Same problem for me. first time i start kde, it freezes for about 15 secs. then the message "sound server fatal error....." appears. this message appears every few secs. cpu load for artsd is at 99%. when i click to disable arts at knotify dialog, the message doesnt appear anymore -> artsd is closed. although i can play audio files with amarok, but i dont hear system sounds.
lspci: 00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 30) lsmod: via82cxxx 9604 0 [permanent] snd_via82xx 28696 2 gameport 15368 1 snd_via82xx snd_ac97_codec 96672 1 snd_via82xx snd_ac97_bus 2432 1 snd_ac97_codec snd_pcm_oss 46080 0 evdev 10496 1 rtc 12596 0 snd_mixer_oss 18560 1 snd_pcm_oss snd_pcm 80520 3 snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss snd_timer 23172 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm snd_page_alloc 10504 2 snd_via82xx,snd_pcm snd_mpu401_uart 8704 1 snd_via82xx snd_rawmidi 25600 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_mpu401_uart snd_seq_device 8972 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi snd 55428 15 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_via82xx,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device -- Certain VIA-based chipsets erroneously enable DXS support https://launchpad.net/bugs/68659 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs