incorrect color depth - intel graphics card

[craig P]

color depth is 15 instead of 24.

Intel graphics card (dell dimenstion 3000)

Note that color depth is correct on 12.10 and prior. Only incorrect on 13.04 (after upgrade on top of 12.10)
---
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDmesg:
 [ 122.048405] EXT4-fs (sdb1): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: (null)
 [ 122.714787] systemd-hostnamed[2409]: Warning: nss-myhostname is not installed. Changing the local hostname might make it unresolveable. Please install nss-myhostname!
DistUpgraded: 2013-04-26 11:02:00,583 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: raring
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2572] (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Dimension 3000 [1028:019d]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-03-24 (33 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release i386 (20121017.2)
MachineType: Dell Computer Corporation Dimension 3000
MarkForUpload: True
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-19-generic root=UUID=a4d05e55-c40e-4b56-a82f-1ddfa96acb88 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-19.29-generic 3.8.8
Tags: raring ubuntu
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-19-generic i686
UnitySupportTest: Error: command [u'/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test', u'-p', u'-f'] failed with exit code -11:
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-26 (1 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
dmi.bios.date: 11/08/2004
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
dmi.bios.version: A02
dmi.board.name: 0TC666
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Computer Corp.
dmi.chassis.type: 6
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellComputerCorporation:bvrA02:bd11/08/2004:svnDellComputerCorporation:pnDimension3000:pvr:rvnDellComputerCorp.:rn0TC666:rvr:cvnDellComputerCorporation:ct6:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Dimension 3000
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.9~daily13.04.18.1~13.04-0ubuntu1
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.43-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.13.3-0ubuntu6
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.3-0ubuntu2b2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.1.0-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.21.6-0ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.7-0ubuntu1
xserver.bootTime: Sat Apr 27 10:49:18 2013
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.devices:
 input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 6
 input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 7
 input AT Translated Set 2 keyboard KEYBOARD, id 8
 input ImExPS/2 Generic Explorer Mouse MOUSE, id 9
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.version: 2:1.13.3-0ubuntu6
xserver.video_driver: intel
---
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDmesg:
 [ 122.048405] EXT4-fs (sdb1): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: (null)
 [ 122.714787] systemd-hostnamed[2409]: Warning: nss-myhostname is not installed. Changing the local hostname might make it unresolveable. Please install nss-myhostname!
 [10662.920255] show_signal_msg: 54 callbacks suppressed
 [10662.920264] unity_support_t[4316]: segfault at 1 ip 0804920a sp bf9e7670 error 4 in unity_support_test[8048000+3000]
 [10770.346547] unity_support_t[4820]: segfault at 1 ip 0804920a sp bfc3f770 error 4 in unity_support_test[8048000+3000]
DistUpgraded: 2013-04-26 11:02:00,583 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: raring
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2572] (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Dimension 3000 [1028:019d]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-03-24 (33 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release i386 (20121017.2)
MachineType: Dell Computer Corporation Dimension 3000
MarkForUpload: True
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-19-generic root=UUID=a4d05e55-c40e-4b56-a82f-1ddfa96acb88 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-19.29-generic 3.8.8
Tags: raring ubuntu
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-19-generic i686
UnitySupportTest: Error: command [u'/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test', u'-p', u'-f'] failed with exit code -11:
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-26 (1 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
dmi.bios.date: 11/08/2004
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
dmi.bios.version: A02
dmi.board.name: 0TC666
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Computer Corp.
dmi.chassis.type: 6
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellComputerCorporation:bvrA02:bd11/08/2004:svnDellComputerCorporation:pnDimension3000:pvr:rvnDellComputerCorp.:rn0TC666:rvr:cvnDellComputerCorporation:ct6:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Dimension 3000
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.9~daily13.04.18.1~13.04-0ubuntu1
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.43-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.13.3-0ubuntu6
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.3-0ubuntu2b2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.1.0-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.21.6-0ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.7-0ubuntu1
xserver.bootTime: Sat Apr 27 10:49:18 2013
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.devices:
 input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 6
 input Power Button KEYBOARD, id 7
 input AT Translated Set 2 keyboard KEYBOARD, id 8
 input ImExPS/2 Generic Explorer Mouse MOUSE, id 9
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.version: 2:1.13.3-0ubuntu6
xserver.video_driver: intel

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

Hi,
  Can you add to this bug report the output of dmesg and your /var/log/Xorg.0.log please.
I think if you run

apport-collect 1173649

I think it should add that and loads of other stuff.

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[craig P (lcp1983)]

apport information

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

Huh, OK that's....weird

From your Xorg.0.log:
[ 40.999] (==) intel(0): Depth 15, (--) framebuffer bpp 16
[ 40.999] (==) intel(0): RGB weight 555

so that's saying the default is 15bit

and from your xdpyinfo output:

screen #0:
  dimensions: 1680x1050 pixels (444x278 millimeters)
  resolution: 96x96 dots per inch
  depths (7): 15, 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32

so my reading is it's the default that's wrong there and the X server is saying it can do it; I wonder what happens if you create an X config file that specifies a depth - it might let you specify it.

[craig P (lcp1983)]

Hi,

I went down the path of attempting to create an xorg.conf file and gave
up -- way too problematic (X -configure fails for a variety of reasons,
both at root console / no x-windows and using :1 -- and the resultant
xorg.conf.new file [if I even get one] is so plain jane it's useless to
the common user). In any case, this is a bug as you point out (the
default is wrong).

And, as in original bug report text -- ubuntu 12.10 is fine, along with
11.10 (skipped 12.04).

Thanks. Of course, I'm hoping that, somewhere along the way, I simply
do an "update" and xorg is upgraded auto-magically and the default then
becomes the proper 24 or even 32 -- and I don't have to lift any fingers
to do any kind of 1-off thingy a la xorg.conf (on a similar note, I have
vi'd smb.conf for the last time and I will never vi smb.conf ever again
-- I just run an ftp server and I'm done -- hence, I'm not editing
xorg.conf, noting I can't even create one that's almost useful).

- Craig

On 04/27/2013 02:57 PM, Dave Gilbert wrote:
> Huh, OK that's....weird
>
> >From your Xorg.0.log:
> [ 40.999] (==) intel(0): Depth 15, (--) framebuffer bpp 16
> [ 40.999] (==) intel(0): RGB weight 555
>
> so that's saying the default is 15bit
>
> and from your xdpyinfo output:
>
> screen #0:
> dimensions: 1680x1050 pixels (444x278 millimeters)
> resolution: 96x96 dots per inch
> depths (7): 15, 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32
>
> so my reading is it's the default that's wrong there and the X server is
> saying it can do it; I wonder what happens if you create an X config
> file that specifies a depth - it might let you specify it.
>
>
> ** Changed in: xorg (Ubuntu)
> Status: Incomplete => New
>

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

That's the correct colour depth.

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

Chris can you explain that statement please; he's seeing 15bpp, I'd expect 24bpp and that's what I've seen everywhere else.

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

You'd expect wrong, the default on gen2 is depth 15.

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

OK thanks Chris - is this a recent change?
the reporter is saying that on 12.10 it was defaulting to 24bpp

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

Fairly recent, I only changed the default for SNA so you would only have experienced the change on the switch in raring. Considering the limitations upon hardware, the change is advisable for both gen2 and gen3 (more so for gen2 than gen3), and a very popular customisation amongst gen2 users.

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

OK, fair enough. IMHO it would have been a good idea to put something in a release note or the like - I don't think I've seen any other PC system default to 15bpp for many years.

[craig P (lcp1983)]

In any case, how to I set the depth to 24, regardless of the arguments and indecision over the default setting?

Note "X -configure" is problematic.

[craig P (lcp1983)]

No thanks to Ubuntu support (or lack thereof), a fellow owner of a Dell 3000 / Intel-865G provided me the solution:

Create / edit / save this file ('vi', notepad, et al):

/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/00-xorg.conf that contains the following content:

Section "Screen"
     Identifier "Default Screen"
     DefaultDepth 24
EndSection

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

Craig: I'm curious, what apps are you seeing looking bad because of this; my understanding from what Chris is saying and from your xdpyinfo is that it's just the default that's 16, so any app that wants to do nice graphics should be able to ask for the highest quality visual rather than the default.

[Giovanni Panozzo (giox069)]

Same problem here on HP Compaq dx2000 MT with Intel 82865G video card: the installation of xubuntu 13.04 defaults to 15bpp. The xubuntu desktop is better at 32bpp, and also remmina remote destkop application has problems with 15bpp. Flash player videos are completely unwatchable (totally wrong colors).
So I applied Craig's patch on post #51 to have 32bpp. The destkop looks nicer and both flash player and remmina renders remote colors correctly. I still have problems with playing my videos with other media players (parole and minitube): colors are oversaturated. But this is not related to this bug.

[Giovanni Panozzo (giox069)]

Problem still here in xubuntu 14.04 nightly build of december 28 2013, on HP d530/U with 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller.
Workaround of post#51 is still working.

[bradley smith (bradley-r-smith)]

Just implemented fix in #51. "Default Depth 24" is definately preferred, no obvious performance detriment (using a gen 2 chip). I'd call this a bug!

[Gannet (ken20001)]

After installing xubuntu 13.10 on old computer with Intel 845G graphics adapter i found that color depth is low. The screen looks very poor and for me it would be impossible to change this if someone wouldn't help. After creating custom xorg.conf file it became look fine - in 24 bit. So, if it could be, I think, that must be the default. Also in comments in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/1173649 it seems that default 15/16 bit instead of 24 is not the best choice. People doesn't understand why 15/16 is used instead of 24. I also doesn't see much difference, except the fact that 15/16 looks horrible.

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

Otoh, 15/16bpp is a good choice for the limitations of that hardware.

[Gannet (ken20001)]

How can it be a good choice if 24 bit working good: in Windows XP and in Xubuntu 13.10 (with custom xorg.conf) ? Today with custom xorf.conf file I configured it and it works at 24 bit perfectly. What limitations ?

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

Because the Windows driver defaults to 16bit as well... It's almost as if the hardware was spec'ed primarily to run at 16bit..

[Gannet (ken20001)]

The thing is that in windows I just do right mouse click and choose display resolution and color depth. This is very simple for anyone. But in Linux I must know what is X Server and what is xorg.conf file, where it is situated and the more - how and what to write it to switch to 24 bit. I'm newbie and there some people who helped me with it. What the others should do in this case ?

[Damien Lespiau (damien-lespiau)]

That's a fair comment, but that's a bug for the software you using to configure your displays, gnome-control-centre maybe?

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

I am fed up with having this argument.

commit 539b749416b275d84e05e2a5b62d946903aa3d29
Author: Chris Wilson <email address hidden>
Date: Fri Jan 31 18:02:51 2014 +0000

    sna: Use 24bpp rendering by default for gen2 again

[Dan McMahill (dmcmahill)]

Just adding a "me too" data point. sysinfo says that my video card is:

Intel Corporation 82845G/GL [Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Intel orporation Device 5641

For me, the really broken part was flash video such as youtube pages or an episode of Georgia Outdoors on gpb.org. I'll attach a screenshot to show what I was getting.

Adding the 00-xorg.conf file as suggested above with DefaultDepth 24 fixed things for me.

Best Regards
-Dan

[Dan McMahill (dmcmahill)]

Just adding a "me too" data point. sysinfo says that my video card is:

Intel Corporation 82845G/GL [Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Intel orporation Device 5641

For me, the really broken part was flash video such as youtube pages or an episode of Georgia Outdoors on gpb.org. I'll attach a screenshot to show what I was getting.

Adding the 00-xorg.conf file as suggested above with DefaultDepth 24 fixed things for me.

Best Regards
-Dan

[Gannet (ken20001)]

(In reply to comment #6)
> I am fed up with having this argument.
>
> commit 539b749416b275d84e05e2a5b62d946903aa3d29
> Author: Chris Wilson <email address hidden>
> Date: Fri Jan 31 18:02:51 2014 +0000
>
> sna: Use 24bpp rendering by default for gen2 again

Thanks. This will be very comfortably.