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I'm gathering ideas for an htpc setup at the moment. Let me know if this is too simple:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6889234041

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882780017

Are computer powered speakers comparable to speakers with receivers?
Would it need a sound card? I was thinking of pairing it up with the Zotac 9300 itx mobo.

A work in progress.

"Too simple" is defined mainly by how many devices you want to connect and how big the room is. If you have a wide open room with lousy acoustics, a PC speaker system isn't going to cut it, and proper floor-standing speakers and a subwoofer will be needed. For a small living room the PC system will be fine. If you have a BRD player, and an XBox360, and a media PC, and digital TV box, an HD video camera, etc., then you should probably look into a conventional receiver setup with appropriate source switching. If you just want to switch a couple devices, the TV inputs will serve well enough.

yes wrote:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882780017
Are computer powered speakers comparable to speakers with receivers?

Be careful in using the word "powered". Based on your link the speakers are still powered separately with its own amplifier. The "power" from a computer sound card/port is not enough to drive those.

yes wrote:

Would it need a sound card? I was thinking of pairing it up with the Zotac 9300 itx mobo.

Almost all consumer motherboards these days have onboard sound. Whether that is good enough for you is a matter of personal taste.

As ludi alluded to, you need to let us know how many other devices you are thinking in the whole setup (eventually). I would add that in typical SBA fashion, you need to let us know how you are using that "HTPC", because it can range from a regular computer which can play some video/audio files and plugged to a TV, up to a TV PVR with Blu-ray playback and all the jazz.