[i855] UXA Sporadic Freezes on Sony Vaio with 855GM

[Cefn]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

UXA seriously improves performance (e.g. on Compiz Scale) but causes sporadic freezes.

$ lspci -nn | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device [8086:3582] (rev 02)

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
DistroRelease: LinuxMint 7
Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersion: Linux version 2.6.28-11-generic (buildd@palmer) (gcc version 4.3.3 (Ubuntu 4.3.3-5ubuntu4) ) #42-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 17 01:57:59 UTC 2009
SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-intel
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-11-generic i686
UnreportableReason: This is not a genuine LinuxMint package

[Cefn (6-launchpad-net-cefn-com)]

Here's a log from a freeze after adding the debug instruction into Xorg.conf - copied the log file on reboot by launching into recover mode and dropping to root shell, so should be the last log information from the dead X session.

[Cefn (6-launchpad-net-cefn-com)]

 I've got slightly improved performance from updating to a later kernel and a later version of X11 using the default acceleration method. However, UXA still causes hangs even with this later version.

I'm currently running with the following...

$ apt-show-versions xserver-xorg
xserver-xorg/jaunty uptodate 1:7.4~5ubuntu18

$ uname -a
Linux cefn-mint-vaio 2.6.30-020630-generic #020630 SMP Wed Jun 10 09:45:40 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

...which I installed by modifying my /etc/apt/sources.list to add this repository...

# Added to update to newer Xorg intel drivers
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu/ jaunty main

...and by downloading .deb packages for the newer kernel directly from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/ and installing them with...

dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.30-020630_2.6.30-020630_all.deb linux-headers-2.6.30-020630-generic_2.6.30-020630_i386.deb linux-image-2.6.30-020630-generic_2.6.30-020630_i386.deb

Note that when I tried to run kernel version 2.6.31 this caused my machine to show nothing but a black screen. Also don't try running xorg-edgers unless you really like to experiment with new X builds. This caused me 24 hours of pain.

[Cefn (6-launchpad-net-cefn-com)]

Here's the info on the currently working version of my intel driver too, which forgot to include in the last comment - note this is the version from the ubuntu-x-swat ppa repository - instructions for installing this above...

$ apt-show-versions -a xserver-xorg-video-intel
xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.1-0ubuntu1~xup~1 install ok installed
xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 jaunty archive.ubuntu.com
xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.3 jaunty-updates archive.ubuntu.com
xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.7.1-0ubuntu1~xup~1 unknown ppa.launchpad.net
xserver-xorg-video-intel/unknown uptodate 2:2.7.1-0ubuntu1~xup~1

[Geir Ove Myhr (gomyhr)]

[This comment goes to freeze bugs on intel 855GM]

At bug 456902 (similar freezes on 845G) there is currently an effort to find where xserver-xorg-video-intel and/or libdrm changed and so that the freezes were triggered. Brian Rogers has a PPA that he is updating libdrm and -intel until they catch a version which freezes (they first found that a standard Karmic kernel with Jaunty libdrm and -intel did not freeze). It is possible that the same is true for 855GM and this is a chance to catch a free ride from the 845G testing effort. In order to test, use the standard Karmic kernel and add Brian's PPA: https://launchpad.net/~brian-rogers/+archive/graphics-testing . See the bug 456902 comment #29 and after for more details.

Apologies if someone already reported that Jaunty with Karmic kernel also freezes. In that case, testing older -intel and libdrm in Karmic is probably pointless. I'm loosing the overview as there are many similar bug reports on 845G, 855GM and 945G/945GM, and I forget exactly what is already tested for each chipset.

[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.

PS: There are still freezes on i855 in Lucid. See bug 541511.