[i965] Compiz blur plugin causes screen garbage (UXA bug)

[Vinod Khare]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

Using -- Jaunty RC (all updates installed as of Apr 17, 2009).

$ lspci -nn | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a02] (rev 0c)

$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel
xserver-xorg-video-intel:
  Installed: 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9
  Candidate: 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9
  Version table:
 *** 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

UXA is enabled.

Compiz works like a charm until the blur plugin is enabled. Enabling blur causes X to slow down drastically. Screen garbage is seen on minimize and restoring a window. "Good" behaviour is restored by disabling the blur plugin and restarting X.

Screenshot attached.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

For Karmic we're making UXA bugs like these a top priority, so I would like to forward this one upstream. First though, we need to verify the issue still exists with the latest upstream release. Would you please install and test the 2.7.0 driver and reproduce the bug, and let us know ASAP? A PPA with a Jaunty version of this driver is available at: https://edge.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-x-swat/+archive/x-updates/

[Vinod Khare (vinod-khare)]

I installed the new driver from the above PPA and was able to reproduce the bug. This time X crashed as soon as I enabled blur so I wasn't able to take a screenshot. But the effect was the same as before. Other info is:

$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel
xserver-xorg-video-intel:
  Installed: 2:2.7.0-1ubuntu1~xup~1
  Candidate: 2:2.7.0-1ubuntu1~xup~1
  Version table:
 *** 2:2.7.0-1ubuntu1~xup~1 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net jaunty/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.1 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com jaunty-proposed/main Packages
     2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/main Packages

$ apt-cache policy compiz
compiz:
  Installed: 1:0.8.2-0ubuntu8.1
  Candidate: 1:0.8.2-0ubuntu8.1
  Version table:
 *** 1:0.8.2-0ubuntu8.1 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com jaunty-proposed/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     1:0.8.2-0ubuntu8 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/main Packages

I'm glad you guys are making it a priority for Karmic. I use one intel machine and another "legacy" ATI one. Just my luck, eh? :)

Tell me if you need anything else.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Forwarding this bug from a ubuntu reporter:
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/363174

* See also

[Problem]
Compiz works like a charm until the blur plugin is enabled. Enabling blur causes X to slow down drastically. Screen garbage is seen on minimize and restoring a window. "Good" behaviour is restored by disabling the blur plugin and restarting X. This is with UXA enabled.

Tested:
 -intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9
 -intel 2:2.7.0-1ubuntu1~xup~1
 compiz 1:0.8.2-0ubuntu8.1

[lspci]
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a02] (rev 0c)

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Created an attachment (id=25509)
Screenshot.png

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Created an attachment (id=25510)
Xorg.0.log

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Vinod,

I've forwarded your bug upstream to https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=21579 - please subscribe to that bug report, as upstream may need further info from you or wish you to test something. Thanks ahead of time.

In case they need you to test an even never version of the driver, check here for a recent git snapshot:
https://edge.launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa

[Vinod Khare (vinod-khare)]

Bryce,

Thanks a lot! Have subscribed to upstream and will keep track.

[Eric Anholt (eric-anholt)]

I started compiz, ran ccsm, checked "Blur windows", clicked "Blur windows" checked "Focus blur", dragged ccsm over my now-blurred gnome-terminals, minimized and un-minimized, switched to each of the other blur filters in turn, and did the same thing. CPU usage appeared to be fine.

Can you reproduce with Mesa master or 7.5, or provide more detailed instructions on how to reproduce the problem?

[Vinod Khare (vinod-khare)]

What's mesa master? I tested this with the ubuntu packages listed above. Should I try this with newer packages? If yes, where are they available?

[Nicolò Chieffo (yelo3)]

I'm using the xorg edgers ppa and in my intel x4500mhd this problem is gone: blur works correctly and it is fast

[... (0...)]

Hi, I'm using an x4500mhd + xorg edgers + compiz blur. It looks great, but x sometimes crashes as a result. Any clues to what's going on?

[Nicolò Chieffo (yelo3)]

file a new bug, and post it here, so I can subscribe, because I also
have this problem, thanks

[Gordon Jin (gordon-jin)]

(In reply to comment #4)
> What's mesa master? I tested this with the ubuntu packages listed above. Should
> I try this with newer packages? If yes, where are they available?

"mesa master" means upstream mesa git master branch.
Can you try the latest Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha3 (shipping xf86-video-intel 2.8.0 and mesa 7.5)?

[Matthew Woerly (nattgew)]

I have the same video card. With either EXA or UXA on Karmic, blur is working fine for me.

[Idr (idr)]

(In reply to comment #5)
> (In reply to comment #4)
> > What's mesa master? I tested this with the ubuntu packages listed above. Should
> > I try this with newer packages? If yes, where are they available?
>
> "mesa master" means upstream mesa git master branch.
> Can you try the latest Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha3 (shipping xf86-video-intel 2.8.0 and
> mesa 7.5)?

Any updates on this bug? I'm not able to reproduce it, so if I don't hear something soon I'm going to close the bug.

[Matthew Woerly (nattgew)]

I have an installation of Karmic on which blur works fine. I also have an installation on which blur causes compiz to freeze... I think that's something in my settings or something...

[Matthew Woerly (nattgew)]

I actually had to set my settings to default... blur is still causing compiz to freeze when I enable it.

[Matthew Woerly (nattgew)]

I'm using the 2.8.1-1ubuntu2 driver in Karmic, and I just tried out blur again.
Here's a screenshot of one thing that happens. Short horizontal lines also appear all over the place.

[Matthew Woerly (nattgew)]

And here's what happens to a terminal window when I add a rule to blur it and set Gaussian radius above 11.

[Ivo Roghair (ivo-82)]

I have the same issue as shown in the initial screenshot (that of May 2009) -- with the red bars everywhere, running Karmic with everything updated, standard intel drivers: Version: 2:2.9.0-1ubuntu2 on a VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965 aka X3100.
Although I must say that blur initially works fine (setting the blur filter to Gaussian, with compiz-default Gaussian radius to 3), but fooling around with the radius setting eventually produces these errors (including a complete system lockup).

[Matthew Woerly (nattgew)]

Using up-to-date Karmic now.
Mipmap looks really nice. The problem is that it slows everything down a lot. Expo is like 0.5 fps.
Gaussian is fast but it doesn't look as nice. It has a kind of blinds effect on everything. Varying strength and radius change how bad it is, but it never really goes away except on really slight blurring.
I have radius at 5 and strength at 0.2770 for this screenshot

[Matthew Woerly (nattgew)]

Testing with Lucid. Mipmap looks really nice. Gaussian is still a bit rough.

[Gordon Jin (gordon-jin)]

closing as lacking of response.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Upstream has closed the bug as no longer present. If you're still seeing an issue on lucid, please reopen the upstream bug and provide further feedback.

[zsolt.ruszinyák (zsolt-ruszinyak)]

I'm using U10.04 with compiz and GMA945 graphics. The way compiz blur behaves has changed in 10.04, instead of a slowdown after enabling blur, compiz simply crashes. Which removes the window borders too, as I use emerald! I have to disable blur and logout. However, I can use the Mipmap blur, but Gaussian a 4xBilinear don't work and cause the above mentioned problem!

I got a bit terrified, when I saw this for the first time, maybe, u should consider some sort of WARNING at least...