NForce drivers version 1.0-0310 - no ALSA?!

clearer · 01-04-06, 05:37 PM

First of all I am quite happy that nVidia bothers to make drivers for Linux. That's about as happy as I am with nVidia.

The new 1.0-0310 drivers finally fixes compatibility problems with some kernels, so that it is now possible to actually load the drivers into a kernel. Only problem is that the drivers are for the deprecated Open Sound System, which is likely not to be present in future kernel versions, and already is not that well supported in a lot of distributions anymore. I for one, am unable to use any of the sound applications I normally use with this set of drivers and am unable to use the normal means to configure my sound.

Why nVidia has not chosen to support ALSA from the beginning is beyond me. ALSA is already quite old and is widespread - the 2.6 lines of kernels even have OSS emluation for ALSA devices, so OSS drivers is not really needed and we could all just drop OSS driver support completly today (if everyone had ALSA drivers) and we wouldn't be able to feel the difference.

This is unacceptable. ALSA support is required on a modern Linux desktop. OSS is not.

Lithorus · 01-05-06, 05:18 AM

Nforce is already supported by the kernel and with ALSA support...

Basically you shouldn't need to install the nforce drivers at all, since everything is supported by the kernel.

PrakashP · 01-05-06, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lithorus

Nforce is already supported by the kernel and with ALSA support...

Basically you shouldn't need to install the nforce drivers at all, since everything is supported by the kernel.

That's untrue for Nforce2 boards with MCP-T.

Lithorus · 01-05-06, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrakashP

That's untrue for Nforce2 boards with MCP-T.

Which kernel did you try?
Btw. some info here : http://alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/doc...odule=intel8x0

PrakashP · 01-05-06, 10:16 AM

You didn't understand: alsa: no hw-mixing in this case, nforce2 with mcp-t is the only chipset which does support it.

Jason_25 · 01-05-06, 12:56 PM

Not to mention SPDIF doesn't work on many nforce4s without the nvidia driver.

zbiggy · 01-05-06, 12:59 PM

That is true. ALSA intel8x0 driver does NOT support hardware mixing in MCP-T.
Nvidia's OSS 1.0-310 driver uses MCP-T hardware mixing. That is why I bought (and like) nForce2 mainboard - great MCP-T hardware mixed sound for free (because it is integrated). With Nvidia's OSS 1.0-310 you get also hardware accelerated OpenAL library. Nvidia is the only company which provides hardware accelerated OpenAL in Linux.

I'm very unhappy knowing that nForce2 was the last chip with APU.

I'm also waiting for ALSA driver made by Nvidia.

Lithorus · 01-05-06, 03:20 PM

I rather saw that they released the specs so they can incorporate them into the OpenSource drivers instead.

01-04-06, 05:37 PM	#1
clearer Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 22	NForce drivers version 1.0-0310 - no ALSA?! First of all I am quite happy that nVidia bothers to make drivers for Linux. That's about as happy as I am with nVidia. The new 1.0-0310 drivers finally fixes compatibility problems with some kernels, so that it is now possible to actually load the drivers into a kernel. Only problem is that the drivers are for the deprecated Open Sound System, which is likely not to be present in future kernel versions, and already is not that well supported in a lot of distributions anymore. I for one, am unable to use any of the sound applications I normally use with this set of drivers and am unable to use the normal means to configure my sound. Why nVidia has not chosen to support ALSA from the beginning is beyond me. ALSA is already quite old and is widespread - the 2.6 lines of kernels even have OSS emluation for ALSA devices, so OSS drivers is not really needed and we could all just drop OSS driver support completly today (if everyone had ALSA drivers) and we wouldn't be able to feel the difference. This is unacceptable. ALSA support is required on a modern Linux desktop. OSS is not.

01-05-06, 05:18 AM	#2
Lithorus Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 783	Re: NForce drivers version 1.0-0310 - no ALSA?! Nforce is already supported by the kernel and with ALSA support... Basically you shouldn't need to install the nforce drivers at all, since everything is supported by the kernel.

01-05-06, 10:16 AM	#5
PrakashP gentoo ~x86_64 user Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Germania Posts: 213	Re: NForce drivers version 1.0-0310 - no ALSA?! You didn't understand: alsa: no hw-mixing in this case, nforce2 with mcp-t is the only chipset which does support it.

01-05-06, 12:56 PM	#6
Jason_25 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 25	Re: NForce drivers version 1.0-0310 - no ALSA?! Not to mention SPDIF doesn't work on many nforce4s without the nvidia driver.

01-05-06, 12:59 PM	#7
zbiggy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 623	Re: NForce drivers version 1.0-0310 - no ALSA?! That is true. ALSA intel8x0 driver does NOT support hardware mixing in MCP-T. Nvidia's OSS 1.0-310 driver uses MCP-T hardware mixing. That is why I bought (and like) nForce2 mainboard - great MCP-T hardware mixed sound for free (because it is integrated). With Nvidia's OSS 1.0-310 you get also hardware accelerated OpenAL library. Nvidia is the only company which provides hardware accelerated OpenAL in Linux. I'm very unhappy knowing that nForce2 was the last chip with APU. I'm also waiting for ALSA driver made by Nvidia.

01-05-06, 03:20 PM	#8
Lithorus Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 783	Re: NForce drivers version 1.0-0310 - no ALSA?! I rather saw that they released the specs so they can incorporate them into the OpenSource drivers instead.

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