Thanks PKB. I got the speakers from eBuyer on the cheap, but £70 for the card puts an end to my tight-fisted approach to shopping!
The idea of the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX seems ok, i'm not worried about it being external. They don't seem to be too expensive on eBay so hopefully i'll manage to get one off there.
Anyone who has used the Audigy and wants to give a quick bit of feedback?
Cheers all.