In a month or so, I'm going to upgrade from my Epox 8k5a2+ motherboard AC97 audio and Microsoft Digital Sound System 80 to an ASRock 4Core Dual Sata2 motherboard with ALC888 7.1 Channel Audio.

On fixed income, my budget for this is tight, with new CPU, cooler, and memory- it's hard to squeeze in new speakers too. I've heard good things about the Logitech

x530 or x540 5.1 channel, about $60 for the x530's. Does anyone know about these speakers? Does 5.1 speakers play well 7.1 with output? Any thoughts?

I didn't hear anything good about ASRock MBO's. Those MBO's are cheap ASUS wannabes IMO. I'd recommend Gigabyte or DFI since those MBO's shouldn't be expensive either..

As for the speakers, I wouldn't buy anything more than 2+1 system.

I didn't hear anything good about ASRock MBO's. Those MBO's are cheap ASUS wannabes IMO. I'd recommend Gigabyte or DFI since those MBO's shouldn't be expensive either..

As for the speakers, I wouldn't buy anything more than 2+1 system.

I have done a lot of looking and have considered only about 3 boards seriously. The ASRock isn't an Asus wanna be, it's Asus's budget brand. Even though I'm on a tight budget, if Asus or Gigabyte etc built a board with what I need I would gladly go up to a higher quality board. Just for grins-it received editors choice for budget boards at Anantech reviews.

And I have a 2+1 system now. With the 5+1 system I can get surround sound for my DVDs and a very nice stereo.