Mint 17 - Cinnamon - using HDMI with some external monitors

[Dan Goodin]

Running: Linux Mint 17 Qiana - Cinnamon 64-bit
Hardware: Samsung Series 5 Ultra

Issue: When connecting external monitor via HDMI port the screen appears to enter a loop of attempting to adjust the display. This continues until the external monitor is removed. Display on external and laptop are both completely unusable.

I've confirmed the following: Does happen on the live ISO as well as installed version.
Does not happen with the previous 16 release. Also does not happen with Linux Mint 17 - Mate version.

Attached .xsession-errors-snip contains the logs dumped into the .xsession-errors file during and immediately after connecting the external monitor. I've also attached the Xorg.log.

To me this appears that this line is the telling issue:
(cinnamon-settings-daemon:3738): CinnamonDesktop-CRITICAL **: gnome_rr_output_info_get_geometry: assertion 'GNOME_IS_RR_OUTPUT_INFO (self)' failed

Thoughts?

Dan

-----------xorg log----------
[ 801.448] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1440x900@59.9 on HDMI1 using pipe 1, position (1366, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 801.733] (II) intel(0): resizing framebuffer to 2646x1024
[ 801.733] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1366x768@60.1 on LVDS1 using pipe 0, position (0, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 801.756] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@76.0 on HDMI1 using pipe 1, position (1366, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 802.005] (II) intel(0): resizing framebuffer to 2806x900
[ 802.005] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1366x768@60.1 on LVDS1 using pipe 0, position (0, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 802.021] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1440x900@59.9 on HDMI1 using pipe 1, position (1366, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 802.301] (II) intel(0): resizing framebuffer to 2646x1024
[ 802.301] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1366x768@60.1 on LVDS1 using pipe 0, position (0, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 802.324] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@76.0 on HDMI1 using pipe 1, position (1366, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 802.657] (II) intel(0): resizing framebuffer to 2806x900

continues over and over

----------
xsessions-error log attached as file (too long to paste)

[Herwig Gans (herwig-gans)]

I am experiencing exactly the same behavior on my Lenovo T420S since I upgraded to Cinnamon Mint 17.
Searched around and found no hint about the problem source...
It doesn't seem to be the desktop effects, it still occurs with disabled effects.
Also the texture size seems to be ok.

linux ~ $ glxinfo -l | grep GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE
    GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE = 8192
    GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE = 8192

Nobody worked on this bug since June? :(

[Herwig Gans (herwig-gans)]

I will attach:
- demsg
- Xorg.0.log
- .xsession-errors

When I boot with the second screen connected (via VGA cable in my case), the Mint login screen is displayed normal as duplicated screen on both the notebook and external display.
As soon as I login and the desktop comes up, the external screen vanishes and the desktop on laptop screen freezes frequently and it looks like (Xorg.0.log) that the second screen switches the frequenze between 60 and 76 Hz all the time...

[Herwig Gans (herwig-gans)]

Now I tried another Screen and it works with that...
So I can summarize the issue to:

1. Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon
2. Lenovo T420s and docking Station
3. with DVI-D cable does not recognize any external screen (no singe entry in any log occurs)
4. VGA and Benq FP91G Q9T4 I experience exactly the same issue as reported in this bug (with or without docking station)
5. VGA and HP LA2205wg NM274AA works as expected and without any problems (with or without docking station)

So for me this is an issue with VGA port/cable as reported in this bug
and DVI is not recognized in any setup at all - so a different issue I assume...

[Herwig Gans (herwig-gans)]

looks like it has something to do with the screen resolution of the second screen.
Now I tried another older IBM screen also with 1280x1024 max resolution and got the same issue, only larger screens seem to work...

[ 7426.139] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@76.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7426.405] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@60.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7426.678] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@76.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7426.953] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@60.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7427.208] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@76.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7427.476] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@60.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7427.742] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@76.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7428.024] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1280x1024@60.0 on VGA1 using pipe 1, position (1600, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[ 7428.301] (II) intel(0): resizing framebuffer to 1600x900
[ 7428.301] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1600x900@60.0 on LVDS1 using pipe 0, position (0, 0), rotation normal, reflection none

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Arlen (arlenwasp)]

It seems to Ubuntu 14.04 in general also, I posted this bug after testing Ubuntu Desktop 14.04.1

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1403228

[Arlen (arlenwasp)]

Please mark yourself affected here also, since it's here the root cause lies i suspect, unless also in Debian?

Link to ubuntu bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1403228

[Arlen (arlenwasp)]

Found a workaround though: when connecting external monitor, spam Fn+F4.

[Uilian Ries (uilianries)]

I'm using Linux Mint 17.1, over Dell Vostro 7450 and I have the same problem. The workaround solve the problem, for now. However I tried some points, like update Bumblebee.