Dell Inspiron 3650 Sound System

Hi there, 

On your 1st question, unless the card allows you to reassign audio ports (which in this case I don't think it does), you would need to run the HDMI output to some audio receiver or some device that supports HDMI audio in. In the receiver case you could run the HDMI audio/video output from the system to the receiver, and then output the video to your monitor etc. On a side note, some motherboards do offer optical audio out, but this system does not have that as an option.

On your 2nd question, using the pcie x1 slots will allow a sound card to be installed.

Best regards,

Brad 

I have just successfully installed a Sound Blaster Audigy Sound Card (SB57000001) in my Inspiron 3650 desk top p.c. In doing so, I have debunked the official advice which was given to me by a Dell-Support representative (actually two of them), that this computer's mother board would not support an independent sound card.

Glad to hear you got this working! And sorry for missing this as well as what you were told about the card. 

I found the answer; it is actually quite easy.

I have 3 wires for my speakers (Green, Black and Yellow).  I plugged the Green speaker wire into the Green (Line Out) jack on the audio.  

I plugged the Black speaker wire (sub) into the Blue (Line In) jack on the audio - a box popped up and asked me if it was a line-in or speaker out connection - I selected speaker out.

I plugged the Yellow speaker wire (center) into the Pink (mic) jack on the audio - a box popped up and asked me if it was a mic or center speaker out connection - I selected speaker out.

All is good.

On the 1st question: This system shows a 5.1 audio configuration

"Audio

Controller Realtek Audio Codec ALC3600‑CG with Waves MaxxAudio Type Integrated 5.1 channel Intel High Definition Audio"

as listed from the Dell webpage.

That can't be so unless the ports can be reassigned.

Something is misleading here.