no sound with Intel HD Audio

[Brain Fury]

I have a new notebook here with an Intel HD Audio soundcard. I have set up the kernel to use the snd-hda-intel alsa module. There are no errors while booting or when I use a program to play an audiofile. But I don't get any sound. When I start alsamixer I see PCM (without the ability to mute/unmute), Front (only Mute/Unmute, no volume), CD, Mic and Input Source. This does not seem correct to me. Does anyone know how to fix that?

[VinzC]

What does alsamixer report as for the chipset? For instance mine is a STAC9200.

[Brain Fury]

Chip: Realtek ALC861

[VinzC]

See ALSA-Configuration[.txt.gz] in /usr/share/doc/alsa-base/driver/ . There is an explanation on using argument model=xxx for your card. The following is an excerpt from ALSA documentation on Ubuntu:

Code: Select all

  Module snd-hda-intel
  --------------------

    Module for Intel HD Audio (ICH6, ICH6M, ICH7), ATI SB450,
               VIA VT8251/VT8237A

    model       - force the model name
    position_fix - Fix DMA pointer (0 = auto, 1 = none, 2 = POSBUF, 3 = FIFO size)
    single_cmd  - Use single immediate commands to communicate with
                codecs (for debugging only)

    This module supports one card and autoprobe.

    Each codec may have a model table for different configurations.
    If your machine isn't listed there, the default (usually minimal)
    configuration is set up.  You can pass "model=<name>" option to
    specify a certain model in such a case.  There are different
    models depending on the codec chip.

          Model name    Description
          ----------    -----------
...
        ALC861
          3stack        3-jack
          3stack-dig    3-jack with SPDIF I/O
          6stack-dig    6-jack with SPDIF I/O
          auto          auto-config reading BIOS (default)

Try passing either of the above model names and see what happens.

[Brain Fury]

I don't have that file, but I have tried all those models and none if it works. There is just one more odd thing.. I don't have 3 or 6 jacks.. there are only 2.

[vorgas]

Try running alsaconf as root. See what happens. It should make it so the necessary modules load, etc, etc.

Also, look around for a volume knob. I had a similar problem on my Toshiba, until I found the volume wheel and turned it up. You may also want to make sure you haven't accidentally selected the function keys to mute or volume down the sound.

[Brain Fury]

I ran alsaconf but everything is just as it was before. I'm quite positive that there is no volume knob on my laptop and i have tried the function keys before i started this topic.

[VinzC]

Out of curiosity: what's your laptop, Brain Fury?

[Brain Fury]

Nexoc Osiris S609

[Brain Fury]

okay, small update:
I tried using alsa-driver instead of the drivers in the kernel. The sound is working now BUT i have another odd problem. Although the sound is working now, i cannot change the volume.

[VinzC]

okay, small update:
I tried using alsa-driver instead of the drivers in the kernel. The sound is working now BUT i have another odd problem. Although the sound is working now, i cannot change the volume.

It looks like HDA support can lead to very fancy things... Have you tried masked/keyworded ALSA drivers (provided there are any)?

[Brain Fury]

there is only alsa-driver-9999 but it has -* as Keyword.. I don't think I should play around with that one