Font corruption with integrated Intel video

[Fernando Correia]

On Linux Mint 16 (Cinnamon or MATE) running on integrated Intel video, there is frequent text corruption. It seems to be more frequent on Firefox but it happens systemwide. The issue is present on 32 and 64-bit systems.

It has been reported on these forum posts:

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=150934

http://forum.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=151054

These samples show the issue happening:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3096443/bad-fonts.png

http://youtu.be/jb9cyauG6zY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQQIKPb0THE

At the time of writing, Intel(R) Graphics Installer 1.0.2 for Linux (https://01.org/linuxgraphics/downloads/2013/intelr-graphics-installer-1.0.2-linux) doesn't support Ubuntu 13.10, so it's not easy to test any possible updated driver on Linux Mint 16.

These are some specs of systems where the issue has been reported:

__________
$ uname -a
Linux fernando-E4300 3.11.0-12-generic #19-Ubuntu SMP Wed Oct 9 16:20:46 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
$ lspci -v
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub (rev 07)
        Subsystem: Dell Device 024d
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Capabilities: [e0] Vendor Specific Information: Len=0a <?>
        Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
        Subsystem: Dell Device 024d
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 44
        Memory at f6c00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
        Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        I/O ports at ef98 [size=8]
        Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
        Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 3
        Kernel driver in use: i915
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
        Subsystem: Dell Device 024d
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Memory at f6b00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 3

__________
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           X.Org: 1.13.0 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1366x768@60.0hz, 1920x1080@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.0.3 Direct Rendering: Yes

__________
Graphics: Card: Intel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           X.Org: 1.14.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1600x900@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Q45/Q43 x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.2.1 Direct Rendering: Yes

__________
Graphics: Card: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           X.Org: 1.14.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1600x900@59.9hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ironlake Desktop x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.2.1 Direct Rendering: Yes

__________
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           X.Org: 1.14.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1280x1024@60.0hz, 1280x1024@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.2.1 Direct Rendering: Yes

__________
$ inxi -Gx
Graphics: Card: Intel 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
X.Org: 1.14.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1600x900@60.0hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Q45/Q43 x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.2.1 Direct Rendering: Yes
$ uname -a
Linux mint 3.11.0-12-generic #19-Ubuntu SMP Wed Oct 9 16:12:00 UTC 2013 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux

__________
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           X.Org: 1.14.3 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev) FAILED: vesa Resolution: 1366x768@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset x86/MMX/SSE2 GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 9.2.1 Direct Rendering: Yes

[WAYNE128 (gator128)]

As in the what I posted, I have the same issue on Linuxmint 16 cinnamon as well as Mate

[Fernando Correia (fernandoacorreia)]

According to this comment by koala (http://forum.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=151054&p=796848#p796585) the issue is caused by the default acceleration method having changed to SNA, which in ArchWiki (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Intel_Graphics) is described as faster but "less stable".

A suggested workaround is to create the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf with this content:

Section "Device"
   Identifier "Intel Graphics"
   Driver "intel"
   Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"
EndSection

and reset the system.

Initial testing confirms that this seem to resolve the issue.

[Janus (ysangkok+launchpad)]

Maybe a duplicate of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/1098334 ?

[Iamoogabooga (iamoogabooga)]

I'm on Mint 17.1 and xfce4. Had this issue on Cinnamon and Mate as well.

Used to be text only but it looks like everything else is affected too. (Attached is screenshot)

Dell Vostro Laptop with Intel Graphics

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub [8086:2a40] (rev 07)
 Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0402]
 Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a42] (rev 07) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
 Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0402]
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx+
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 46
 Region 0: Memory at f6c00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
 Region 2: Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
 Region 4: I/O ports at efe8 [size=8]
 Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled]
 Capabilities: <access denied>
 Kernel driver in use: i915

00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a43] (rev 07)
 Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0402]
 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
 Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
 Latency: 0
 Region 0: Memory at f6b00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1M]
 Capabilities: <access denied>