[amdgpu] [wayland] Screen goes occasionally black after taking a screenshot

[BitBurners.com]

Weird issue which has come to my system via updates - possibly the Linux kernel 5.8?

Steps to repro:

- Take a screenshot (prt scr)
- Continue using the computer

After I have taken a screenshot, my display gets quick black flashes when using other applications. Manipulating the screenshot with Pinta, opening web browser, etc.. Screen goes black for a second and then resumes normal operation.

This does not happen before taking the screenshot, so it obviously triggers something. The system works and is usable, but the black flashes are pretty odd and distracting.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+19ubuntu14
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-41.46~20.04.1-generic 5.8.18
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-41-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.16
Architecture: amd64
BootLog: Error: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/log/boot.log'
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Feb 8 14:39:47 2021
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: focal
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
GraphicsCard:
 Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Baffin [Radeon RX 460/560D / Pro 450/455/460/555/555X/560/560X] [1025:1367]
 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Picasso [1002:15d8] (rev c2) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Picasso [1025:1366]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-05-16 (268 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200423)
MachineType: Acer Nitro AN515-43
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.8.0-41-generic root=UUID=675bb42c-4c3c-461b-bce1-53e34e786eaa ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/24/2019
dmi.bios.release: 1.8
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.bios.version: V1.08
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Octavia_PKS
dmi.board.vendor: PK
dmi.board.version: V1.08
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: V1.08
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 1.5
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsydeCorp.:bvrV1.08:bd12/24/2019:br1.8:efr1.5:svnAcer:pnNitroAN515-43:pvrV1.08:rvnPK:rnOctavia_PKS:rvrV1.08:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV1.08:
dmi.product.family: Nitro 5
dmi.product.name: Nitro AN515-43
dmi.product.sku: 0000000000000000
dmi.product.version: V1.08
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
version.compiz: compiz N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.102-1ubuntu1~20.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 20.2.6-0ubuntu0.20.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.20.9-2ubuntu1.2~20.04.1
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:19.1.0-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20200226-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.16-1

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Please:

1. Open a Terminal window.

2. Reproduce the bug again.

3. After the problem has started run this in the Terminal window:

   journalctl -b0 > journal.txt

4. Attach the resulting text file here.

Separately, please try some other kernel versions like:

  https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.10.14/
  https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.8.18/
  https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.4.96/

and tell us if any of those exhibit the same bug.

[BitBurners.com (lasse-penttinen)]

The original bug report was slightly inaccurate. "Black flashes" may occur also without taking a screenshot, usually when closing an application.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Yes, it sounds like it's related to frames where the whole screen is changing.

[BitBurners.com (lasse-penttinen)]

I downgraded to 20.04 kernel (5.4.x) and I am still getting the black flashes.

BTW, the journal seems to expose the username, so you should warn about that before requesting it.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

I'm not sure knowing usernames is a security issue, but if you are concerned at all then you should make the bug private using the link near the top right corner of this page.