Hi - I finally ditched my windows box after it failed. Bought an intel iMac - it is on order now. My concern - and it is a big one - is the onboard audio with the iMac. I want to use Windows XP for games, and need to have true 5.1 surround support for that. I have a set of nice analog logitech (x-530) speakers, and I know the imac has an optical audio out port, but nowhere can I find a definitive answer that yes, you can use the optical port IN WINDOWS to drive surround speakers. (Willing to upgrade to digital speakers, not willing to forego 5.1 support and EAX in the windows environment).Can I use the built in digital audio port to drive speakers under XP, or do I have to go to a USB sound card? Anyone out there actually get the optical port to work here? ADVthanksANCE.

Hi - I finally ditched my windows box after it failed. Bought an intel iMac - it is on order now. My concern - and it is a big one - is the onboard audio with the iMac. I want to use Windows XP for games, and need to have true 5.1 surround support for that. I have a set of nice analog logitech (x-530) speakers, and I know the imac has an optical audio out port, but nowhere can I find a definitive answer that yes, you can use the optical port IN WINDOWS to drive surround speakers. (Willing to upgrade to digital speakers, not willing to forego 5.1 support and EAX in the windows environment).Can I use the built in digital audio port to drive speakers under XP, or do I have to go to a USB sound card? Anyone out there actually get the optical port to work here? ADVthanksANCE.

I have an iMac 24" with four Altec Lansing external speakers. These have two prongs to connect to the computer. However, iMac has only one audio port. Therefore you need to purchase a connector wire where the two speaker prongs are connected at one end, and the single connector prong is connected to the iMac. This is a connect wire with a two prong female end, and a one prong male end. The speakers work fine.I suggest that you are in the Apple side of the hard drive when you first plug in the speakers. Apple will recognize the speakers faster.Stanner