[i945gm] External screen blanks black/gray/white unless Framebuffer Compression is turned off

Does the same problem happen with Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10 for you? You can recheck it with the Live CD. Do you have Hardy with latest updates?

Please attach the following information and files:

Detailed list of steps to reproduce

How complete is the X failure?
+ Does ctrl+alt+f1 take you to a console?
+ Does ctrl+alt+backspace restart X?
+ Does mouse pointer still move?
+ Does the keyboard LED come on when hitting the CAPSLOCK key?

/etc/X11/xorg.conf
/var/log/Xorg.0.log
/var/log/Xorg.0.log.old
~/.xsession-errors

output of lspci -vvnn
output of cat /proc/acpi/video/*/DOS
output of sudo cat /proc/acpi/dsdt

Same for me : no way to get the external screen on. Dual screen never had work for me (since edgy).

When settings display on, it doesn't change anything.
$ gnome-display-properties
Resource Timestamp: 869674
Resource Configuration Timestamp: 869674
CRTC 49 Timestamp: 869674
CRTC 4a Timestamp: 869674
Output 4b Timestamp: 869674
Output 4c Timestamp: 869674
Output 4d Timestamp: 869674
New configuration
  output VGA off: 0 0 0 0
  output LVDS on: 0 0 1280 800
  output TV off: -1 -1 -1 -1
sorting
  output: -1 -1 -1 -1
  output: 0 0 0 0
  output: 0 0 1280 800
Sending client message
Resource Timestamp: 869674
Resource Configuration Timestamp: 869674
CRTC 49 Timestamp: 869674
CRTC 4a Timestamp: 869674
Output 4b Timestamp: 869674
Output 4c Timestamp: 869674
Output 4d Timestamp: 869674
New configuration
  output VGA on: 0 0 1280 1024
  output LVDS on: 0 0 1280 800
  output TV off: -1 -1 -1 -1
sorting
  output: -1 -1 -1 -1
  output: 0 0 1280 1024
  output: 0 0 1280 800
Close

$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 1024, maximum 1280 x 1280
VGA connected 1280x1024+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 359mm x 287mm
   1280x1024 60.0*+ 75.0 59.9
   1024x768 75.1 60.0
   832x624 74.6
   800x600 75.0 60.3
   640x480 75.0 60.0
   720x400 70.1
LVDS connected 1280x800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 261mm x 163mm
   1280x800 60.0*+ 60.0
   1280x768 60.0
   1024x768 60.0
   800x600 60.3
   640x480 59.9
TV disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Interesting information :
$ xrandr --output VGA --auto --left-of LVDS
xrandr: screen cannot be larger than 1280x1280 (desired size 2560x1024)

When I plug the external display and restart gdm, gdm is display in internal screen but at the size of the external screen !

@Id2ndR
Please post only one problem per bug. Btw. I guess that your report is more a question also mentioned under Question #26807.

If activating of your external monitor with xrandr after hotplugging without the option --left-off doesn't work (xrandr --output VGA --auto) please create another bug report. If the monitor powers on but only have the wrong resolution it should be already covered through this bug Bug #158415.

The link to the question: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+question/26807 - [Hardy] how to extend desktop with intel driver

Hello,

With the new intel xorg driver, the monitor will be grey. So the
problem constantly return.
I reconfigured the X and attached the new xorg.conf. And I created a
photo, when crashed my system...

Attila

On 3/12/08, unggnu <email address hidden> wrote:
> The link to the question: https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source
> /xserver-xorg-video-intel/+question/26807 - [Hardy] how to extend
> desktop with intel driver
>
>
> --
> External monitor loss - intel 945
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/193419
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
===================
Maczák Attila
http://attila.maczak.hu
+36 30 554 7650

My external monitor can be activated know (this was an other bug, that I think is related to toshiba_acpi). So I can focus on dual head mode (clone mode is OK).

I tried $ xrandr --output VGA --left-of LVDS
xrandr: screen cannot be larger than 1280x1280 (desired size 2560x1024)

So I added "Virtual 2560 1024" to the Screen section, as explained in https://answers.launchpad.net/questions/26807.
But after restarting gdm, I get a small display where it is explain that Ubuntu use low resolution (800x600) because of a problem.
I have this at the end of the output of dmesg :
[ 74.605507] mtrr: no more MTRRs available
[ 74.606418] mtrr: no more MTRRs available
[ 86.487965] mtrr: no more MTRRs available
[ 86.488877] mtrr: no more MTRRs available
(4 times, but I tried only once).

@ Id2ndR
Please use the question thread. I guess your problem is already reported in Bug #188178 and could be fixed through adding this line to your xorg.conf device section:
Option "MigrationHeuristic" "greedy".

@macat
Please attach the other information listed in my previous post and the output of xrandr.

Attached.

On 3/13/08, unggnu <email address hidden> wrote:
> @ Id2ndR
> Please use the question thread. I guess your problem is already reported in Bug #188178 and could be fixed through adding this line to your xorg.conf device section:
> Option "MigrationHeuristic" "greedy".
>
> @macat
> Please attach the other information listed in my previous post and the output of xrandr.
>
>
> --
> External monitor loss - intel 945
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/193419
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
===================
Maczák Attila
http://attila.maczak.hu
+36 30 554 7650

So if you boot your system with attached external monitor it works fine at first but after some time the screen goes to grey or directly after start? If the external screen is grey is it still possible to change with ctrl + alt + f1 to console?

Yes, the ext. monitor works fine, but sometimes (about twice a week) does this.
Then I restart the X and in the laptop's monitor and I can login to
shell (with ctrl+alt+f1).

On 3/14/08, unggnu <email address hidden> wrote:
> So if you boot your system with attached external monitor it works fine
> at first but after some time the screen goes to grey or directly after
> start? If the external screen is grey is it still possible to change
> with ctrl + alt + f1 to console?
>
> ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-intel (Ubuntu)
> Status: Incomplete => Confirmed
>
> ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-intel (Ubuntu)
> Status: Confirmed => Incomplete
>
>
> --
> External monitor loss - intel 945
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/193419
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
===================
Maczák Attila
http://attila.maczak.hu
+36 30 554 7650

I am experiencing exactly the same problem as macat. I have Kubuntu Hardy on a Dell Inspiron 6400 with a Intel 945 graphics card and the laptop is connected to an external monitor (1680x1050). I always turn off the laptop monitor (usign xrandr). The external monitor suddenly goes black or grey after some time. I have noticed the following when this happens:

1) There is no mouse pointer, the external screen is completely black or grey.
2) Ctrl-Alt-Backspace restarts the X-server but does not correct the problem (still black screen). A full reboot corrects the problem.
3) Ctrl-Alt-F1 takes me to a console in the laptop screen.
4) The external screen sometimes flickers for a second.
5) I did not have this problem under Kubuntu Gutsy.
6) I do not know if its related but yesterday the whole X-server crashed and could not be recovered with any of the above.

I attach the requested outputs. Thanks for any suggestions.

This happens to me too with my Acer Aspire 3680 with intel 945GM on Hardy

My external LCD (@1280x1024) the display would jump left and back by 10-15 pixels for one frame and return to normal a few minutes before it happens.
Later the display would just go black. The LCD was still getting some form of signal as the backlight was still on.
Fn+F5 works and does xrandr --auto or something so I could use the LVDS to continue using my laptop.

Playing with xrandr and disabling compiz and even crtl+alt+bksp won't fix it. Only a reboot fixes it for me.

I tried the working xorg.conf from my old Gutsy install and it didn't work either.

I have an Ubuntu Forums thread here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4810140

My external monitor just went off again. I switched on the laptop monitor (I have not restarted the X-server) and I attach all the relative logs. Cheers

As I said earlier I use Kubuntu Hardy. In the xorg.conf there was not a reference to which driver my system uses. However, in the system-settings, under the Monitor and Display section, it says that I use the i810 driver. I added the Driver "intel" under the Device section in the xorg.conf. Even though in the system settings it still says i810, I have not experienced any monitor blackouts or flickerings (so far).

I do not know if the same applies for Ubuntu, it seems that the xorg.conf there contains the Driver "intel" section. For details check the ubuntuforums thread linked at the previous post by quantumphaze.

Anyway, you can try it and see what happens. Good luck!

The same problem here. I have laptop HP DV2000T (Intel GMA 950) with external monitor NEC 20WGX2 (1680x1050). After installation of Hardy everything worked perfectly, but sometimes when i use my computer little longer the external monitor goes black. Another bug i think connected with this, is "shaking picture".. Once per about 5 minutes screen on external monitor is "shaking" - the screen shows for about one second different picture with some kind of vibrations. It's like switching for a second from my currently working desktop to another desktop and than back again. Don't know what it is because it's so fast.

Ok, I am still experiencing some flickerings (shaking picture for a second) but the screen does not go black or grey anymore.

@szonek:
You can tru to manually add the Driver "intel" in your xorg.conf and see what happens.

@tekkenlord: Okay, did that, hope it helps.. i will report back soon.

Okay. External monitor now works great but the flickering is still there.. Hope it will be fixed soon cuz it's annoying.

Unfortunately, the monitor went off again which means that the suggested method does not work. However, the black outs are less frequent (one per 3 days, it used to be 3-4 times per day). Sorry...

I have the same problem with my laptop and external monitor. It didn't happen in previous releases. The external monitor flickers every 5minutes and it goes off once per hour. It's getting really anyoing, hope this get's fixed soon.

Laptop:
Toshiba Sattelite A110-160
Intel Graphics card

External Monitor:
Samtron 96BDF

It still flickers with the Driver "intel" placed in the xorg.conf file but I haven't had any blackouts yet.

One thing I have noticed is that the shaking seems to stop when I leave the laptop screen on. My laptop has a nice feature that when I press Fn+F6 it turns off the back light but not the actual pixels, and it still shows at 1280x1024.

I would like to mention that I have trouble using the external monitor after having it on standby where it seems to freeze the image.

I connect and wake it up after coming home then press Fn+F5 to set the screen. It then sets the display to the correct 1280x1024 but seems to be stuck showing last thing on the 1280x800 display with a black bar occupying the remaining lower 224 rows. Moving the mouse around shows that there is still something working as the courser will change when hovering over window borders or hyperlinks etc. Killing X (or log off) fixes this easily enough.

Can anyone else verify this behaviour? Or if it is at all related to this same bug(s).

I'm using a MacBook (not sure what rev), on Ubuntu Hardy, with all updates applied. The driver version is 2:2.2.1-1ubuntu12.

I'm also getting the 'shaking' screen flicker. The external monitor is a ViewSonic VA1912W, 1440x900 resolution.

It's fine on boot, but the flickering starts after a while - the only thing that's been common is the locking of the screen and/or activation of a screensaver (the default one for Hardy). Restarting the X server (Ctrl-Alt-Backspace) stops the flickering.

I'll try disabling the screensaver, and perhaps, not lock the screen and see if that helps.

Ok, disabling the screensaver and not locking the screen didn't help. It seems to be happening after a certain amount of inactivity. Logging off, or killing X fixes the issue.

darrylh@gozer:~$ grep EXA /var/log/Xorg.0.log
(==) intel(0): Using EXA for acceleration
(WW) intel(0): EXA greedy migration mode enabled.

Yep, unfortunately adding Driver "intel" didn't help.. The monitor goes off very often (sometimes even every 5-10 minutes i think it's connected with watching xvid videos but i'm not sure).

Today, with the new xorg-intel driver, i got a white screen.

OK, I think that this solves the problem:

http://kb.huptas.net/2008/02/21/ubuntu-804-hardy-heron-issues-w-external-screen-and-intel-gma950-dell-latitude-d620/

Thanks!!!

I have the problem as well:

Sony VAIO VGN-C1S with Intel gma 950
Ubuntu 8.04

Happens not very often, perhaps once every two weeks the external monitor flickers at unregular intervals. After some time the monitor goes black and only a complete restart will help.

Tried the solution posted in the Blog post as mentioned above and turned of FramebufferCompression. I will report if it happens again.

I also have Dell Latitude, and it sometimes happens under excessive OpenGL usage.

I will try the mentioned workaround as well

Please test this against the Intrepid X.org with -intel 2.3.2 (or newer) and report if it still occurs, then we can report it upstream.

Everyone reporting this bug needs to include both Xorg.0.log and the output of `xrandr`. Other info is probably unnecessary.

Aha, nevermind, this is already known upstream:

* http://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=13326
  - Fixed with commit 2e1425246ccc75216247b0c2fa6fce2635db472b

* http://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=16169
  - Proposed patch http://bugs.freedesktop.org/attachment.cgi?id=17574; preliminary testing shows it makes the issue worse

[This is an automatic notice.]

We'd like to forward your bug upstream, however upstream requires
that you first test it against their newer driver code.

To save you the effort of building the driver from source, we've built
packages for the driver and its new dependencies.

So you have a couple options:

 1. Download and test .debs for intrepid, from:
     https://edge.launchpad.net/~intel-gfx-testing/+archive

 -or-

 2. Download and test the Jaunty alpha-2 (or newer) Live CD,
     (which includes a beta of the new xserver 1.6 as well).
     See http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/9.04/ for ISOs

Thanks ahead of time! You can simply reply to this email to report your
findings.

P.S., if you wish to forward your bug upstream yourself, please follow
these directions to do so:
  http://intellinuxgraphics.org/how_to_report_bug.html

For me, that PPA package makes flickering after the lid is opened on a Dell 6400n even worse than the old driver.

I tried the updated packages from above on my HP Pavilion dv2000 laptop, it did not help my issue. The compression workaround didn't affect it either. The external monitor works fine in Windows XP, but in Kubuntu Intrepid it flickers black every few seconds, making it essentially unusable.

Thanks for testing and confirming the issue still exists. Setting to Triaged for now. macat, please report your results when you get a chance to test; particularly if they differ from the other testers.

I can confirm this on Jaunty RC on HP nx6310 with Intel 945GM. Putting Option "FramebufferCompression" "off" in my /etc/xorg.conf solved the problem with casual Black/Grey/White Screen of Death on external monitor AND the periodical filckering (or rather "shaking" in my case) mentioned above.

This sounds like it could possibly be an issue with a memory leak, similar to bug 360319. That bug is also on the 945gm chipset, so these issues could be linked.

There are probably a lot of duplicates of this one, including pitti's "pipe a underrun" bug. Probably most of the display flicker bugs can be duped here or to pitti's bug, since they have the same root cause (incorrect FIFO configuration or an unsupportable configuration for a given platform due to memory bw limitations).