diff --git a/src/conf/cards/HdmiLpeAudio.conf b/src/conf/cards/HdmiLpeAudio.conf
index f5836c05..61bdfeae 100644
--- a/src/conf/cards/HdmiLpeAudio.conf
+++ b/src/conf/cards/HdmiLpeAudio.conf
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ HdmiLpeAudio.pcm.front.0 {
 	}
 }
 
+# uncached memory reads have a high penalty
+HdmiLpeAudio.dmix.direct_memory_access false
+
 # default with dmix+softvol
 HdmiLpeAudio.pcm.default {
 	@args [ CARD ]
diff --git a/src/conf/pcm/dmix.conf b/src/conf/pcm/dmix.conf
index 7d0aa015..2d3b329e 100644
--- a/src/conf/pcm/dmix.conf
+++ b/src/conf/pcm/dmix.conf
@@ -49,6 +49,21 @@ pcm.!dmix {
 		@func refer
 		name defaults.pcm.ipc_perm
 	}
+	direct_memory_access {
+		@func refer
+		name {
+			@func concat
+			strings [
+				"cards."
+				{
+					@func card_driver
+					card $CARD
+				}
+				".dmix.direct_memory_access"
+			]
+		}
+		default true
+	}
 	slave {
 		pcm {
 			type hw
diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_direct.c b/src/pcm/pcm_direct.c
index e4bef786..364191b2 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_direct.c
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_direct.c
@@ -1861,6 +1861,7 @@ int snd_pcm_direct_parse_open_conf(snd_config_t *root, snd_config_t *conf,
 	rec->slowptr = 1;
 	rec->max_periods = 0;
 	rec->var_periodsize = 1;
+	rec->direct_memory_access = 1;
 
 	/* read defaults */
 	if (snd_config_search(root, "defaults.pcm.dmix_max_periods", &n) >= 0) {
@@ -1974,6 +1975,13 @@ int snd_pcm_direct_parse_open_conf(snd_config_t *root, snd_config_t *conf,
 			rec->var_periodsize = err;
 			continue;
 		}
+		if (strcmp(id, "direct_memory_access") == 0) {
+			err = snd_config_get_bool(n);
+			if (err < 0)
+				return err;
+			rec->direct_memory_access = err;
+			continue;
+		}
 		SNDERR("Unknown field %s", id);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_direct.h b/src/pcm/pcm_direct.h
index 66107ec0..fba55fdc 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_direct.h
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_direct.h
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ struct snd_pcm_direct {
 	unsigned int channels;		/* client's channels */
 	unsigned int *bindings;
 	unsigned int recoveries;	/* mirror of executed recoveries on slave */
+	int direct_memory_access;	/* use arch-optimized buffer RW */
 	union {
 		struct {
 			int shmid_sum;			/* IPC global sum ring buffer memory identification */
@@ -340,6 +341,7 @@ struct snd_pcm_direct_open_conf {
 	int slowptr;
 	int max_periods;
 	int var_periodsize;
+	int direct_memory_access;
 	snd_config_t *slave;
 	snd_config_t *bindings;
 };
diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_dmix.c b/src/pcm/pcm_dmix.c
index 2ef61599..dd0356e9 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_dmix.c
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_dmix.c
@@ -1065,6 +1065,7 @@ int snd_pcm_dmix_open(snd_pcm_t **pcmp, const char *name,
 	dmix->max_periods = opts->max_periods;
 	dmix->var_periodsize = opts->var_periodsize;
 	dmix->sync_ptr = snd_pcm_dmix_sync_ptr;
+	dmix->direct_memory_access = opts->direct_memory_access;
 
  retry:
 	if (first_instance) {
diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_i386.c b/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_i386.c
index dcc6b9a4..1ab983a8 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_i386.c
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_i386.c
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ static void mix_select_callbacks(snd_pcm_direct_t *dmix)
 {
 	static int smp = 0, mmx = 0, cmov = 0;
 
+	if (!dmix->direct_memory_access) {
+		generic_mix_select_callbacks(dmix);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (!((1ULL<< dmix->shmptr->s.format) & i386_dmix_supported_format)) {
 		generic_mix_select_callbacks(dmix);
 		return;
diff --git a/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_x86_64.c b/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_x86_64.c
index 831046d9..34c40d4e 100644
--- a/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_x86_64.c
+++ b/src/pcm/pcm_dmix_x86_64.c
@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ static void mix_select_callbacks(snd_pcm_direct_t *dmix)
 {
 	static int smp = 0;
 	
+	if (!dmix->direct_memory_access) {
+		generic_mix_select_callbacks(dmix);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (!((1ULL<< dmix->shmptr->s.format) & x86_64_dmix_supported_format)) {
 		generic_mix_select_callbacks(dmix);
 		return;