dac or sound card? help please

[admin_exported]

i want better sound quality from my pc to stereo amp so would i be better with a good sound card or a dac?

links to ones i'm thinking of....

http://www.whathifi.com/review/arcam-rpac/specs

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-000-AS

thx.

 

[smarkgee]

BOTH surely?

ideally with optical out from the PC to the DAC, failing that digital.

I have that setup.

One thing i am still thinking about tho is what if i get a 5.1 amp?

if i do then my old, but good, DAC will be useless as that only outputs analog stereo (I think) anyway the point is make sure you can get the 5.1 from the dac to a future proofed amp.