Ok to resolve my alsa problem I just tried the new 2.5.66 kernel and it runs very well. The only problem is that when I try to compile the nvidia kernel driver I get the following error:
smod: QM_MODULES: Function not implemented

lsmod: QM_MODULES: Function not implemented

depmod: QM_MODULES: Function not implemented
What am I doing wrong in the config and how can I fix it? Thanks for the help.

Go here:

http://www.linux-sxs.org/administration/25xconf.html

~snip~

3. What you need to use the new kernel

module-init-tools: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern.../rusty/modules

Kernels 2.5.48 onward have depended upon module-init-tools due to massive changes to how modules are loaded and unloaded. During installation of module-init-tools (unless emerging it on Gentoo when this is done for you automagically), type 'make moveold' to rename the old insmod, modprobe, rmmod, and lsmod to insmod.old, modprobe.old, rmmod.old, and lsmod.old, and does the same with matching manpages. 2.4.x kernels should then automatically use the old programs.

Other than that, a willingness to live with bugs is helpful.

I encourage anyone who's ever thought about 'living dangerously' with the very core of your OS to try it now, and those who haven't thought about it to do the same. Overall performance has been zippier for me, and the annoyances of separately patching and installing for XFS and alsa are taken care of.

If the standard 2.5.x tree doesn't work out for you (esp. if you have a VIA chipset with USB as I do) I recommend Alan Cox's -ac tree: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/alan.

Thanks for the help. I will try it as soon as I have time.