Adding external speakers

Sorry if this is dumb question but I don't really understand the best way to add external speakers to my desktop setup. At the moment I use a monitor with in built speakers. It all goes from my 980ti hdmi output into the monitor. So I wonder where would I add external speakers. I believe the sound card is in built on the motherboard but if hdmi is supplying the sound then I presume the gpu is taking care of it (or does that sound silly).

i am just pondering to add a couple of slightly better speakers as the monitor in built ones are a bit tinny at higher volumes. Am not bothered or into any sub woofer stuff. Just two half decent speakers will do fine. So do I plug them into the headphone socket / aux out on the monitor? Or should they connect to the back of the PC somewhere or even the headphone socket of the PC itself? I see sockets labelled rear, c/sub, line in, line out, mic on the back. Obviously I know to avoid mic and in any case I think my case has mic and headphone jacks. Just pretty confused. If they were plugged into the back of the PC then would the sound output clash with what is being fed through the hdmi. Maybe the speakers would give out sound as well as the monitors in built speakers all at the same time? Just pretty confused. If it helps my gpu is nvidia 980ti and the motherboard is ASUS Z170 pro gaming.

Thanks, switching the sound output for the speaker is presumably done under sound/volume properties on Windows? And that will then eradicate/suppress the in built monitor speakers through the hdmi ?

Great, sorry my phone didn't display your diagrams first time round (useless iOS!) Really appreciate the help.

Ok thank you. It's good to know. The way my desktop is crammed into my small room the back is pretty difficult to access. I can get to it if really needed but it's a mission so it's helpful to know these things without having to pull it all out.

Scottyboy99 said:

Sorry if this is dumb question but I don't really understand the best way to add external speakers to my desktop setup. At the moment I use a monitor with in built speakers. It all goes from my 980ti hdmi output into the monitor. So I wonder where would I add external speakers.

Your 980TI will probably have a fixed level digital S/PDIF output for a 5.1 / 7.1 Toslink or "glass cable" for a AVR or surround sound receiver .
The green 3.mm plug on the back of your PC somewhere will be variable audio out for powered speakers ,amplified devices or phones .

Guys, that is awesome info. Thanks so much!