my projector until I can build a dedicated HTPC.

I think I have the Video part figured out (DB15/cat5 modular adapters with shielded cat5 to run the signal) but I am stuck on the audio end.

I do plan on using a stand alone surround receiver and that can do the DTS decoding, but how do I get the signal from the pc to the receiver?

Do I need to have a sound card, or can I use the 3.5mm stereo cable? I only have the onboard ac97 audio now, and the only output is the single 3.5mm stero jack.

If I do need a sound card, can you reccomend a cheapie that will do what I need?

I'm not sure if this is what you're asking, but they make cables and adapters
that convert 1/8" stereo plugs to dual RCA plugs for receivers and the like.

Only problem I've ever had with running computer audio like that is a slight
low end hum. But you don't know until you try. I'm pretty sure the hum is
because there is a slight amplification of the signal that RCA connectors don't
usually use.

I'm sorry for being unclear it's one of thise thinngs where I know what I am trying to ask, but can't quite explain it in words.

If I run from the single 3.5mm jack out of my pc with a splitter into the rca cables, will the receiver then be able to decode that into digital surround?

Or do I need to get a sound card with a digital output to be able to get digital 5.1 surround from my receiver?

Ah... as far as I know, you need digital out to get digital sound. I just
searched for getting digital sound out of your PC and found this:

How to Listen in 5.1

Unfortunately, I've never bothered with digital surround, really... always
been an analog fool. I'm pretty sure that without a digital cable, you
need to use the 6 analog outputs to 6 analog inputs on the receiver (my
dvd player has 6 channel sound like this, 1 RCA for each channel).

Does your receiver have digital inputs? If so, get the Chaintech AV710 from Tiger Direct.

LOL! That makes me feel better- After online shopping sound cards all morning, I actually bought that exact card from newegg!

Thanks for the help!

I have a X-Mystique HDA Sound Card. I believe it is the one of two cards capapble of doing Dolby Digital Live. I may be getting rid of it because I'm not really even using it anymore. Looks like you found your card so hope your happy with that.

What is the difference between regular Dolby 5.1 digital and the live version?

DDL cards will "upconvert" baser signals to Dolby Digital. So you could play, say, an MP3 and it would break it up into Dolby Digital ( as best it could). Its especially nice when you are watching television.
Hell, even cat food commercials become more interesting in DD....

SJ