The ES8336 needs the Intel SST driver to function. Before installing the Everest driver, ensure the "Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel(R) SST) OED" and "Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel(R) SST) Audio Controller" are installed under System Devices. 3. Manual Update via "Have Disk"
Ensure alsa-ucm-conf and sof-firmware are installed through the package manager.
💡 Back up the C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore folder on these budget laptops before reinstalling Windows. It contains the ES8336 driver tuned for the specific hardware.
Device Manager shows an "Unknown Device" or "Multimedia Audio Controller" with a yellow exclamation mark. The hardware ID is ACPI\VEN_ESSX&DEV_8336 .
If audio is still silent, add a boot parameter. Edit the GRUB configuration and add snd_intel_dspcfg.dsp_driver=1 or 3 to the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line. Use of UCM Files
The ES8336 requires a specific combination of the Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) bus driver and a matching functional driver. This combination bridges communication between the CPU and the speakers. Common Driver Failure Symptoms A red "X" appears over the volume icon.