[i965] X freezes when machine is idle for a while, leaving CPU at 100% on X process

[Luka Napotnik]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

When my desktop idles for a while, it sometimes freezes, making the X process to consume 100% of CPU power. I have the latest Intrepid updates and using Intel 965GM graphics chipset.

[lspci]
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Fujitsu Siemens Computers Device 1108
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Fujitsu Siemens Computers Device 1108

[Bart Verwilst (verwilst)]

I'm having the same issue with my Dell Latitude D830 laptop. Same Intel graphics chipset. It freezes almost on a daily basis, and always when i have been away from my laptop for a little while ( even 15 mins or so ). It doesn't freeze every time however. The only thing i can see after a freeze is my desktop background. Logging in through SSH still works, which shows X on 99-100%. Killing the X process doesnt work, ps shows it as X [defunct], but i can still only see my desktop background.

Luka, are you using compiz? Is your desktop locked whenever it freezes? Can you still unlock your desktop before the actual freeze kicks in?

Anyone have any hints about what this could be?

Maybe i can install dbgsym packages and try to get a backtrace? Is this feasible if it doesnt actually crash?

[Bart Verwilst (verwilst)]

BTW i have had the same issue with Hardy as well

[Matt Rogers (mattr-kde)]

I have a similar issue with intrepid while running the upcoming KDE 4.2 release (building from KDE's subversion). If i let the machine sit idle, then X pegs my cpu at 100% but doesn't cause a freeze. Once I move the mouse, the cpu usage goes back down. I've attached the only backtrace that shows up when I attach gdb to X.

[Bart Verwilst (verwilst)]

My guess is that this is caused by Compiz. I've had compiz disabled for a week, and all freezes went away. I have now enabled the default "Visual Effects" to normal again, and I'll wait for new freezes to appear. I haven't enabled the cube anymore though ( maybe it's a single compiz plugin that's causing this? ).

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Can't reproduce this on my i965. Need more specific steps on how to reproduce it.

The lspci output in comment #1 lacks PCI IDs. So if this is a HW-specific issue, there's not enough info to troubleshoot. You need to run 'lspci -vvnn'.

None of the log files display error messages. That makes it pretty hard to begin troubleshooting. Look in your /var/log/gdm/ and other log files in /var/log to see if you can locate some error message associated with the freeze. Check timestamps.

[Bart Verwilst (verwilst)]

After re-enabling Compiz, i've had 2 freezes since. Another coworker ( who isnt subscribed here ) had the same issue on his intrepid-enabled desktop. He also has an on-board Intel gfx card.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Can you please attach your /var/log/gdm/:0.log* files?

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

[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

[Bart Verwilst (verwilst)]

I have been using the debs from https://edge.launchpad.net/~intel-gfx-testing/+archive for 5 days now with Compiz enabled, haven't seen a single freeze.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Thanks Bart, I'll go ahead and close it then. Please feel free to reopen if the freeze starts up again.

[Sammy Spets (sammys)]

Bryce: It doesn't make sense marking this bug 'Fix released' since users can't fix the problem without changing their apt sources. Please patch the broken packages in the repository before marking this bug 'Fix released'.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Sammy, the debs in that repository *were* uploaded into jaunty. That's why I closed the bug in the first place.

[Sammy Spets (sammys)]

Bryce: The original bug report was for Intrepid and not Jaunty. Surely you're not saying that it's enough to release the fix for jaunty only?

[Marcello Romani (marcello-romani)]

I'm seeing a similar problem on 10.04.2. Can I post here or should I file a new bug ?