realtek alc662 3stack-6ch -- NO 5.1 only stereo

[rb-cohen]

Wow, this actually worked! I can't believe how happy having 5.1 again has made me. Anyway, I did the following to get surround sound working with the Realtek alc662:

1. Followed the (simple) instructions at http://www.automaticable.com/2008-05...-ubuntu-hardy/
   
2. Added the line "options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-6ch-dig" to the end of /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base
   
3. Restarted computer (for step 2 to take affect)
   
4. Opened sound preferences, selected ALSA mixer, ticked the newly listed "Center, LFE", etc.
   
5. Still under sound preferences, on the options tab I set 'Channel mode' to 6ch.
   
6. I used "$ speaker-test -Dplug:surround51 -c6 -l1 -twav" to test all worked, and it certainly did!

The key is step 2, the other steps are all well documented elsewhere.

[dasan]

it was enabled default for me only i need to do was select 6 ch from mixer

you can select it from command prompt too

type alsamixer in command and you will find a channel section select 6ch

[Eeqmcsq]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!
Thanks both to gdoteof for the original solution and rb-cohen for the solution that fit me best. Here's my test scenario for in case others with my motherboard need it.

This was tested using an Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop Live CD, so you can test it before permanently making changes to a real installation.

Motherboard: Zotac GF8200-C-E (aka GeForce 8200 ITX)
Sound: ALC662

1. From a terminal, type "gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf". At the end of the file, insert the line "options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-6ch-dig". Save and quit out of gedit.
2. Force the alsa sound library to reload: "sudo /sbin/alsa force-reload". The Volume Control app will probably report that it has crashed. Just click Reload to reload it.
3. Open the Volume Control app, click Preferences. Check Surround, Center, LFE, and most importantly, Channel Mode.
4. Now go to the Options tab. For Channel Mode, select 6ch.
5. Type "aplay -L" to list all available devices. You can pick one of these devices when using the "speaker-test" command.
6. Run a 6 channel speaker test: "speaker-test -twav -c6 -Dsurround51:CARD=NVidia,Dev=0". The 6 channels will come out of the 3 audio jacks in the back of the motherboard.

Other notes:
- If you want pulseaudio to work in more than 2 channels, follow the link in step 1 of rb-cohen's instructions.

[sir4taye]

So...
I'm wanting to buy this board from newegg. Have you had any other motherboard centered issues? Any other workarounds? Did the SATA recognize and flow without a IDE hard drive?

Thanks in advance for your time.

[xjgnsdof]

The instructions in post #23 worked on my Zotac Ionitx-A-U in Xubuntu 9.10.

[mi.k]

Unfortunately post #23 does not work on my ZOTAC IONITX-D-E - NVIDIA ION. I am trying to check Check Box "Channel Mode" (in gnome-alsamixer), but after restart check box is again unchecked

Many thanks in advance for your time. Mike

[djmaxmalta]

it was enabled default for me only i need to do was select 6 ch from mixer

you can select it from command prompt too

type alsamixer in command and you will find a channel section select 6ch

by using the quoted method and without retating my wubi, i used terminal with "sudo /sbin/alsa force-reload" gave it my pasward and let it do its work, when terminal was ready i restarted rythembox


and bam my 5.1 labtec Arena 685 all worked (better then in windows)