Bug 14336

Summary: M6 LY and problems with resolution on external (2nd) monitor
Product: xorg Reporter: Rolf Leggewie <bugs.freedesktop.org>
Component: Driver/RadeonAssignee: xf86-video-ati maintainers <xorg-driver-ati>
Status: RESOLVED FIXED QA Contact: Xorg Project Team <xorg-team>
Severity: normal    
Priority: medium CC: bugzi11.fdo.tormod
Version: 7.2 (2007.02)Keywords: regression
Hardware: Other   
OS: All   
URL: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/162136
Whiteboard:
i915 platform: i915 features:
Attachments:
Description Flags
external monitor
none
the xorg.conf I used (I am sure there are lots of errors in there)
none
Xorg.0.log
none
Log for latest tormod package (April 4th, I believe), empty xorg.conf
none
xorg.conf I used (created by "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg -phigh" and adding the Virtual line)
none
X log file none

Description Rolf Leggewie 2008-02-02 07:40:09 UTC
Hi,

I have a Thinkpad X24 with the ATI Radeon M6 LY chip.  When I upgraded from feisty to gutsy the external, secondary monitor stopped working.  This has been reported as https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-ati/+bug/162136

The situation has changed over time but the regression has still not been fixed 100%

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/feisty/i386/xserver-xorg-video-ati/1:6.6.3-2ubuntu6
* everything was working fine, external resolution of 1680x1050

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/gutsy/i386/xserver-xorg-video-ati/1:6.7.195-1ubuntu2
* 2nd monitor completely broken, clone mode

http://launchpadlibrarian.net/11689116/xserver-xorg-video-ati_6.7.197%2Bgit20080201.bcd59010-0ubuntu0tormod%7Egutsy_i386.deb
* with this inofficial, bleeding-edge package, xrandr is back to reporting 
  1280x1024 resolution for the external monitor which is better than nothing
  but still not the truth

I am sorry, I can not provide an Xorg.0.log for the last deb. My mistake.

Regards

Rolf
Comment 1 Tormod Volden 2008-02-02 13:01:31 UTC
It will be difficult to debug this without any log file at all. Would it be possible for you to for instance try a live CD like Ubuntu Hardy Alpha 4, and install a "bleeding-edge" package on it? Thanks.
Comment 2 Rolf Leggewie 2008-02-15 06:26:08 UTC
(In reply to comment #1)
> It will be difficult to debug this without any log file at all.

http://launchpadlibrarian.net/11989952/Xorg.0.log
Comment 3 Rolf Leggewie 2008-02-15 06:27:13 UTC
I deleted xorg.conf and restarted gdm before uploading that log.
Comment 4 Alex Deucher 2008-04-03 19:49:41 UTC
your log looks fine.  I think this is configuration issue.  the default virtual size for your chips 1600x1200 which won't fit a 1680x1050 mode.  you'll need to add a virtual line to the display subsection of the screen section your config to allocate a large enough desktop:

Virtual 2704 1050
Comment 5 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-04 07:57:04 UTC
Created attachment 15675 [details]
external monitor

I retried with the latest package from Tormod (http://launchpadlibrarian.net/12175308/xserver-xorg-video-ati_6.8.0-1ubuntu0tormod%7Egutsy_i386.deb) and the Virtual-line, but the result is not good.  On login, the external monitor looks as in the screenshot above.  The internal monitor is the same, only that it shows the 1024x768 area only (anything non-green with the flower).  After login, the external monitor completely blanks and I have only the internal monitor with 1024x768.
Comment 6 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-04 07:58:47 UTC
Created attachment 15676 [details]
the xorg.conf I used (I am sure there are lots of errors in there)
Comment 7 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-04 07:59:41 UTC
Created attachment 15677 [details]
Xorg.0.log
Comment 8 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-04 08:06:03 UTC
While logged in, I queried xrandr

~$ xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 2704 x 1050
VGA-0 connected (normal left inverted right)
   1680x1050      60.0 +
   1280x1024      74.9     75.0     59.9  
   1152x864       75.0     74.8  
   1024x768       74.9     75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     74.9     60.3  
   640x480        75.0     72.8     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
   640x350        70.1  
LVDS connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right) 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768       60.0*+   60.0  
   800x600        60.3     59.9  
   640x480        59.9     59.4  

"~$ xranrd --fb 2704x1050" did get me a bigger screen, but it was still on the internal screen only.  The external screen was still in suspend.
Comment 9 Alex Deucher 2008-04-04 08:37:26 UTC
(In reply to comment #5)
> Created an attachment (id=15675) [details]
> external monitor
> 

that's clone mode :)

> I retried with the latest package from Tormod
> (http://launchpadlibrarian.net/12175308/xserver-xorg-video-ati_6.8.0-1ubuntu0tormod%7Egutsy_i386.deb)
> and the Virtual-line, but the result is not good.  On login, the external
> monitor looks as in the screenshot above.  The internal monitor is the same,
> only that it shows the 1024x768 area only (anything non-green with the flower).
>  After login, the external monitor completely blanks and I have only the
> internal monitor with 1024x768.
> 

looks like gnome strikes again.  If you used the gnome gui to change the mode, it will reset that mode every time you log in.  it's not randr 1.2 aware, so it has no concept of multiple heads.  There's some gconf key you have to remove (I can't remember where is lives off hand).

xrandr --output VGA-0 --right-of LVDS
will switch to dualhead.  you can set up your xorg.conf if you want dualhead to be permanently on.
Comment 10 Alex Deucher 2008-04-04 08:38:40 UTC
(In reply to comment #9)

> xrandr --output VGA-0 --right-of LVDS
> will switch to dualhead.  you can set up your xorg.conf if you want dualhead to
> be permanently on.
> 

xrandr --output VGA-0 --auto
to turn on the output.
Comment 11 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-09 18:59:23 UTC
(In reply to comment #9)
> (In reply to comment #5)
> > Created an attachment (id=15675) [details] [details]
> > external monitor

> that's clone mode :)

Which is basically still what I've got even with the commands you gave.

> looks like gnome strikes again.  If you used the gnome gui to change the mode,
> it will reset that mode every time you log in.  it's not randr 1.2 aware, so it
> has no concept of multiple heads.  There's some gconf key you have to remove (I
> can't remember where is lives off hand).

I search for randr with gconf-editor but found only two entries which I think are unrelated.  I think this setting is creating problems at my end.  Would you mind helping me to find that key?

I am still completely stuck with the newer Xorg on Thinkpad X24.  Latest output from "xrandr -q" is now again back to

$ xrandr -q

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1280 x 1200
VGA-0 connected (normal left inverted right)
   1280x1024      74.9     75.0     59.9  
   1152x864       75.0     74.8  
   1024x768       74.9     75.1     70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     74.9     60.3  
   640x480        75.0     72.8     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
   640x350        70.1  
LVDS connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right) 0mm x 0mm
   1024x768       60.0*+   60.0  
   800x600        60.3  
   640x480        59.9  

(resolution of external monitor is not correctly discovered.)

Comment 12 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-09 19:04:58 UTC
Created attachment 15794 [details]
Log for latest tormod package (April 4th, I believe), empty xorg.conf
Comment 13 Alex Deucher 2008-04-09 22:37:58 UTC
(In reply to comment #11)
> I search for randr with gconf-editor but found only two entries which I think
> are unrelated.  I think this setting is creating problems at my end.  Would you
> mind helping me to find that key?

~/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/*

> 
> I am still completely stuck with the newer Xorg on Thinkpad X24.  Latest output
> from "xrandr -q" is now again back to
> 
> $ xrandr -q
> 
> Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1280 x 1200
> VGA-0 connected (normal left inverted right)
>    1280x1024      74.9     75.0     59.9  
>    1152x864       75.0     74.8  
>    1024x768       74.9     75.1     70.1     60.0  
>    832x624        74.6  
>    800x600        72.2     75.0     74.9     60.3  
>    640x480        75.0     72.8     66.7     60.0  
>    720x400        70.1  
>    640x350        70.1  
> LVDS connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right) 0mm x 0mm
>    1024x768       60.0*+   60.0  
>    800x600        60.3  
>    640x480        59.9  
> 
> (resolution of external monitor is not correctly discovered.)
> 

it is, but as I said, the max size of your desktop is not big enough to accommodate it:
(II) RADEON(0): Not using mode "1680x1050" (width too large for virtual size)

you'll need to add a virtual line (like your previous config) to the display subsection of the screen section your config to allocate a large enough desktop:
Virtual 2704 1050

Comment 14 Alex Deucher 2008-04-09 22:39:20 UTC
Also, don't use the gnome display config gui or it will screw it up again.  use xrandr directly.
Comment 15 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 03:33:48 UTC
Alex, thank you for the quick reply.

(In reply to comment #13)
> > mind helping me to find that key?
> 
> ~/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/*

nothing there.  The only directory under ~/.gconf/ is apps.  But I remember I *do* have used that gnome GUI thing in the past.  If only I knew where to go to get rid of the changes it made.

> you'll need to add a virtual line (like your previous config) to the display
> subsection of the screen section your config to allocate a large enough
> desktop:
> Virtual 2704 1050

OK, I will.  It is only that when I tried to carry over my previous xorg.conf things where even worse than with an empty xorg.conf.  I'll try out a few things and report back.

(In reply to comment #14)
> Also, don't use the gnome display config gui or it will screw it up again.  use
> xrandr directly.

not there yet, but after things are fixed, I'll stay away from the Gnome applet, I promise.
Comment 16 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 04:14:37 UTC
(In reply to comment #14)
> Also, don't use the gnome display config gui or it will screw it up again.  use
> xrandr directly.

BTW, are you talking about gnome-display-properties or displayconfig-gtk?  gnome-display-properties is the default for gnome, I believe.
Comment 17 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 04:23:35 UTC
(In reply to comment #15)
> > ~/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/*
> 
> nothing there.

;-)

Hehe, silly me.  I failed to realize that I was looking at the wrong computer (ssh console login to another machine).  So, what do I do?  "rm -Rf ~/.gconf/desktop/gnome/screen/"?  I'll try that now, gconf-editor gave me no option to remove that branch.
Comment 18 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 04:54:11 UTC
OK, here is the current status.  I am using grandr GUI to make any changes (I am not so familiar with the xrandr command line, yet.  The version in gutsy crashed (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/grandr/+bug/214892) so I backported the hardy one which works fine (https://launchpad.net/~r0lf/+archive).

I can set up a dual screen, but only with both displays set to 640x480 (wow, what an experience ;-)).  The problem seems to be that for some reason the display cannot be wider than 1280 pixels.  I'll try meddling with xorg.conf and the Virtual line as suggested, now.
Comment 19 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 05:29:21 UTC
Created attachment 15802 [details]
xorg.conf I used (created by "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg -phigh" and adding the Virtual line)

X would not even start with this.  I had to go back to an empty xorg.conf for now.
Comment 20 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 05:30:38 UTC
Created attachment 15803 [details]
X log file

not sure what the "(EE) RADEON(0): Memory manager initialization to (0,0) (2704,775) failed" line is about
Comment 21 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 05:36:41 UTC
IT'S WORKING!!!

I had to reduce Default Depth to 16.  Fonts do look as good as before, but I remember I tweaked something.  I'll need to look into that.  I am just glad that I am back up to date with X and still have my dual-head setup.  Thanks, guys, for all the good work.
Comment 22 Rolf Leggewie 2008-04-10 05:54:38 UTC
(In reply to comment #21)
> Fonts do look as good as before

I missed a 'not' there.  The fonts do not look as nice as previously, but I am sure this can be worked out eventually.
Comment 23 Alex Deucher 2008-04-10 06:36:27 UTC
(In reply to comment #22)
> I missed a 'not' there.  The fonts do not look as nice as previously, but I am
> sure this can be worked out eventually.
> 

Your LCD does not provide an edid, so there is no way to determine it's physical size and hence dpi.  you might try adjusting the dpi with xrandr:
xrandr --fbmm <width in mm>x<height in mm>
Alternatively, you can add a DisplaySize line to the monitor section for your LVDS panel.

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