[alsa-devel] Intel alsa sound request for Laptops

[John Frankish]

> > > > For two or three kernel versions of alsa divers now, HDMI has been 
> > > > the default alsa device on my laptop (Dell Latitude E7240) - this does not make logical sense.
> > > >
> > > > In the latest kernel version I use, 4.2.9, alsa sound will not 
> > > > work at all unless I load the i915 kernel driver
> > > > - this does not make logical sense and means that I cannot use Xvesa.
> > >> 
> > > > Is it possible to make an alsa feature request for analogue sound 
> > > > to be the default alsa device on laptops and for alsa sound to work without the need to load the i915 kernel driver?
> > > >
> > > It's a configuration issue.  Pass the module option if you prefer the secondary device:
> > > 
> > > options snd-hda-intel index=1,0
> > > 
> > Sure, I realise I can do that, but it's not the point and it's awkward to do so with the "live CD-type" distro I use (tinycorelinux).
> >
> > Laptop sound should work in standalone mode by default - i.e. if laptop uses analogue sound
> > for its built-in speakers then the alsa default should be analogue sound.
> > 
> > The above notwithstanding, analogue sound should work without needing to load the i915 kernel driver.
> > 
> For a smart automation, use PulseAudio.  It's exactly for such a purpose.
> 
> The kernel driver assigns each device just in the order how they are enumerated.
> In the case of HD-audio, it's the order of PCI devices.
> It's nothing different from any other PCI drivers.
>
OK, but I should not have to add bloat like pulseaudio in order to have basic sound functionality.

You also don't mention why I should have to load a graphics driver (i915) in order to get analogue sound? That makes no sense at all...