Re: [PATCH] make alsa use corect patch for Realtek ALC889A

[Kasper Sandberg]

On Wed, 2008-04-23 at 10:55 +0200, Takashi Iwai wrote:
> At Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:53:49 +0200,
> Kasper Sandberg wrote:
> > 
> > On Fri, 2008-04-18 at 12:16 +0200, Takashi Iwai wrote:
> > > At Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:52:06 +0200,
> > > Kasper Sandberg wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > On Wed, 2008-04-16 at 16:31 +0200, Takashi Iwai wrote:
> > > > > At Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:01:44 +0200,
> > > > > I wrote:
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > At Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:17:23 +0200,
> > > > > > Kasper Sandberg wrote:
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Hello..
> > > > > > > I have a gigabyte X48-DQ6 motherboard, specification url:
> > > > > > > http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2763&ProductName=GA-X48-DQ6
> > > > > > > they clearly state it uses a realtek alc 889a.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > google around, it seems lots of people which has this chip gets it
> > > > > > > detected as alc885, including me.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > now, audio works (atleast analog out, havent tested the rest), allthough
> > > > > > > i couldnt get the supposed feature of separate channel to front panel to
> > > > > > > work(doesent matter much to me though)
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > interrested in fixing this just for the sake of fixing, i ventured into
> > > > > > > patch_realtek.c, and found the structure that defined patches for hda
> > > > > > > audio.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > i inspected my /proc/asound/card0/codec#2 file (only one except the id
> > > > > > > file), and found the following information:
> > > > > > > Codec: Realtek ALC885
> > > > > > > Address: 2
> > > > > > > Vendor Id: 0x10ec0885
> > > > > > > Subsystem Id: 0x1458a002
> > > > > > > Revision Id: 0x100103
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > i then modified patch_realtek.c to detect mine as ALC889A, and assign
> > > > > > > the correct patch to it (well, the one used for 889).
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > After rebuilding, it now uses patch 883 instead of 882 as it did before.
> > > > > > > i dont appear to have recieved any separate front panel channel,
> > > > > > > however, it still seems more correct now, and is probably wise to keep
> > > > > > > for when 883 is improved to support the hardware fully.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > the only thing i notice has changed, is the message i get from the
> > > > > > > kernel, before i changed, it said:
> > > > > > > hda_codec: Unknown model for ALC882, trying auto-probe from BIOS...
> > > > > > > now it says:
> > > > > > > hda_codec: Unknown model for ALC883, trying auto-probe from BIOS...
> > > > > > > but i guess if it has to spew out such a line, it now spews out the
> > > > > > > correct one.
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > analog audio works, so thats fine..
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > the patch(i apologize if my mailer messes up whitespace, but its so
> > > > > > > simple that it doesent matter):
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > The change looks OK (although I'd move the line just before ALC885
> > > > I wasnt sure how it was evaluated, i dont really know alsa alot, so i
> > > > wanted to make sure my entry got evaluated first.
> > > > > > entry).  I have no datasheet of ALC889A, but rumor says that it's
> > > > > > almost compatible with ALC888.  So patch_alc883 seems to be a better
> > > > > > choice than now.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I'll fix it on ALSA tree now.
> > > > > 
> > > > > On the second thought, replacing to patch_alc883 may break many
> > > > > devices with preset models because patch_alc882() and patch_alc883()
> > > > > have different model tables.  So, I applied the patch below in
> > > > > addition.
> > > > > 
> > > > > BTW, could you show your codec#* files?  This will be really helpful
> > > > > to identify problems.
> > > > 
> > > > Yes, sorry for delay, for some reason my mail client decided not to
> > > > update the view.. weird..
> > > > 
> > > > You should know that this is WITH my modification..
> > > > 
> > > > About problems.. well.. now that you do mention it, when i play
> > > > something without a .asoundrc, i get:
> > > > ALSA lib dlmisc.c:118:(snd_dlsym_verify) unable to verify version for
> > > > symbol _snd_pcm_empty_open
> > > > ALSA lib pcm.c:2108:(snd_pcm_open_conf) symbol _snd_pcm_empty_open is
> > > > not defined inside [builtin]
> > > > No default libao driver available.
> > > 
> > > It's a bug of alsa-lib that was already fixed in the recent version.
> > > Nothing to do with kernel.
> > > 
> > > > Now as far as i know, the gigabyte site(and realteks site) says that
> > > > this ALC889A should have 7.1 surround, with 2 separate channels of
> > > > streaming for front. I connected the hd audio connector for front panel
> > > > on motherboard.. but well.. the same thing comes out, and i see no
> > > > special channels for it.. BUT, one thing i find odd is, if i play 2
> > > > channel stuff, it also comes out of all the other channels, eg the
> > > > surround channels.. :)
> > > 
> > > You can open 4, 6 or 8 channels with the device.  But, the default PCM
> > > is set up only for two channels due to soft-mixing.  You can use
> > > special PCM names such as "surround51" to open for 5.1 output
> > > instead.  Again, no kernel issue.
> > 
> > if i open hw:0,0, and play only 2 channels, it comes out of all 8
> > channels.. but thats fine.. what i meant that does NOT work, is that
> > according to gigabyte, i actually should have 10 channels, 7.1 for the
> > back panel connectors, and two entirely separate for the front panel,
> > but the front panel just plays same as back panel stereo (green)
> > connector.
> 
> Then some output route is missing either in the BIOS setting or in the
> driver setup.
> 
Do you think it could be that i am able to open 10 channels on hw:0,0?
is there some way i can see? this is what gigabyte's site says:
7.1+2 Channel High Definition Output
The ALC889A provides support for 7.1 sound playback, plus 2 channels of
independent stereo output (multiple streaming) through the front panel
stereo outputs.

either way, its not VERY important for me, but for some it might be :)


> > Btw, i now inspected the motherboard, and it is indeed ALC889A, atleast
> > if the label on the chip is to be trusted..
> 
> OK, thanks, that's good to know.
> 
> 
> Takashi

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