[Openal] OpenAL versus Realtek ALC650 chip - Only =Generic Software= works properly?

[Wile E Coyote]

Hi all,

  I've been debugging a test application that I could not see anything much 
wrong with - sometimes things seemed to work and play as expected - 
sometimes not.  In this latest case a sound would be sent to Play, and even 
set the playing state when checked... but nothing was coming out of the 
speakers.  This was using the default device.

I then figured perhaps this was something to do with the openal device 
chosen, so I went through these (this is the order they come up in device 
enumeration):

Generic Hardware, Generic Software, DirectSound3D, DirectSound, MMSYSTEM

The only ones that seems to work playing music and a sound effect 
consistantly and simulatinously are "Generic Software" and "DirectSound".

Does this indicate a driver / hardware problem do you think, or is there 
some mistakes in an application "Generic Software" picks up that the others 
do not?

The hardware (as in the subject line) is from the onboard sound on a MSI 
Her,es 845GL series - which uses a Realtek ALC650 chip.  I have not noticed 
Medal of Honour or Half Life having sound problems.

Also, if a user is forced to have either Generic Software or DirectSound, is 
one better then the other?

Many thanks,

Paul