Comment # 17 on bug 981878 from Takashi Iwai

(In reply to John Walker from comment #16)
> (In reply to Takashi Iwai from comment #15)
> 
> > > The other suggestion I've had is to install a sound card. Do you see any
> > > problem with this?
> > 
> > Well, the firmware is one thing, and another thing is a question how to use
> > the firmware.  It implements DSP code running on CA0132 chip, and the driver
> > implementation should depend on the DSP code, after all.  The current driver
> > assumes the fixed set of firmware for providing some features.
> > 
> > That said, we'd need someone who can have the access to the firmware *and*
> > its implementation / relevance with the kernel driver.  It's not easy task,
> > after all.
> 
> Excuse my ignorance, but does that mean that a sound card would need to use
> the CA0132 chip? I thought a card might bypass the problem.

Your sound card (onboard) on the new PC is through CA0132 chip, so it's a must.
 CA0132 chip itself *might* behave in compatible way as the standard HD-audio,
but from the experiences, so far, it doesn't behave well like others.  For the
sane output, it required the firmware and special setups, more or less.