First Systems Based on AMD FX 9000-Series Processors Now Available.

“At E3, AMD was proud to announce the world’s first commercially available 5.0 GHz CPU and today we’re happy to make the AMD FX-9000 series available exclusively through system

integrators. The eight-core FX-9590, based on “Piledriver” architecture provides customers up to 5.0GHz of unlocked performance. Additionally, the FX-9000 series features AMD Turbo-Core 3.0 providing enthusiasts maximum computing by optimizing performance across CPU cores,” a statement by AMD reads.

At present, eleven high-end PC makers offer systems

based on AMD FX-9370 and AMD FX-9590 central processing units, including Canada Computers, CyberPower, iBuyPower, Digital Storm, Extreme PC, Maingear, Memory Express, NCIX, Origin PC, Puget Systems and Velocity Micro.

Although the recently announced AMD FX-9000 series microprocessors are only 17% - 20% faster than their predecessors, they cost considerably more than existing FX-8300 family central processing units. PCSuperStore.com is currently taking orders on AMD FX-9370 and AMD FX-9590 microprocessors at $576 and $920, respectively. The regular eight-core AMD FX-series microprocessors cost from $150 to $195, hence, price-premium for 17% - 20% higher performance is more than significant.

There are two extreme FX microprocessor models available: FX-9370 clocked at 4.40GHz with 4.70GHz maximum Turbo Core frequency as well as FX-9590 clocked at 4.70GHz with 5.00GHz maximum Turbo Core frequency. The new FX chips have eight Piledriver cores and come in AM3+ form-factor. The new processors have whopping 220W thermal design power. Given the fact that there are currently few mainboards that officially support chips with such high power consumption, the new chips are not drop-in compatible with existing infrastructure

The rumours about code-named Centurion chips with ultra-high clock-speeds have been floating around for some time now. Originally, it was expected that limited edition FX chips will conquer 5.0GHz clock-speed with all of its eight cores, and will therefore will be competitive against Intel’s Core i7 high-end desktop (HEDT) products in LGA2011 packaging. Moreover, Centurion was supposed to reach the frequency with air cooling and remain stable inside desktop PCs

In reality, AMD managed to boost default clock-speed of Vishera eight-core processors

to 4.70GHz, or by 17.5% compared to the FX-8350, the top-of-the-range chip available for end-users today. Moreover, the chips will be available to system makers only, which suggests that they need more sophisticated cooling systems than typically utilized by end-users.

AMD’s current top-of-the-range eight-core FX-8350 microprocessor is clocked at 4.0GHz and in terms of performance is typically behind Intel

Core i7-3770K and Core i7-4770K (4 cores with HT, LGA1155) as well as Core i7-3970X (6 cores with HT, LGA2011). While in video games its performance can easily be improved by overclocking, in applications where performance difference equals or exceeds 50%, a 17.5% clock-speed boost will hardly help much.

Several years ago AMD already offered so-called TWKR chips, which were available in quantity of less than 100 units worldwide, but which attracted loads of attention to Phenom II processors in mid-2009.

Hmm.. Came across a few problems people with MSI 970A-G46 were having with Linux.. but nothing directly sound related. (I have never used MSI, I always get Asus.. so I am flying blind)

They either had problems with USB, or some VMWare problem (I don't think that has anything to do with your sound ;)), and a couple of folks that had issues with their HDDs... they had failed to run as AHCI.
There seemed to be an issue with BIOS, one user has to downgrade his to get USB to work.. hmm, Have you flashed to the newest BIOS? If you have, maybe try downgrading like he did.

There was a mentioned MSI Linux (quick-boot) you can install called Winki 2... but is doesn't seem to be a full OS, just mainly for Internet connection o.O ...

Anyway, these 2 links show a little info about your MoBo (from benchmarking site) that the MSI site didn't show (and all "known" friendly Linux Distros, which you mentioned trying Ubuntu and Mint.. there are a few more there.):

MSI 970A-G46 Components

ATI SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (Supposed on-board sound)

I noticed that it has UEFI; not sure that would give a problem with sound, but I know that it is dreaded in the Linux world :p I myself haven't had to worry about that yet.

I suggest seeing if Win8 (if you have it) works.. if it does, then (supposedly) Linux should work.
If it doesn't, or you don't have it, try another couple of Distros. If those fail, maybe take the MoBo for replacement.
(Although I don't prefer MSI, the stats on that MoBo look really nice; I hope you can get it to work!)

Yes faster is always better....Cutting and pasting stuf ///like FreeRepublic is much , much smoother on my AMD 8120 than on my AMD A6 APU Llano.

Both have 8 Gbyte memory and similar HDD's.

The A6 bogs down if a get a few windows open,...The 8120 can allow me to have a lot more stuff going.

I have about 80 tabs visible on FF, and 9 documents open, plus Thunderbird and a couple Bible programs and other things running, and things work well until i get down to about 1300mb of free ram. This is a 2005 Sony PC with 64 bit dual core cpus running W/8 64 bit, but the mobo will not use more than 3.37 of my 4gb or ram.

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Over Ten Enthusiast PC Builders Unleash Systems Based on AMD FX-9000 Microprocessors