[i855] intel 855 (GME) fails to set proper resolution in Jaunty when BIOS "Video expansion" is off

[Vincent Caron]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

I have a Dell 510m Inspiron laptop (Pentium M) with a i855 video chipset and a 1400x1050 LCD screen. With Ubuntu Hardy it worked like a charm, without any hack such as the infamous i195resolution. I just upgraded to Jaunty and the resolution is wrong: it looks lower (somewhat 1024x768) with still 1400px wide lines wrapping around, in an 'interlacing' style. Xrandr and xdpyinfo are sure they're running 1400x1050 and obviously the frame buffer is 1400x1050, although it's displayed in a quite unreadable "folded" fashion (it's not scrolling, it's wrapping).

I've tried various hacks (using FBDev, explicitly setting Virtual sizes, etc) to no avail.

# dpkg -l xserver-xorg-video-intel
ii xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 X.Org X server -- Intel i8xx, i9xx display driver

# cat /proc/mtrr
reg00: base=0x000000000 ( 0MB), size= 1024MB, count=1: write-back
reg01: base=0x040000000 ( 1024MB), size= 256MB, count=1: write-back
reg02: base=0x04ff00000 ( 1279MB), size= 1MB, count=1: uncachable
reg03: base=0x0feda0000 ( 4077MB), size= 128KB, count=1: write-through

# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
[... comments...]
Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Default Screen"
        Monitor "Configured Monitor"
        Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier "Configured Video Device"
# Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

# ddcprobe
vbe: VESA 3.0 detected.
oem: Intel(r)852GM/852GME/855GM/855GME Graphics Chip Accelerated VGA BIOS
vendor: Intel Corporation
product: Intel(r)852GM/852GME/855GM/855GME Graphics Controller Hardware Version 0.0
memory: 832kb
mode: 1280x1024x256
mode: 1280x1024x64k
mode: 1280x1024x16m
mode: 1024x768x256
mode: 1024x768x64k
mode: 1024x768x16m
mode: 640x480x16m
mode: 800x600x64k
mode: 800x600x16m
mode: 640x480x256
mode: 800x600x256
mode: 640x480x64k
edid:
edid: 1 3
id: 0000
eisa: LPL0000
serial: 00000000
manufacture: 0 2004
input: analog signal.
screensize: 30 23
gamma: 2.200000
dpms: RGB, no active off, no suspend, no standby
dtiming: 1400x1050@70
dtiming: 1400x1050@70
monitorid: C1147150E07
monitorid: ����xP

[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 [1028:0164]
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device [8086:3582] (rev 02)
     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0164]

[Vincent Caron (vincent-zerodeux)]

I've updated the Dell BIOS from A09 to A11 to no avail.

But suddenly I got the idea to turn the "Video expansion" BIOS feature on, and the bug disappeared. This feature let the display automatically scale any resolution up to the screen size. The default (Dell factory) setting is on, but I usually turn it off on my Dell laptops, I prefer small and crisp text consoles than huge and blurry ones.

I guess we should be a small minority to experience this bug (BIOS tweaker + hawk eyes!). Although it looks like the intel video driver relies on some predefined state that's not always as expected.

[Vincent Caron (vincent-zerodeux)]

Once the bug is worked around (via BIOS Video Expansion On), xdpyinfo and xrandr output are identical. Xorg.log and ddcprobe are different I think (did not have old versions locally to run diff), I'm attaching them just in case.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

[This is an automatic notification.]

A new major version of the -intel driver is now available in Karmic.

This version includes a major reworking of the acceleration
architecture, which resolves a huge number of issues. We do not know
whether it resolves the issue you reported.

Would you mind testing Karmic Alpha-2 and seeing if it is still a
problem? CD ISO images are available here:

  http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/

If the issue can still be reproduced on karmic, please report here with
your findings, and attach a fresh Xorg.0.log from your test, and we will
be able to forward the bug upstream.

Otherwise, if the bug no longer exists in Karmic, let us know that as
well.

In the off chance you encounter different bugs while attempting to test
Karmic, please report those as new bug reports.

[Vincent Caron (vincent-zerodeux)]

On Fri, 2009-06-26 at 04:13 +0000, Bryce Harrington wrote:
> [This is an automatic notification.]
>
> A new major version of the -intel driver is now available in Karmic.
>
> This version includes a major reworking of the acceleration
> architecture, which resolves a huge number of issues. We do not know
> whether it resolves the issue you reported.
>
> Would you mind testing Karmic Alpha-2 and seeing if it is still a
> problem? CD ISO images are available here:
>
> http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/
>
> If the issue can still be reproduced on karmic, please report here with
> your findings, and attach a fresh Xorg.0.log from your test, and we will
> be able to forward the bug upstream.

  Unfortunately the bug is still present with exact same symptoms. I
disabled the "Video expansion" in BIOS, ran "Karmic alpha 2" live from
CD and saw the same problem. Attached is the Xorg.0.log.

> Otherwise, if the bug no longer exists in Karmic, let us know that as
> well.
>
> In the off chance you encounter different bugs while attempting to test
> Karmic, please report those as new bug reports.
>
>
> ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-intel (Ubuntu)
> Status: Confirmed => New
>
> ** Changed in: xserver-xorg-video-intel (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>

[Pedro Varela Saraiva (varelasaraiva)]

I confirm the bug in a Acer Travelmate 663 with an Intel 855gm chipset and 1400x1050 screen as well. Unfortunately I don't have the video expansion option in the BIOS. Reverting to the 2.4 driver works, although a bit slow.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi Vincent,

I've forwarded your bug report upstream to https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22700 - please subscribe to this bug report in case upstream needs further information or wishes you to test something. Thanks ahead of time.

[sstvmaster (sstvmaster)]

Hi @ all,

1. Sorry for my poor english.

I have a Dell Inspiron 500m with Ubuntu Karmic alpha 4 installed. The "Video expansion" in BIOS is enabled but the Desktop is larger than the Screen. There is also an Intel 855gm graphic Chipset installed.

P.S.: With Ubuntu Jaunty it displays all correct!

Witch files are needed?

The 1. Screenshot is make with the System itself.
the 2. Shot with my Digicam

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Upstream has closed the bug on their end due to lack of response to their questions and because they believe it to now be fixed. Please reopen if you find it to still be an issue.

[Alan Porter (alan.porter)]

This post saved my skin!

Thanks for noticing that the video expansion setting would make this work. I just upgraded my wife's Dell D505, and it was set to show a smaller-and-crisper boot-up screen (video expansion = off). If she had seen the screen in that funky interlaced / overlapped / folded mode, I would've been in trouble, for sure. She might've made me buy her a Macbook!

Meanwhile, problem solved. I am happy that she can run jaunty on her lappie.

Alan Porter