[i855] xrandr does not output correctly to VGA output

[Julian Lam]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

When outputting to VGA (which happens to be a TV), trying to output at 1360x768 (the preferred and maximum resolution supported by the TV), graphical tearing and artifacts are seen on both connected outputs (LVDS and VGA - See attached picture). As far as I can tell, there is no effect on the operation of the computer itself, only the video output.

Please note that the system autodetect does NOT automatically enable the mode "1360x768". I had to add it manually to my xorg.conf file. The file should be attached for you to see.

Also note that the xrandr output worked decently in Intrepid. There were no artifacts or tearing that could be seen.

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu jaunty (development branch)
Release: 9.04
Codename: jaunty

xserver-xorg-video-intel:
  Installed: 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu5
  Candidate: 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu5
  Version table:
 *** 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu5 0
        500 http://ubuntu.mirror.rafal.ca jaunty/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu5
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_CA.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) ) #40-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 3 17:39:51 UTC 2009
SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-intel
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-11-generic i686

[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: Dell Device [1028:018d]
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device [8086:3582] (rev 02)
     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:018d]

[Julian Lam (julian-lam)]

Update: Output works correctly when DRI is set to false... but this stops compiz from starting, which isn't exactly a decent workaround.

Advise?

[Julian Lam (julian-lam)]

Update:

This problem is still prevalent in xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.

An update on the problems: The screen is unusable and has artifacts (see picture) at ANY resolution when outputting through VGA ONLY. When outputting to LVDS, the screen works perfectly at resolutions up to and including 1280x768.

It seems like even though xrandr is choosing the correct mode, it is not outputting correctly to the screen.

I personally think that this is a major regression in the xserver or compiz package, and needs to be addressed prior to shipping!

[Julian Lam (julian-lam)]

Update: xrandr works perfectly with compiz off. I've added compiz to the list of affected packages.

[Julian Lam (julian-lam)]

Some more testing data:

Trying to get a cloned display on a VGA monitor results in a similar unusable state.

Laptop: 1280x800 native LVDS
Monitor: 1280x1024 native VGA

When running the command "xrandr --output VGA --auto", 1280x1024 is correctly set as the resolution, however, what is output is not 1280x1024. Instead, it looks as though the LVDS screen tries to display 1280x1024, and skews is down to 1280x800, so that everything is squished. For some reason, the VGA output ALSO compresses the image, so I am left with an unusable half-screen (as the bottom half is black)

xserver-xorg-video-intel:
  Installed: 2:2.7.0-1ubuntu1~xup~1
  Candidate: 2:2.7.0-1ubuntu1~xup~1
  Version table:
 *** 2:2.7.0-1ubuntu1~xup~1 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net jaunty/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 0
        500 http://ubuntu.mirror.rafal.ca jaunty/main Packages

[Julian Lam (julian-lam)]

Doesn't seem as though the problem has been solved in more recent kernel release candidates (2.6.30-020630rc5-generic), although, of course, that could be because it's not a kernel problem in the first place.

[Julian Lam (julian-lam)]

Problem got marginally better when using kernel 2.6.30-020630-generic. However, outputting to VGA output is still unbearable with compiz on. Xrandr works perfectly when compiz is off.

Any hope for Karmic?

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Well, next I'd like to forward this issue upstream, but first it must be retested on latest development version of Karmic to make sure the issue still happens there with the latest code. ISO images are available at http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/. If you can reproduce it in the LiveCD environment, you shouldn't need to modify your installed system. Also please attach a fresh Xorg.0.log and dmesg from this testing.

[Julian Lam (julian-lam)]

Hi Bryce,

Sorry about the delay. Everything works beautifully on the latest karmic packages. We can close this bug now!

[Geir Ove Myhr (gomyhr)]

Thank you for letting us now that this is now working fine and we can close this bug.