8086:8ca0 Sound output distorted/unusable with Intel Z97/H97

[Benjamin Geese]

I get horribly cracking sound and distortion with my ne AS Rock Fatal1ty H97 Performance Mainboard. This MB is using PuritySound 2 Engine powered by the Realtek ALC1150 Chipset. Here is some ALSA Info: http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=44b12e252a2cf7ebb75ab3e23d5cef072af6c328

Following commit fixes this problem:
https://kernel.googlesource.com/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound/+/77f07800cb456bed6e5c345e6e4e83e8eda62437

WORKAROUND: Create a modprobe.d file with command:
echo "options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/fix-sound-intel97.conf

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.1
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Tue May 20 21:03:18 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-20 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 04/28/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: P1.10
dmi.board.name: H97 Performance
dmi.board.vendor: ASRock
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrP1.10:bd04/28/2014:svnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:rvnASRock:rnH97Performance:rvr:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.name: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.product.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.sys.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
---
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.1
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: ben 1445 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ben 1445 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=f35e4cc7-52c2-4fe7-9e4b-405280ed487f
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-20 (2 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
MachineType: To Be Filled By O.E.M. To Be Filled By O.E.M.
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB: 0 EFI VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic.efi.signed root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.47-generic 3.13.9
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127.2
Tags: trusty
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 04/28/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: P1.10
dmi.board.name: H97 Performance
dmi.board.vendor: ASRock
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrP1.10:bd04/28/2014:svnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:pvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:rvnASRock:rnH97Performance:rvr:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.name: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.product.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.sys.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.

[Benjamin Geese (ben-8409)]

Here is an update:
I tried to install the realtek drivers from their website with no success. However interestingly the cracked and jittering sound got match worse after installing my NVIDIA GTX 750 drivers.
Before, there were frequent and annoying clicks, now the sound is unusable!

[Benjamin Geese (ben-8409)]

Another update:
I build the Vanilla 3.14 Kernel and removed the NVIDIA Graphics Card in an attemp to isolate the issue. No success so far. Actually it turns out the problem is not related to the NVIDIA Card. I get the same noise without the card installed.

It seems to get a bit better under high cpu load though.... strange? Any help would be appreciated.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 1321421

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Benjamin Geese (ben-8409)]

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[Benjamin Geese (ben-8409)]

@Brad:

Here is an update on this issue: Some People on the ArchLinux Forun[1] found a fix the cause.
It seems there is a Workaround required (for this audio codec ALC1150) for the Intel PCHs but the device ids where missing. Until this fix is in ALSA (the kernel)
the following module parameters fix this issue for me and others:
options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0

I simply created a modprobe.d file and reboot and now sound works!
echo "options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0" > sudo /etc/modprobe.d/fix-sound-intel97.

I the forum, user Arthur who found the solution mentions there is a patch for the linux kernel, however i found no source or link to refer to yet but asked the user is there is something to provide us with.

1 https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=181764&p=2

[Benjamin Geese (ben-8409)]

There is a fix for the Linux kernel lined up for 3.15. Maybe a backport to 3.13 is possible because many more intel h97/z97 users will want to use Ubuntu 14.04?

https://kernel.googlesource.com/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound/+/77f07800cb456bed6e5c345e6e4e83e8eda62437

[Benjamin Geese (ben-8409)]

I applied the patch referenced above (#22) and patched the ubuntu kernel as described in the community wiki. I now habe sound without the module options in (#21).

[Andreas Berger (hatbollen)]

Even with the workaround I get crackling noise, just not as much as without the workaround.
I am using an ASUS Z97-A motherboard.

[Andreas Berger (hatbollen)]

Scratch that, I made some mistakes when creating the conf file. Seems to be working now!

[Christopher M. Penalver (penalvch)]

Andreas Berger, thank you for your comment. If you have a bug in Ubuntu, the Ubuntu Audio Developer team, Ubuntu Kernel team, Ubuntu Bug Control team, and Ubuntu Bug Squad all would like you to please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug sound

For more on this, please see the Ubuntu Audio Developer team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingSoundProblems

the Ubuntu Kernel team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports

the Ubuntu Bug Control team and Ubuntu Bug Squad team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue

and Ubuntu Community article:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report would delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Benjamin Geese (ben-8409)]

I just wanted to let you know that linus has pulled the patch from Takashi Iwai and it is in 3.15-rc8 so almost certainly in 3.15 [1,2].

As i understood from a discussion on the kernel team channel in irc last week, a backport for 14.04 should be possible now.

1 https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=f2159d1e99612ceb94bf9a2dc2fbca409d828b1b
2 http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/1406.0/00262.html

[Nicholas Lekkas (nicholas-lekkas)]

I have an MSI H97M-G43 motherboard, H97 chipset but ALC892. Running Kubuntu 14.04

Installing the 3.15.0-031500rc2-generic kernel did not work, even though the patch was apparently incorporated.

The suggestion about: echo "options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0" > sudo /etc/modprobe.d/fix-sound-intel97, did not create the file, did not work.

Instead I added:
options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0

to the end of the file:
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

and rebooted. Sound corruption is now gone!

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131-deactivatedaccount)]

@Nicholas: that is 3.15 rc2 kernel. The fix was not incorporated until rc8.

Thank you for confirming that the issue is not just ALC1150.

[MicWit (michaelwitten82)]

I have a Gigabyte H97-D3H motherboard (http://www.gigabyte.com.au/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4962#sp) that says it has the Realtek® ALC1150 codec. I get this same issue. It seems random, sometimes working for a while and sometimes skipping constantly and going scratchy. I installed starcraft 2 through playonlinux and the entire audio seemed stuffed (seemingly the same problem but a lot worse) except for a few small bits that got through. My problem seems to get worse the more that the computer is doing (which would also explain why a game under wine would have more issues).

I have not tried the above solutions yet, however, as soon as I boot back into Ubuntu (14.04LTS) I will give them a go.

[MicWit (michaelwitten82)]

I forgot to add, why is this bug of low importance?? This is a pretty common codec, so it would be affecting a lot of users to the extent where they can't use their sound! I think this needs a higher priority, mainly because of the number of users affected.

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131-deactivatedaccount)]

@MicWit: the importance categories cam overlap, considering the guide: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Bug%20importances
This bug has an easy workaround, so it could very well be considered 'Low' priority. I have no issue setting it to Medium since it is classifed as non-essential hardware (but I wouldn't argue if someone insisted it was Low).

[dogmatic69 (dogmatic69)]

I have a similar problem with the ASRock Z97 Extreme4 - http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z97%20Extreme4/

Running virtualbox windows instance the sound is better, but not 100%

Also the sound is almost usable watching a youtube video, but switching to another tab with the video playing is horrid.

I have tried the above hacks with the /etc/modprobe.d/fix-sound-intel97 file, but it does not make a difference.

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131-deactivatedaccount)]

Did you make sure the fix-sound-intel97 file had '.conf' on the end? Please make sure the option was applied successfully by giving a link to your alsa info: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Audio/AlsaInfo

[MicWit (michaelwitten82)]

@daniel, thanks for that. I think even though there are fixes, its not a simple procedure (especially for new ubuntu users) as some fixes work for some people but not others.

@dogmatic do this in terminal:
Sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
And add the line:
options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0
Save, exit, reboot.

That fixed it for me. Fixed starcraft and everything!

The reason it took me a while to update what fixes it is the sound stopped working all together. Took me a while (and a total reinstall) to realise it was the duel boot to windows (2 seperate hdds). Windows wont give anything else access to the soundcard! So for anyone with this chipset duel booting, simple solution, dont restart from windows to boot into ubuntu, shut down and power up again. If this still fails, unplug the computer (or if a laptop take the battery out) for 15sec, plug it back in AND WAIT 15SEC, then boot into ubuntu and see if it works. This is for if the sound doesn't work at all, for the skipping and scratchy sound, add the line to alsa-base.conf

[dogmatic69 (dogmatic69)]

Hi Daniel, I have run that script and generated a dump...

http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=de2689ec17bbaa9c3d32430845c9a0d970537d54

Before doing that I added the config as per comment #28 and restarted alsa with `alsactl restore`

Sound is a little better, but if I do not have the video tab active in the browser it slowly gets worse until it becomes painful to listen too. (starts off pretty good)

[Mladen Adamovic (mladen-adamovic)]

I have Gygabyte GA-Z97-D3H. I assumed motherboard will work in Linux out of the box, without problems - what a stupid assumption.

Sound was cracking and distorsion.

After adding /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
     options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0
speakers are working but there are two problems:
- after inserting front mic/headphones, the sound stop going out to speakers (back connector), although in Ubuntu settings I set it to go to both
- microphone is still distorted. Every 3-4 seconds or so there is a "tick" and it annoyed my skype connection

Thefore this "fix" still has some problems :-(.

Pitty I bought this motherboard, if I was aware of the problem I'd bought another older motherboard without PCI M.2

If someone knows how to solve the problem with microphone shoot, in the meantime I'll plug USB microphone/headphone to see if it could fix the problem.

[jan (jan-haagdorens)]

Another problem I encountered with this "easy" workaround is that my wireless usb frequently disconnects and needs to be restarted (I made a little script to restart network-manager when I can not ping the gateway).
This disconnects do not happen when I comment out "options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0".

[Murshed Choudhury (murshed77)]

@Nicholas Lekkas,

Thanks, your solution (#28) worked perfectly for me.
I'm running Ubuntu 14.04 on an Intel Z97 chipset.

[JFalcon (stratton-aaron)]

Similar issue and results here as Mladen Adamovic has.
I have a ASUS H97I-PLUS: H97 chipset with ALC887-VD.

I'm running Linux Mint 17, kernel 3.13.0-24-generic (amd64)

Adding the below to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
  options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0

Seemed to improve things a bit, but the popping/distortion is still very much there -- via SPDIF out.
Over analog, there is no popping/distortion. However, I don't like using onboard D/A since I have a much higher quality external DAC.

[Ron Elliott (kodeio)]

Solution #28 worked for me on Linux Mint 17 with MSI Z97-G45 (ALC110). I had popping, distortions and skipping before, crystal clear now. Thanks!

[Bjelleklang (bjelleklang)]

#28 worked for me as well, on Xubuntu 14.04 using a MSI Z97 Gaming 5. Have tried various other stuff like Alsa overrides, Realtek drivers built from scratch, disabling pulseaudio and so on until I stumbled over this thread.

[CJ (sammycj-2)]

Exactly same issue (bug 1338137) - solution #28 worked for me as well.

@Daniel Letzeisen
Thanks a lot for pointing me towards this solution.

[Domantas Jackūnas (jackleo1990)]

#28 works for me too.

Linux Mint 17 3.13.0-24-generic with MSI Z97-43 Gaming motherboard.

[Irish Medina (nerdylicious)]

The solution proposed in #28 did not work for me on Ubuntu 12.04 on an ASUS Z97-Pro. However, I was able to solve this issue by installing the latest linux kernel (3.16-RC4).

I wrote some step by step instructions on how to resolve this issue (as well as other hardware compatibility issues on the Z97 chipset) here:

https://github.com/Nerdylicious/How_To_Fix_Ubuntu_Compatibility_On_Intel_Z97_Build

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131-deactivatedaccount)]

This is now considered Fix Released since Ubuntu 14.10 is using kernel >= 3.15. If anyone continues to experience issues with Ubuntu >= 14.10, please open a new report.

Thanks

[Donnie Choi (donnie531)]

I'm new to Linux, how do I install the latest kernel on Linux Mint 17? Can anyone tell me please?

[Daniel Letzeisen (dtl131-deactivatedaccount)]

Donnie, an Ubuntu bug report is not the appropriate place for a support request on Linux Mint.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/

[Sidney Harrell (sidney-harrell)]

Fresh install of 14.04,
cause I got a new MSI H87 MB

Had pulled the source for my kernel to add the upstream patch per a forum post, and the patch was already there!

Applied #28 and distortion is gone.

[Mayer A. Landau (metaplecticgroup)]

I had the same problem with an Asus Z97-Pro motherboard running 14.04 with Gnome.
As instructed, I added the line <options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0 >
to the bottom of the file < /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf > and the sound problem went away.
Thanks very much for resolving this.

[TinBay (joybeefly)]

Add this line below or update ur kernel will dp. I had the same issue with my MSI Z97 mb.
options snd-hda-intel model=auto,acer-aspire,auto

[Bjoern Sunder (sunder-digitalmedics)]

Running 12.04 and updated MB to Gigabyte Z97P-D3 and I got crackling sound issue, first thought it were my sound system.

echo "options snd-hda-intel snoop=0" > /etc/modprobe.d/fix-sound-intel97
(done as root, of course)

cured this issue after reboot.
vid option is not working (at least on 12.04), but since there is only one intel hda, I can live with that.

Side note: I've completely disabled XHCI in BIOS to get rid of USB issues and Youtube Video slowdowns due to syslog being spilled by error messages due to USB 3.0. Now my system runs fine even on 12.04 (though I did not yet test if my Windows 7 likes that - but who cares, its only for gaming :D )

[Christopher M. Penalver (penalvch)]

Bjoern Sunder, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you to please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug sound

For more on this, please see the Ubuntu Audio Developer team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingSoundProblems

Ubuntu Kernel Team articles:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Policies/DuplicateBugs

the Ubuntu Bug Control team and Ubuntu Bug Squad team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue

and Ubuntu Community article:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

As well, please do not announce in this report you created a new bug report.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Hannes Benson (hannesbenson)]

I am running 12.04 and upgrade to the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 motherboard and also got the nasty noise issue.

echo "options snd-hda-intel snoop=0" > /etc/modprobe.d/fix-sound-intel97

fixed it for me after adding the .conf :)

Thanks fellow ubuntu ppl!

[Jarmikala (jarmikala)]

I am using a Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z97 Mainboard. I could not fix my sound problem yet. I simply get no sound at all. I upgraded to ubuntu 14.10 and tried the solution of #28. I also tried the solution of #45 but then my whole system crashed and was unable to boot. May card output gives me

 cat /proc/asound/cards

 0 [HDMI ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel HDMI
                      HDA Intel HDMI at 0xf7a14000 irq 52
 1 [PCH ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
                      HDA Intel PCH at 0xf7a10000 irq 49
 2 [NVidia ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia
                      HDA NVidia at 0xf7080000 irq 17

[fabiengb (fabiengb)]

Running Ubuntu 14.10 with an Asus Z97-C motherboard, 3.16.0-30-generic kernel.

Adding

options snd-hda-intel vid=8086 pid=8ca0 snoop=0

to alsa-base.conf does solve the problem, but only partially in my opinion.

The thing is the sound is far from perfect. I can hear the sound "scratching" from time to time.

When watching alsamixer, i have noticed that when the sound is scratching, the level of the PCM column if changing rapidly. It decreases and then goes back to the original value.

I thought it was an issue related to auto mute, but this feature is disabled in alsamixer.

[Christopher M. Penalver (penalvch)]

fabiengb, as this bug report is closed, if you want your problem addressed please file a new report via a terminal:
ubuntu-bug -s audio