Dell XPS 9530 (Nvidia GeForce GT 750M): Intermittent freeze when using nouveau

[John Skottis]

I am on an Dell xps 9530 laptop and I had recently cleaned installed 17.10. A few days back I decided to updated to 18.04 to check it out and report some bugs. The most annoying bug so far is the insane amount of input latency this update has brought with it to a degree that it makes it impossible to be productive. The issue is observable when using either the mouse or the keyboard. The mouse does not move immediately but it needs a second or two to register and start moving and even then at some point it freezes for half a second at some random point and then moves again. Also if I have two applications side by side and I try an move focus from one to the next at around the edges of each window the mouse freezes for a second and then moves. The keyboard freezes if it hasn't been used for a while and on the first keystroke will take a second to register and for a bonus you get the first keystorke repeated for around 15-30 times. So if you are trying to write "and" will become "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand" or pressing "ctrl + T" in the browser will open not one but 20 tabs!

I am reporting it here cause I am not sure what is causing all this latency (it could be libinput or something else entirely) but please try and fix this as soon as possible!!

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: gnome-shell 3.28.0-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-13.14-generic 4.15.10
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-13-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.8-0ubuntu10
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Mar 19 13:04:05 2018
DisplayManager: gdm3
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-02-14 (32 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20180105.1)
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to bionic on 2018-03-15 (3 days ago)
---
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: giannissc 2031 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC1D0p: giannissc 2031 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: giannissc 2031 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=999e9885-dbd2-4a45-a45f-998e322f32dc
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-03-26 (2 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Alpha amd64 (20180325)
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS 15 9530
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-4.15.0-13-generic.efi.signed root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-13.14-generic 4.15.10
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.15.0-13-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.15.0-13-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.173
Tags: wayland-session bionic
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-13-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 01/08/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A08
dmi.board.name: XPS 15 9530
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A08
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Not Specified
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA08:bd01/08/2015:svnDellInc.:pnXPS159530:pvrA08:rvnDellInc.:rnXPS159530:rvrA08:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrNotSpecified:
dmi.product.name: XPS 15 9530
dmi.product.version: A08
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

I have also tried using it without extensions but the issue still remains but I haven't tried using it with xorg because it causes other issues for me especially with hidpi scaling

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

(1) Are you using USB wired, USB-wireless, or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard?

(2) Please run 'lsusb' and provide the output here.

(3) Please try disabling/removing the extra Gnome Shell extensions you have installed, leaving only these two remaining:
  gnome-shell-extension-appindicator
  gnome-shell-extension-ubuntu-dock

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

(4) Please also run this command on the machine and send us the output:
    dmesg > dmesg.txt

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

I am running Ubuntu from my laptop so sometime I use USB keyboard and wireless mouse and some times just my laptop's keyboard and touch pad and I have had this issue with both, with or without any extensions active

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:8008 Intel Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 8087:07dc Intel Corp.
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 06cb:0ac3 Synaptics, Inc.
Bus 003 Device 005: ID 0bda:573c Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

dmesg

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

I should note however that the problem is less noticeable today, maybe due to some update.

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

Other configuration i have tried is with or without an external screen. I am running the mesa graphics driver and not the proprietary Nvidia one.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Please also try updating again. Just 1 hour ago we got a newer version of libinput: 1.10.3

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Also your kernel log (dmesg.txt) is showing a lot of errors from the nouveau graphics driver. Nouveau is known to have lots of bugs, so please try installing this one instead:

  sudo apt install nvidia-driver-390

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

Do I have to disable secure boot for the proprietary driver to work?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I'm not sure but this seems to suggest "yes" (?):

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UEFI/SecureBoot/DKMS

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

Well is does appear to solve the problem with the lag but then there is high battery drain and the fans won't stop spinning which is also undesireable

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

That's surprising, and is the opposite of what I would expect. Are you saying the high power usage occurs _with) nvidia-driver-390 installed?

Anyway, back on the original "latency" problem this bug is about...

It sounds like this is actually an output latency problem, related to the nouveau driver and possibly related to the recurring kernel messages:

[80940.257342] nouveau 0000:02:00.0: bus: MMIO write of 00000002 FAULT at 4188ac [ IBUS ]

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. While running an Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline or third-party kernel) please enter the following command in a terminal window:

apport-collect 1756877

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

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[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v4.16 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.16-rc7

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

I am not so sure but as I understand it running the nvidia driver does not allow to use the integrated intel graphics to run and always the higher power consumption nvidia gpu. And that is why the laptop runs the fans all the time and is warmer because it cannot switch between the two to minimize the consumption. But I must admit that I havent actually measured anything so it could just be my idea.

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

If this is just an output latency issue why would trying to write or use a shortcut result in a key being registered as being pressed multiple times? Example is pressing 'Ctrl' + 'T' for a new tab and opening 20 more tabs or writing 'and' and resulting in 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand'

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

Run the apport-collect command btw.

[John Skottis (giannissc)]

I must admit that the lag is less noticeable but it is still there and it affects sound (with sound playback stopping for a split seconds while playing), keyboard input (with the keys registering multiple times), mouse (scrolling might take a second to register) and the display.

[Luke Carrier (lukecarrier)]

Looks like this affects me, also using a Dell XPS 15 9530.

I can confirm seeing the following line output each time the UI hangs:

Mar 31 20:06:52 luke-ultrabook kernel: nouveau 0000:02:00.0: bus: MMIO write of 00000002 FAULT at 4188ac [ IBUS ]

I also experience repeat input (as if I were holding down keys on the keyboard) while this occurs.

[Luke Carrier (lukecarrier)]

Reported via ubuntu-bug -- hope this helps:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg/+bug/1760341

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thanks Luke. Your confirmation is very helpful.

[Luke Carrier (lukecarrier)]

FYI I'm currently mitigating this using Bumblebee:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bumblebee#Setup_for_14.04_and_later

I've not yet been able to get applications running against the discrete chip, but since I'm now running with onboard Intel graphics the stuttering is no longer an issue.