Poor overall sound quality + Firefox Graphical Issue

What is the output of:

wget -O alsa-info.sh http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-info.sh && chmod +x ./alsa-info.sh && ./alsa-info.sh --upload

Thanks

'Your ALSA information is located at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=58cfdf2ea0067f655ec2bcc093308f2f756ad15a

Please inform the person helping you.'

!!################################
!!ALSA Information Script v 0.4.61
!!################################

!!Script ran on: Sun Nov 11 08:02:29 UTC 2012

!!Linux Distribution
!!------------------

Ubuntu 12.10 \n \l DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 12.10" NAME="Ubuntu" ID=ubuntu ID_LIKE=debian PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu quantal (12.10)"

!!DMI Information
!!---------------

Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
Product Name: Dell DXP051
Product Version:
Firmware Version: A05

!!Kernel Information
!!------------------

Kernel release: 3.5.0-18-generic
Operating System: GNU/Linux
Architecture: x86_64
Processor: x86_64
SMP Enabled: Yes

!!ALSA Version
!!------------

Driver version: 1.0.25
Library version: 1.0.25
Utilities version: 1.0.25

!!Loaded ALSA modules
!!-------------------

snd_hda_intel

!!Sound Servers on this system
!!----------------------------

Pulseaudio:
      Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/pulseaudio)
      Running - Yes

!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA
!!-----------------------------

 0 [Intel ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
                      HDA Intel at 0xfebfc000 irq 46

!!PCI Soundcards installed in the system
!!--------------------------------------

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)

!!Advanced information - PCI Vendor/Device/Subsystem ID's
!!-------------------------------------------------------

00:1b.0 0403: 8086:27d8 (rev 01)
 Subsystem: 1028:01d1
--
 Subsystem: 10b0:0401
 Control: I/O Mem BusMaster SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-

!!Modprobe options (Sound related)
!!--------------------------------

snd-atiixp-modem: index=-2
snd-intel8x0m: index=-2
snd-via82xx-modem: index=-2
snd-usb-audio: index=-2
snd-usb-caiaq: index=-2
snd-usb-ua101: index=-2
snd-usb-us122l: index=-2
snd-usb-usx2y: index=-2
snd-cmipci: mpu_port=0x330 fm_port=0x388
snd-pcsp: index=-2
snd-usb-audio: index=-2

!!Loaded sound module options
!!---------------------------

!!Module: snd_hda_intel
 align_buffer_size : -1
 bdl_pos_adj : 1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1
 beep_mode : 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
 enable : Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y
 enable_msi : -1
 id : (null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null)
 index : -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1
 model : (null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null)
 patch : (null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null),(null)
 position_fix : 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
 power_save : 0
 power_save_controller : Y
 probe_mask : -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1
 probe_only : 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
 single_cmd : N
 snoop : Y

!!HDA-Intel Codec information
!!---------------------------
--startcollapse--

Codec: SigmaTel STAC9221 A1
Address: 0
AFG Function Id: 0x1 (unsol 1)
Vendor Id: 0x83847680
Subsystem Id: 0x102801a7
Revision Id: 0x103601
No Modem Function Group found
Default PCM:
    rates [0x7e0]: 44100 48000 88200 96000 176400 192000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x1]: PCM
Default Amp-In caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x0e, stepsize=0x05, mute=1
Default Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x7f, nsteps=0x7f, stepsize=0x02, mute=1
GPIO: io=4, o=0, i=0, unsolicited=1, wake=1
  IO[0]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
  IO[1]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
  IO[2]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
  IO[3]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0
Node 0x02 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xd0c05: Stereo Amp-Out R/L
  Control: name="Front Playback Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=63
  Control: name="Front Playback Switch", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Device: name="STAC92xx Analog", type="Audio", device=0
  Amp-Out caps: N/A
  Amp-Out vals: [0x7f 0x7f]
  Converter: stream=8, channel=0
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Delay: 13 samples
Node 0x03 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xd0c05: Stereo Amp-Out R/L
  Control: name="Surround Playback Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=63
  Control: name="Surround Playback Switch", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Amp-Out caps: N/A
  Amp-Out vals: [0x7f 0x7f]
  Converter: stream=8, channel=0
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Delay: 13 samples
Node 0x04 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xd0c05: Stereo Amp-Out R/L
  Amp-Out caps: N/A
  Amp-Out vals: [0xff 0xff]
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Delay: 13 samples
Node 0x05 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xd0c05: Stereo Amp-Out R/L
  Control: name="Center Playback Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=1, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=63
  Control: name="Center Playback Switch", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=1, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Control: name="LFE Playback Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=2, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=63
  Control: name="LFE Playback Switch", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=2, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Control: name="Swap Center/LFE Playback Switch", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=0, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0
  Amp-Out caps: N/A
  Amp-Out vals: [0x7f 0x7f]
  Converter: stream=8, channel=0
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Delay: 13 samples
Node 0x06 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x1d0541: Stereo
  Device: name="STAC92xx Analog", type="Audio", device=0
  Converter: stream=4, channel=0
  SDI-Select: 0
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Delay: 13 samples
  Connection: 1
     0x17
  Processing caps: benign=0, ncoeff=0
Node 0x07 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x1d0541: Stereo
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  SDI-Select: 0
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Delay: 13 samples
  Connection: 1
     0x18
  Processing caps: benign=0, ncoeff=0
Node 0x08 [Audio Output] wcaps 0x40211: Stereo Digital
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  Digital:
  Digital category: 0x0
  PCM:
    rates [0x7e0]: 44100 48000 88200 96000 176400 192000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x5]: PCM AC3
  Delay: 4 samples
Node 0x09 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x140311: Stereo Digital
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  SDI-Select: 0
  Digital:
  Digital category: 0x0
  PCM:
    rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
    bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
    formats [0x5]: PCM AC3
  Delay: 4 samples
  Connection: 1
     0x11
Node 0x0a [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
  Control: name="Front Headphone Jack", index=0, device=0
  Pincap 0x0000173f: IN OUT HP Detect Trigger ImpSense
    Vref caps: HIZ 50 GRD 80
  Pin Default 0x02214030: [Jack] HP Out at Ext Front
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Green
    DefAssociation = 0x3, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0xc0: OUT HP VREF_HIZ
  Unsolicited: tag=01, enabled=1
  Connection: 1
     0x02
Node 0x0b [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
  Control: name="Rear Mic Jack Mode", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=0, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0
  Control: name="Rear Mic Jack", index=0, device=0
  Pincap 0x00001737: IN OUT Detect Trigger ImpSense
    Vref caps: HIZ 50 GRD 80
  Pin Default 0x01a19021: [Jack] Mic at Ext Rear
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Pink
    DefAssociation = 0x2, Sequence = 0x1
  Pin-ctls: 0x24: IN VREF_80
  Unsolicited: tag=02, enabled=1
  Connection: 1
     0x04
Node 0x0c [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
  Control: name="Speaker Surround Jack", index=0, device=0
  Pincap 0x00001737: IN OUT Detect Trigger ImpSense
    Vref caps: HIZ 50 GRD 80
  Pin Default 0x01111012: [Jack] Speaker at Ext Rear
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Black
    DefAssociation = 0x1, Sequence = 0x2
  Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT VREF_HIZ
  Unsolicited: tag=05, enabled=1
  Connection: 1
     0x03
Node 0x0d [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
  Control: name="Speaker Front Jack", index=0, device=0
  Pincap 0x0000173f: IN OUT HP Detect Trigger ImpSense
    Vref caps: HIZ 50 GRD 80
  Pin Default 0x01114010: [Jack] Speaker at Ext Rear
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Green
    DefAssociation = 0x1, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT VREF_HIZ
  Unsolicited: tag=04, enabled=1
  Connection: 1
     0x02
Node 0x0e [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400081: Stereo
  Control: name="Front Mic Jack", index=0, device=0
  Pincap 0x00000024: IN Detect
  Pin Default 0x02a19020: [Jack] Mic at Ext Front
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Pink
    DefAssociation = 0x2, Sequence = 0x0
  Pin-ctls: 0x20: IN
  Unsolicited: tag=03, enabled=1
Node 0x0f [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
  Control: name="Speaker CLFE Jack", index=0, device=0
  Pincap 0x00000037: IN OUT Detect Trigger ImpSense
  Pin Default 0x01117011: [Jack] Speaker at Ext Rear
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Yellow
    DefAssociation = 0x1, Sequence = 0x1
  Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT
  Unsolicited: tag=06, enabled=1
  Connection: 1
     0x05
Node 0x10 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400301: Stereo Digital
  Pincap 0x00000010: OUT
  Pin Default 0x400001f0: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A
    Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x00:
  Connection: 3
     0x08* 0x17 0x19
Node 0x11 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x430681: Stereo Digital
  Pincap 0x00010024: IN EAPD Detect
  EAPD 0x0:
  Pin Default 0x400001f1: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A
    Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x1
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x00:
  Unsolicited: tag=00, enabled=0
  Power: setting=D0, actual=D0
  Delay: 3 samples
Node 0x12 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x30010d: Stereo Amp-Out
  Control: name="Mux Capture Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0
  Amp-Out vals: [0x00 0x00]
  Connection: 7
     0x0e 0x15* 0x0f 0x0b 0x0c 0x0d 0x0a
Node 0x13 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x30010d: Stereo Amp-Out
  Control: name="Mux Capture Volume", index=1, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0
  Amp-Out vals: [0x00 0x00]
  Connection: 7
     0x0e 0x15 0x0f 0x0b* 0x0c 0x0d 0x0a
Node 0x14 [Beep Generator Widget] wcaps 0x70000c: Mono Amp-Out
  Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x03, nsteps=0x03, stepsize=0x17, mute=0
  Amp-Out vals: [0x00]
Node 0x15 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400001: Stereo
  Control: name="Line Phantom Jack", index=0, device=0
  Pincap 0x00000020: IN
  Pin Default 0x01813122: [Jack] Line In at Ext Rear
    Conn = 1/8, Color = Blue
    DefAssociation = 0x2, Sequence = 0x2
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x20: IN
Node 0x16 [Volume Knob Widget] wcaps 0x600000: Mono
  Volume-Knob: delta=1, steps=127, direct=1, val=127
  Connection: 4
     0x02 0x03 0x04 0x05
Node 0x17 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x300903: Stereo Amp-In R/L
  Control: name="Capture Volume", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0
  Control: name="Capture Switch", index=0, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0
  Amp-In caps: N/A
  Amp-In vals: [0x07 0x07]
  Connection: 1
     0x12
Node 0x18 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x300903: Stereo Amp-In R/L
  Control: name="Capture Volume", index=1, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0
  Control: name="Capture Switch", index=1, device=0
    ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0
  Amp-In caps: N/A
  Amp-In vals: [0x80 0x80]
  Connection: 1
     0x13
Node 0x19 [Vendor Defined Widget] wcaps 0xf30201: Stereo Digital
  Delay: 3 samples
Node 0x1a [Audio Output] wcaps 0x30201: Stereo Digital
  Converter: stream=0, channel=0
  Digital:
  Digital category: 0x0
  Delay: 3 samples
Node 0x1b [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400301: Stereo Digital
  Pincap 0x00000010: OUT
  Pin Default 0x400001f2: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A
    Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
    DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x2
    Misc = NO_PRESENCE
  Pin-ctls: 0x00:
  Connection: 1
     0x1a
--endcollapse--

!!ALSA Device nodes
!!-----------------

crw-rw---T 1 root audio 116, 5 Nov 11 16:13 /dev/snd/controlC0
crw-rw---T 1 root audio 116, 4 Nov 11 16:13 /dev/snd/hwC0D0
crw-rw---T 1 root audio 116, 3 Nov 11 16:34 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
crw-rw---T 1 root audio 116, 2 Nov 11 18:59 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
crw-rw---T 1 root audio 116, 1 Nov 11 16:13 /dev/snd/seq
crw-rw---T 1 root audio 116, 33 Nov 11 16:13 /dev/snd/timer

/dev/snd/by-path:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 60 Nov 11 16:13 .
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 180 Nov 11 16:13 ..
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 12 Nov 11 16:13 pci-0000:00:1b.0 -> ../controlC0

!!Aplay/Arecord output
!!--------------------

APLAY

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: STAC92xx Analog [STAC92xx Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

ARECORD

**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: STAC92xx Analog [STAC92xx Analog]
  Subdevices: 2/2
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  Subdevice #1: subdevice #1

!!Amixer output
!!-------------

!!-------Mixer controls for card 0 [Intel]

Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xfebfc000 irq 46'
  Mixer name : 'SigmaTel STAC9221 A1'
  Components : 'HDA:83847680,102801a7,00103601'
  Controls : 28
  Simple ctrls : 14
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 64
  Mono: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 64
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 64
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 64
  Mono: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 64
  Mono: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 14
  Front Left: Capture 7 [50%] [10.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 7 [50%] [10.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',1
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 14
  Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB] [off]
  Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Rear Mic' 'Front Mic' 'Line'
  Item0: 'Line'
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',1
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Rear Mic' 'Front Mic' 'Line'
  Item0: 'Rear Mic'
Simple mixer control 'Mux',0
  Capabilities: cvolume penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 2
  Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Mux',1
  Capabilities: cvolume penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 4
  Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Rear Mic Jack Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mic In' 'Line In'
  Item0: 'Mic In'
Simple mixer control 'Swap Center/LFE',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]

!!Alsactl output
!!--------------

--startcollapse--
state.Intel {
 control.1 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Front Playback Volume'
  value.0 64
  value.1 64
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 2
   range '0 - 64'
   dbmin -4800
   dbmax 0
   dbvalue.0 0
   dbvalue.1 0
  }
 }
 control.2 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Front Playback Switch'
  value.0 true
  value.1 true
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 2
  }
 }
 control.3 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Surround Playback Volume'
  value.0 64
  value.1 64
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 2
   range '0 - 64'
   dbmin -4800
   dbmax 0
   dbvalue.0 0
   dbvalue.1 0
  }
 }
 control.4 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Surround Playback Switch'
  value.0 true
  value.1 true
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 2
  }
 }
 control.5 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Center Playback Volume'
  value 64
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 1
   range '0 - 64'
   dbmin -4800
   dbmax 0
   dbvalue.0 0
  }
 }
 control.6 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Center Playback Switch'
  value true
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.7 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'LFE Playback Volume'
  value 64
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 1
   range '0 - 64'
   dbmin -4800
   dbmax 0
   dbvalue.0 0
  }
 }
 control.8 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'LFE Playback Switch'
  value true
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.9 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Swap Center/LFE Playback Switch'
  value false
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.10 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Rear Mic Jack Mode'
  value 'Mic In'
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type ENUMERATED
   count 1
   item.0 'Mic In'
   item.1 'Line In'
  }
 }
 control.11 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Capture Volume'
  value.0 7
  value.1 7
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 2
   range '0 - 14'
   dbmin 0
   dbmax 2100
   dbvalue.0 1050
   dbvalue.1 1050
  }
 }
 control.12 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Capture Switch'
  value.0 true
  value.1 true
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 2
  }
 }
 control.13 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Capture Volume'
  index 1
  value.0 0
  value.1 0
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 2
   range '0 - 14'
   dbmin 0
   dbmax 2100
   dbvalue.0 0
   dbvalue.1 0
  }
 }
 control.14 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Capture Switch'
  index 1
  value.0 false
  value.1 false
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 2
  }
 }
 control.15 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Mux Capture Volume'
  value.0 0
  value.1 0
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 2
   range '0 - 2'
   dbmin 0
   dbmax 2000
   dbvalue.0 0
   dbvalue.1 0
  }
 }
 control.16 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Mux Capture Volume'
  index 1
  value.0 0
  value.1 0
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 2
   range '0 - 4'
   dbmin 0
   dbmax 4000
   dbvalue.0 0
   dbvalue.1 0
  }
 }
 control.17 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Input Source'
  value Line
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type ENUMERATED
   count 1
   item.0 'Rear Mic'
   item.1 'Front Mic'
   item.2 Line
  }
 }
 control.18 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Input Source'
  index 1
  value 'Rear Mic'
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type ENUMERATED
   count 1
   item.0 'Rear Mic'
   item.1 'Front Mic'
   item.2 Line
  }
 }
 control.19 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Master Playback Volume'
  value 64
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type INTEGER
   count 1
   range '0 - 64'
   dbmin -9999999
   dbmax 0
   dbvalue.0 0
  }
 }
 control.20 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'Master Playback Switch'
  value true
  comment {
   access 'read write'
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.21 {
  iface CARD
  name 'Speaker Front Jack'
  value true
  comment {
   access read
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.22 {
  iface CARD
  name 'Speaker Surround Jack'
  value false
  comment {
   access read
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.23 {
  iface CARD
  name 'Speaker CLFE Jack'
  value false
  comment {
   access read
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.24 {
  iface CARD
  name 'Front Headphone Jack'
  value false
  comment {
   access read
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.25 {
  iface CARD
  name 'Rear Mic Jack'
  value false
  comment {
   access read
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.26 {
  iface CARD
  name 'Front Mic Jack'
  value false
  comment {
   access read
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.27 {
  iface CARD
  name 'Line Phantom Jack'
  value true
  comment {
   access read
   type BOOLEAN
   count 1
  }
 }
 control.28 {
  iface MIXER
  name 'PCM Playback Volume'
  value.0 255
  value.1 255
  comment {
   access 'read write user'
   type INTEGER
   count 2
   range '0 - 255'
   tlv '0000000100000008ffffec1400000014'
   dbmin -5100
   dbmax 0
   dbvalue.0 0
   dbvalue.1 0
  }
 }
}
--endcollapse--

!!All Loaded Modules
!!------------------

Module
isofs
binfmt_misc
bnep
rfcomm
parport_pc
ppdev
nvidia
gpio_ich
dcdbas
snd_hda_codec_idt
microcode
snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_codec
snd_hwdep
snd_pcm
snd_seq_midi
psmouse
serio_raw
snd_rawmidi
snd_seq_midi_event
snd_seq
snd_timer
snd_seq_device
btusb
joydev
mac_hid
bluetooth
snd
lpc_ich
soundcore
snd_page_alloc
lp
parport
hid_generic
usbhid
hid
usb_storage
e1000e

!!Sysfs Files
!!-----------

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/init_pin_configs:
0x0a 0x0221101f
0x0b 0x01019014
0x0c 0x01011012
0x0d 0x01014010
0x0e 0x02a11020
0x0f 0x01017011
0x10 0x40f000f0
0x11 0x40f000f1
0x15 0x0181332e
0x1b 0x40f000f2

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/driver_pin_configs:
0x0a 0x02214030
0x0b 0x01a19021
0x0c 0x01111012
0x0d 0x01114010
0x0e 0x02a19020
0x0f 0x01117011
0x10 0x400001f0
0x11 0x400001f1
0x15 0x01813122
0x1b 0x400001f2

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/user_pin_configs:

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/init_verbs:

!!ALSA/HDA dmesg
!!--------------

[ 13.969794] usb 3-2.1: input irq status -75 received
[ 14.050621] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1b.0: irq 46 for MSI/MSI-X
[ 14.060334] microcode: CPU0 sig=0xf64, pf=0x4, revision=0x4
[ 14.105930] input: HDA Intel Front Mic as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input7
[ 14.106291] input: HDA Intel Rear Mic as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input8
[ 14.106528] input: HDA Intel Front Headphone as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input9
[ 14.106762] input: HDA Intel Speaker CLFE as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input10
[ 14.107001] input: HDA Intel Speaker Surround as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input11
[ 14.107236] input: HDA Intel Speaker Front as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input12
[ 14.192166] dcdbas dcdbas: Dell Systems Management Base Driver (version 5.6.0-3.2)

Are you using HDMI sound, or normal speakers?

Normal speakers.

Try:

killall pulseaudio; rm -r ~/.pulse*

Wait 10 seconds then reboot

any better?

Much better! Sound quality is perfect.

Thank you so much, it's like magic :)

If it wouldn't be too much of an imposition; could you explain in lamens terms what this command did?

Also, if they are worth your time these are my following questions which i think would be very useful to new users like myself:

1. How i can make the graphical interface of firefox appear more crisp? (it's rather pixelated at the moment)?
2. How can i check that i have the appropriate drivers installed for my graphics card?
3. How would one cleanup the system in Ubuntu, is this even necessary?

Thank you VERY much!

if you run:

la

(That's a lower case LA)

You will see the hidden files. There is a ~/.pulse_cookie file and ~/.pulse foider. These store the configs for your sound. Configs in Linux work with these hidden folders (You will probably see some other stuff which you can probably guess what they configure). You simply killed the pulseaudio process then deleted the sound config (the pulseaudio process is owned by your user so you can kill it). The OS is configured to automatically restart pulseaudio when it dies, then it would see no configs and make default configs for you.

Can you give the output of:

sudo lshw -C display; lsb_release -a; uname -a; dpkg -l | grep nvidia

Thanks

Awesome!

And here's the output:

  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: G92 [GeForce 9800 GT]
       vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: a2
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=nvidia latency=0
       resources: irq:16 memory:fd000000-fdffffff memory:e0000000-efffffff memory:fa000000-fbffffff ioport:dc80(size=128) memory:fea00000-fea1ffff
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.10
Release: 12.10
Codename: quantal
Linux mano-Dell-DXP051 3.5.0-18-generic #29-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 19 10:26:51 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
ii nvidia-common 1:0.2.71.1 amd64 transitional package for ubuntu-drivers-common
ii nvidia-current 304.64-0ubuntu1~quantal~xup1 amd64 NVIDIA binary Xorg driver, kernel module and VDPAU library
rc nvidia-current-updates 304.51-0ubuntu1 amd64 NVIDIA binary Xorg driver, kernel module and VDPAU library
rc nvidia-experimental-304 304.48-0ubuntu1 amd64 Experimental NVIDIA binary Xorg driver, kernel module and VDPAU library
ii nvidia-settings-experimental-304 304.48-0ubuntu2 amd64 Tool of configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver

sudo apt-get --purge remove nvidia-current nvidia-experimental-304 nvidia-settings-experimental-304
sudo dpkg -P nvidia-current-updates
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

Reboot to test

Everything appears as it did before. Firefox still pixelated.

But i'm confident that you helped me install the most stable nvidia drivers. I guess i'll just to google search a bit to see what i can do with firefox in the future.

One last question and it will be my last post as my main soundcard issue was resolved:

i remember downloading 'additional drivers' as well as 'chromium' from the software centre, but being a new user i have no idea where these files are saved on the system? How would locate them with through either the GUI or the terminal?

--

Again my main issue was resolved so for the last time i say THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

You can just run:

sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

And it will install :)