[i855] black screen with intel 855GM/Xorg/HDMI

[Goofy]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

Ubuntu 9.04
xorg: 1:7.4~5ubuntu18
xserver-xorg-video-intel: 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.4
connected monitor is _only_ a Epson TW3800 projector via DVI2HDMI cable (native resolution: 1920x1050)

With this hardware configuration (about since ubuntu 8.1.0) several problems occur:

-the standard text mode 640x480@90Hz is instable, the projector is not able to show this low resolution stable, screen goes blank and is only visible shortly
-no higher console/graphics mode is automatically choosen
-not even the "safe graphics mode" of the installation cd with "xforcevesa" results in a visible screen
-the problem is related to only 2 modelines get detected for this monitor device (640x480 and 1920x1050)

With an older Xorg (X Window System Version 1.3.0, my current workaround) i was able to get a working xorg.conf. However, with an even older server/driver/VGA many more modelines where detected by the driver for this monitor-device.

WIthout an xorg.conf i also get only a black screen for this setup (need to force to enable TDMI in favor of VGA for pipe A/B).

further problems with this configuration:

-as soon as the xrandtray tool is started (no action triggered), the screen get empty/background colored and a restart of the XServer is the only way to get the display back
-as soon as any resolution/mode switch by any program is triggered the screen gets either black or background-colored and one needs to restart the XServer to get the image back

The expected behavior is:
-use the highest possible text mode and/or another available resolution that can be safely displayed
-auto detection if only tje TDMI-pipe (HDMI or DVI) is connected and correct setup of xorg(.conf)
-xrandr-tray should not be able to scramble the display permanently for the standard use-cases
-switching of resolutions should work
-detection of all available mode-lines

[lspci]
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller [8086:3580] (rev 02)
     Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM/GMV Processor to I/O Controller [8086:3580]
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device [8086:3582] (rev 02)
     Subsystem: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device [8086:3582]

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi gfiala,

Please attach the output of `lspci -vvnn`, and attach your /var/log/Xorg.0.log (and maybe Xorg.0.log.old) file from after reproducing this issue. If you've made any customizations to your /etc/X11/xorg.conf please attach that as well.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[Goofy (gfiala)]

Here is the working xorg.conf (for Xorg 1.3) and the output of lspci as requested.

(providing the Xorg.0.log for Xorg 1.4 is a bit more difficult, since mentioned above, i do neither get an text-screen nor an X-screen to work with).

For now i attach the output of Xorg 1.3 - which works at least to some extend for me.

BTW - there is another misbehavior for screens with such large resolution / projectors as monitors: often they report a senseless high dimension of the monitor - therefore the XServer thinks it can reduce the size of the fonts to 1 pixel.

The workaround for this second issue is to use the "Xorg -dpi 150".
The configuration in xorg.conf i did is either wrong or useless.

[Goofy (gfiala)]

lspci -vvnn:

[Goofy (gfiala)]

Xorg.0.log (as mentioned for 1.3.0) first, i working on catching a log for the Xorg 1.4.0.

[Goofy (gfiala)]

ok, here is the remaining missing file Xorg.log for 1.6.0 where the problem persists.

[Geir Ove Myhr (gomyhr)]

This bug report has been inactive for quite some time and in the meantime Ubuntu has moved along. I hope the reported problem has been resolved in the current version of Ubuntu. If it has not and there are people willing to follow up with information collecting and testing, it is best to file a new bug report with the latest Ubuntu development version (10.04 still works, but soon 10.10 is better), using the ubuntu-bug command if possible. Feel free to mention the bug number of this bug.

We are sorry that we are not always have the capacity to look at all reported bugs in a timely manner. Occasionally we have to purge old bug reports where no progress has been made, whether it is due to reporter not being able to respond or lack of manpower on the Ubuntu side, in order to keep our list of "active" bugs current. Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.

Here are a few tips that will make it easier for triagers and developers to process your bug:
* Read https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Reporting
* Browse https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X and see if there is some relevant information for you problem
* Respond quickly to questions from triagers
* Try changing things to see if the behaviour changes, e.g.
  * A new mainline kernel from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/?C=M;O=D (more information at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/MainlineBuilds)
  * The xorg-edgers PPA: https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa
  * Various options in `/etc/X11/xorg.conf` (see `man intel`)
* Browse other bug reports to see if you find a similar one and provide the information that is being asked for there.