no sound from computer

http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/665/dscf02717vm.jpg

It should look like this.

If the mobo has onboard audio you might need to download the drivers from Dell in order to get it working, particularly if you had a PCI sound card already in there. As a side note, it's really weird for a sound card to just up and die one day. Not impossible, but very unusual.

Personally I wouldn't screw with onboard sound, but I'm picky about things like that.

Like Malcom said, if you get another PCI sound card, go Newegg.com. I order hardware on a regular basis and I order from Newegg every time, no exceptions. Their prices, selection and shipping cost/speed is the best in the business, and their return/RMA process is fantastic as well.

If you're shopping for cards, Sound Blaster is pretty much THE name in the PC audio business unless you're doing production level mixing or something, and even then there are some nice high-end sound cards.

If you just need a quick fix and aren't real picky, a basic Audigy SE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102002) would work well.

If you're into sound and have some nice speakers to pair it with, I can personally vouch for the X-Fi Platinum (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102190).

There really aren't any compatibility issues to be concerned about. With a few very rare, bizarre exceptions, any Sound Blaster card from the past 2 or 3 years should work fine in any mobo from the past 2 or 3 years.

Honestly, I bought the Turtle Beach card and got GREAT sound from it. Very cheap.

http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/665/dscf02717vm.jpg

It should look like this.

What's that computer doing outside in the grass??

Honestly, I bought the Turtle Beach card and got GREAT sound from it. Very cheap.

Great sound is a very relative term ;)

I had a Turtle Beach card a few years ago with a midrange speaker setup and it was ok. I then upgraded my speakers to a bangin' setup and realized the shortcomings of the Turtle Beach card.

You really only need an expensive card if you've got high-quality speakers, otherwise you're just wasting money.

I personally just trust the Creative Labs (Sound Blaster) name - they've been doing it better for years and I'll spend an extra $20 or so for a name I can trust.

What's that computer doing outside in the grass??

Going for a walk.

Seriously though, that's very strange. I just found that image on Google image search.

Did you plug in the speakers and enable the ports in the bios?

Nope didn't do that, I'm back at work now, I'll try that later

if your really "serious" about sound, you'd get an RME card and $4000 worth of powered pro monitor speakers (events or mackies)... you hear all kinds of stuff on CDs you never noticed before, though unless audio is your job, I seriously doubt its worth the cost.

your onboard sound should be fine, I use an audigy, but SB cards are tied to their driver CDs, so don't lose them.

I'd guess the SB live 5.1 (what i believe you have) may have had some kind of software conflict and its also possible a power surge or various other cause flipped a bit or two on the hard drive in the wrong place... kinda hard to tell from hundreds or miles away though.

I'm not that serious...

I do listen to music on my computer all the time though, and I have a subwoofer hooked up.

If I buy a similar new sound card, should that do the trick?