I've got Skyrim running on my system with a 7.1 surround system, and when I play I only get 5.1 surround, with my side speakers producing no sound at all. My sound card is an Asus Xonar D2X, and I'm using all anolog outputs for the sound. Even with GX mode on, the side speakers don't make any sound. I've checked on Mass Effect 3 and the speakers are definitely hooked up and useable by games.

Any ideas what might be causing this stuff?

I can provide more information if needed.

I guess nobody has any input on this one, huh.

I don't think Skyrim supports 7.1 does it?

I noticed the same, posted that long ago, and reverted to a 5.1 setup.
Also the sub woofer is barely used, only times I noticed it doing something is when dragons land.
If they could reconfigure the game so that you get above and below channels, that would be more useful than the side speakers.

Why wouldn't it? I'd expect that standard on a game that came out in 2011.

Skyrim doesn't support 64 bit exe and it came out in 2011.

You realize that that doesn't say anything, right? Very few games have a 64-bit executable anyways.

Back on topic, have you made sure that your sound settings in Windows are set to a 7.1 speaker set up?

Indeed but I'm just saying they haven't added that either, nor have they added DX11 visual features.