The driver snd-intel8x0 is used, so i810_audio can't be used at the same time.

Check /proc/asound/cards whether the device is listed there.
If yes, run alsamixer on your terminal.  If you get a error like no device,
check /dev/snd/controlC0 file whether it has a proper owner/permission.

Hm, I already wrote that I can use alsamixer, but no change to the controls there has any effect on 
the sound output. There simply is none.

=> sound card is in /proc/asound/cards and the permissions seem to be correct as well.

Attach /etc/asound.state and /proc/asound/card0/codec97#0/* files.

Created attachment 48164 [details]
/etc/asound.state

Still not receiving all requested files, but let me start debugging.

First, try to run "set_default_volume -f", and check whether any somes come up.
If yes, add ac97_quirk=hp_only module option to snd-hda-intel in
/etc/modprobe.d/sound or whatever, and reload the module.  Check whether Master
control influences on the voluem level.

None of these ideas helped. There is still no sound at all.

Do you mean no sound from internal speaker (if any) or from line-out jack?
How did you test?

Anyway, please attach /etc/asound.state (after running "alsactl store") and
/proc/asound/card0/codec97#0/* files after the procedure above.

It'd be better to remove ac97_quirk option if you try line-out jack, BTW.

What procedure above? You mean after reloading the modules? Or after calling "set_default_volume -
f"? I'm neither an ALSA expert nor a fan, so please write a complete step-by-step guide.

And I tested by using amarok (according to it, it played music) and plugging a working headset into the 
ports on the backside of the computer. The line-out port is probably a "line-out jack".

The first steps are:
- "set_default_volume -f"
- 'alsactl store"
- attach /etc/asound.state and /proc/asound/card0/codec97#0/* files

The next steps are:
- Make sure you connected to the correct line-out jack, most likely a green one.
- Use "aplay -vv something.wav" for test instead of amarok.

The next steps are:
- Toggle on/off "Line Jack Sense" and "Headphone Jack Sense" mixer switches via
alsamixer
- Check via aplay again

Created attachment 48285 [details]
/etc/asound.state

asound.state after "set_default_volume -f" and "alsactl store"

Created attachment 48287 [details]
/proc/asound/card0/codec97#0/ac97#0-0

Created attachment 48288 [details]
/proc/asound/card0/codec97#0/ac97#0-0+regs

After doing above steps, sound output is still not possible. I'll retest with beta4.

How is the latest status of this bug?

There were more important bugs to look after, so I didn't have time to retest 
this one. However as my workstation has nearly the same hardware setup (only the 
SubVendor IDs differ) and as sound works there, I assume that there is some kind 
of hardware defect in my testbox.
I'll retest next Wednesday, when I'm back to work.

Any news on this bug? I have the same chip and am experiencing the same problem: no sound through speaker and headphone jack. 

hwinfo --sound:
22: PCI 1f.5: 0401 Multimedia audio controller
  [Created at pci.277]
  UDI: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/pci_8086_24c5
  Unique ID: W60f.9fPM0PO+u+4
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.5
  SysFS BusID: 0000:00:1f.5
  Hardware Class: sound
  Model: "ASUSTeK 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller"
  Vendor: pci 0x8086 "Intel Corporation"
  Device: pci 0x24c5 "82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller"
  SubVendor: pci 0x1043 "ASUSTeK Computer Inc."
  SubDevice: pci 0x1803 
  Revision: 0x03
  Driver: "Intel ICH"
  I/O Ports: 0xe000-0xe0ff (rw)
  I/O Ports: 0xe100-0xe13f (rw)
  Memory Range: 0x1f800400-0x1f8005ff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0x1f800600-0x1f8006ff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  IRQ: 7 (810 events)
  Module Alias: "pci:v00008086d000024C5sv00001043sd00001803bc04sc01i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: i810_audio is not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe i810_audio"
  Driver Info #1:
    Driver Status: snd_intel8x0 is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe snd_intel8x0"
  Config Status: cfg=yes, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

Kernel messages repeatedly contain the following line:
Dec  3 20:25:06 ilkb kernel: ALSA sound/pci/ac97/ac97_pcm.c:610: error in snd_ac97_set_rate: cidx=0, reg=0x2c, rate=22050, err=-22
Dec  3 20:25:22 ilkb last message repeated 5 times
Dec  3 20:27:44 ilkb kernel: ALSA sound/pci/ac97/ac97_pcm.c:610: error in snd_ac97_set_rate: cidx=0, reg=0x2c, rate=22050, err=-22


The content of the /proc/asound/card0 files is different from Gernot Payer's case:
/proc/asound/cards:
0 [I82801DBICH4   ]: ICH4 - Intel 82801DB-ICH4
                     Intel 82801DB-ICH4 with AD1885 at 0x1f800400, irq 7

/etc/asound.state:
state.I82801DBICH4 {
	control.1 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type ENUMERATED
		comment.count 2
		comment.item.0 Mic
		comment.item.1 CD
		comment.item.2 Video
		comment.item.3 Aux
		comment.item.4 Line
		comment.item.5 Mix
		comment.item.6 'Mix Mono'
		comment.item.7 Phone
		iface MIXER
		name 'Capture Source'
		value.0 Mic
		value.1 Mic
	}
	control.2 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.count 2
		comment.range '0 - 15'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Capture Volume'
		value.0 0
		value.1 0
	}
	control.3 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.count 1
		comment.range '0 - 15'
		iface MIXER
		name '3D Control - Center'
		value 0
	}
	control.4 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.count 1
		comment.range '0 - 15'
		iface MIXER
		name '3D Control - Depth'
		value 3
	}
	control.5 {
		comment.access read
		comment.type IEC958
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Con Mask'
		value '0fff000f00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
	}
	control.6 {
		comment.access read
		comment.type IEC958
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Pro Mask'
		value cf00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
	}
	control.7 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type IEC958
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Default'
		value '0082000200000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
	}
	control.8 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Switch'
		value true
	}
	control.9 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.count 1
		comment.range '0 - 3'
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA'
		value 3
	}
	control.10 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'Digital Mono Direct'
		value true
	}
	control.11 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'Low Power Mixer'
		value false
	}
	control.12 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'Zero Fill DAC'
		value false
	}
	control.13 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'Headphone Jack Sense'
		value true
	}
	control.14 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		comment.count 1
		iface MIXER
		name 'Line Jack Sense'
		value true
	}
	control.15 {
		comment.access 'read write user'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.count 2
		comment.range '0 - 255'
		iface MIXER
		name 'PCM Playback Volume'
		value.0 226
		value.1 226
	}
}

/proc/asound/card0/codec97#0/ac97#0
AD18XX configuration
Unchained        : 0x0000,0x0000,0x0000
Chained          : 0x0000,0x0000,0x0000


/proc/asound/card0/codec97#0/ac97#0+regs is empty.

I'd appreciate any help; thanks in advance.

I have similar problems on my thinkpad t42p.
Is anyone working to resolv this?
/Johan

I don't want to get on anyone's nerves, but the problem still persists, and just like Johan I'd like to know whether anyone is working on it. Thanks!

As there seems to be quite some public interest in fixing this, Takashi, I'll raise the severity level.

The problems should have been fixed in the recent versions.
(At least, thinkpad problems are gone.)