Lenovo T450 HD Audio playback problem

[JJimM]

I have a Lenovo T450 laptop with which I'm struggling to isolate 5.1 & 7.1 audio output problems over the DisplayPort. I have a home theater bluray disc player which supports 5.1/7.1 audio, and so does my receiver as the test tones it generates properly route to the 7.1 channel speaker setup I have. So I know the HDMI cable and the receiver are not the issue. I disconnect the HDMI cable from the bluray player, and connected it via a mini DisplayPort adapter to the Mini DP port on my laptop. I've also tried a different brand of mini DP adapter.

The Win10 build 1607 Sound control panel applet detects the HD Audio DisplayPort connection and allows me to select Stereo, 3-Channel, Quadraphonic, 5.1 Channel, 5.1 Channel, or 7.1 Channel. Yes, there are two 5.1's listed... one shows side surround speakers and the other shows rear surround speakers. When I select 7.1, the control panel shows that it's attempting to send audio to all the speakers, but the sounds only comes out of the front left and front right speakers. When I choose one of the 5.1 selections, the test tones come out correctly from the L, C, R, and Sub channels... but for the rear speakers the test tones either only come out the side surround (even when I choose the option where it shows rear speakers instead of side speakers), or the the tones come out both speakers simultaneously (left side surround and left rear surround, for example).

I'm asking here because I've read that the HD Audio is actually integrated the the Intel HD Graphics. The CPU in this T450 is a i5-5300U, and I've read that this CPU includes the HD 5500 GraphicsI don't know if the concern is related to the Realtek system & drivers, or the Intel DisplayPort drivers, or a combination, or something else entirely. Does this hardware support discrete 5.1 & 7.1 audio? If yes, what is causing this issue? If not, why is it allowing me to pick options which are not supported by the hardware? I'm completely up-to-date on all Lenovo driver updates and Windows Updates, except for a Intel Win Mgmt Engine update. That update was previously installed but was rolled back with Microsoft's feedback.

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Processor: Intel Core i5-5300U Processor(Core i5-5300U): : Memory: 4GB DDR3L 1600: : Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64 preinstalled through downgrade rights in Windows 8.1 Pro 64(EN:English): : Hard Drive: 500GB 7200; 16GB: : Wireless Network: Bluetooth Version 4.0; Intel Wireless 7265AC(2x2)+BT4.0 M.2 Combo: : Ports: Ethernet; 3 USB 3.0; Microphone/Headphone Jacks; VGA out: : Camera: 720p HD Camera: : Monitor: 14.0 HD+: : Included Warranty: 3 Year Depot

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You may find additional detail in the following posts I've already made that I've unintentionally forgot to include here. Microsoft replied to me at this link indicating the driver doesn't support the desired feature due to the feature score within the driver rank:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/517495f7-6de9-4485-832c-cfa9340dd3d6/quirky-5171-surround-sound?forum=win10itprohardware Quirky 5.1/7.1 surround sound

Trying the Lenovo support forum but no feedback yet:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-T400-T500-and-newer-T/T450-Win10-7-1-surround-sound/m-p/3393425/highlight/true T450 Win10 7.1 surround sound - Lenovo Community

Thank you for any guidance you have to offer.

Jim

[JJimM]

Category

Questions

Answers (N/A if not applicable)

Description

Provide a detailed description of the issue

Test tones either don't play or are sent to wrong speakers.

Please place an X to the right of the option showing how often you see this issue using specific steps. (Ex: 'Every few times a game is started it flickers.' <- This would be "Often")</span>

Always (100%): X

Often (51-99%):

Sporadic (20-50%):

Very Sporadic (<20%): </span>

Hardware (HW)

Brand and Model of the system.

Lenovo T450, machine type 20BV

Hybrid or switchable graphics system?

ie Does it have AMD or NV graphics too?

No

Make and model of any Displays that are used to see the issue (see note2 below). 

LFP = Local Flat Panel (Laptop panel) EFP = External Flat Panel (Monitor you plug in)

LFP, EFP

How much memory [RAM] in the system (see note2 below).

12GB

Provide any other hardware needed to replicate the issue.

ie: Cables&brand, cable type [vga, hdmi, DP, etc], dock, dongles/adapters, etc

Mini Display port adapter: Gigaware PN 2602729 or Unitek Y-6331

HDMI cable: any brand or length tested

<td style="borde...

[idata]

Hello imCass:

Thank you very much for all the information provided above.

Did the 7.1 audio work fine before under this same configuration?

Since you are using Windows® 10, did you try a BIOS update to the latest BIOS version? On the following link you will find the options to do a BIOS update, it says the latest one belongs to 7/25/2016: http://support.lenovo.com/cr/en/products/Laptops-and-netbooks/ThinkPad-T-Series-laptops/ThinkPad-T450?linkTrack=Homepage%253ABody_Search%2BProducts&beta=false http://support.lenovo.com/cr/en/products/Laptops-and-netbooks/ThinkPad-T-Series-laptops/ThinkPad-T450?linkTrack=Homepage%253ABody_Search%2BProducts&beta=false On the following link you will see the latest version: 4474, of the graphics driver for Intel® HD graphics 5500 controller: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26099/Intel-Beta-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-and-Windows-7-8-1-15-40-?product=86210 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26099/Intel-Beta-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-and-Windows-7-8-1-15-40-?product=86210 Try to un-install the current graphics driver from the laptop, and then install the driver above manually. Instruction to install the driver manually: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/graphics-drivers/000005629.html http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/graphics-drivers/000005629.html Also, I found a guide to set up the 7.1 audio configuration that might be helpful for you: http://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/boardsandkits/Configure-Surround-Sound.pdf http://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/boardsandkits/Configure-Surround-Sound.pdf NOTE: These links are being offered for your convenience and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Intel of the content, products, or services offered there. Please let me know the results of trying the steps above. Any questions, please let me know. Alberto

[JJimM]

I have never had a need to try this feature prior to last week. According to the SSU.xml file I included in the archive attached above, I already have BIOS 1.25, and the BIOS on that web page is 1.24; it would appear their manual download pages might be behind the versions offered in their system update utility. I'll try the beta graphics driver and the MPC utility tonight. Thank you for your suggestions.

[JJimM]

I installed and configured MPC per your link, no change. Then I upgraded Display Audio driver to v6.16.0.3197, no change. Then I uninstalled and removed the current HD5500 driver, rebooted, installed the v20.19.15.4474 driver, no change. What next?

[idata]

Hello JimCass:

Thank you very much for providing those details, that information is very helpful for us to further assist you. At this point, we will start an investigation on this case in order to try to find a possible solution for this problem. As soon as I get any results, I will post all the details on this thread. Any questions, please let me know Alberto