Bug 27008 (SnowRaptor)

Summary: rs480 Flickers when entering KMS on Dell Inspiron 1501
Product: xorg Reporter: Elton Carvalho <eltonfc>
Component: Driver/RadeonAssignee: xf86-video-ati maintainers <xorg-driver-ati>
Status: RESOLVED INVALID QA Contact: Xorg Project Team <xorg-team>
Severity: normal    
Priority: medium    
Version: 7.4 (2008.09)   
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64)   
OS: Linux (All)   
Whiteboard:
i915 platform: i915 features:
Attachments:
Description Flags
Possibly relevant section of /var/log/messages
none
possible fix
none
DMESG from flickering boot
none
Xorg.0.log of a flickering X start, screen blanking and fine returning
none
possible fix
none
possible fix
none
Output of "radeontool regmatch '*' while screen is flickering
none
Output of "radeontool regmatch '*'" after DPMS-off
none
Output of "radeontool regmatch '*'" after DPMS-off running X none

Description Elton Carvalho 2010-03-10 21:39:31 UTC
Created attachment 33934 [details]
Possibly relevant section of /var/log/messages

During boot time, when the kernel loads KMS and tries to switch to the native resolution, *sometimes*  the screen starts flickering, filles with horizontal alternating black and white stripes, about 2 pixels high.

After a few minutes, it goes blank (DPMS/screensaver like) and when I move the mouse or hit the keyboard, The screen comes back normally, working fine.
Comment 1 Alex Deucher 2010-03-11 07:42:37 UTC
Created attachment 33960 [details] [review]
possible fix

Does this patch help?
Comment 2 Elton Carvalho 2010-03-11 09:55:06 UTC
(In reply to comment #1)
> Created an attachment (id=33960) [details]
> possible fix
> 
> Does this patch help?
> 

I'll check it this weekend, when I'll be able to afford putting my notebook offline.

Thanks for the prompt response!
Comment 3 Elton Carvalho 2010-03-14 12:38:35 UTC
(In reply to comment #1)
> Created an attachment (id=33960) [details]
> possible fix
> 
> Does this patch help?
> 

It seems to be working for now. Thanks.
Comment 4 Alex Deucher 2010-03-14 12:49:20 UTC
I've sent the patch to Dave.
Comment 5 Elton Carvalho 2010-03-15 11:22:15 UTC
After a few reboots in different conditions, the bug doesn't seem to be happening anymore.

Thanks!
Comment 6 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-23 09:31:03 UTC
Created attachment 35804 [details]
DMESG from flickering boot
Comment 7 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-23 09:38:56 UTC
After a few boots, the bug is back.

In fact, KMS worked fine for a few boots after applying the patch, then I got the flickering again.

Before reopening this bug, I updated my kernel to 2.6.24 (which has the proposed patch applied) and the flickering on boot persists.

A few things I noticed: When I updated the kernel and forgot to recompile the X11 radeon driver against the new kernel, I got the flickering on the terminal, but not on X (of course, compiz showed me that white screen, but gdm worked fine). I could alternate between the VTs and X, seeing flickering screen on the VTs and an OK working GDM. 

After compiling X11 radeon drivers (from git-master), I get flickering all the time, until X blanks the screen for powersaving. When I bring it back, everything works fine: KMS, VT and X, and switching between then. And I get no more flickering until a reboot.

I attached a DMESG and a Xorg.0.log from a flickering boot (and subsequent X blanking and bringing back).
Comment 8 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-23 09:39:55 UTC
Created attachment 35805 [details]
Xorg.0.log of a flickering X start, screen blanking and fine returning
Comment 9 Alex Deucher 2010-05-26 08:23:08 UTC
Created attachment 35871 [details] [review]
possible fix

Does this patch help?
Comment 10 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-26 13:30:08 UTC
(In reply to comment #9)
> Created an attachment (id=35871) [details]
> possible fix
> 
> Does this patch help?

Curiously, it worked on the first couple of warm reboots, but after leaving the computer unplugged from AC and off the battery for a few minutes, I got the flickering screen again, same behavior.

No visible changes in the logs. (dmesg or /var/log/messages).
Comment 11 Alex Deucher 2010-05-26 13:46:53 UTC
Created attachment 35873 [details] [review]
possible fix

Does this patch help?  try with and without the previous patch.
Comment 12 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-26 21:18:16 UTC
(In reply to comment #11)
> Created an attachment (id=35873) [details]
> possible fix
> 
> Does this patch help?  try with and without the previous patch.

Apparently not. Neither with nor without the previous patch.

Always the flickering lines.
Comment 13 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-27 14:00:29 UTC
Created attachment 35891 [details]
Output of "radeontool regmatch '*' while screen is flickering
Comment 14 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-27 14:01:59 UTC
Created attachment 35892 [details]
Output of "radeontool regmatch '*'" after DPMS-off

I took these data after the screen went DPMS off, and back on normally in console. X was *not* running at the time.
Comment 15 Elton Carvalho 2010-05-27 14:15:49 UTC
Created attachment 35893 [details]
Output of "radeontool regmatch '*'" after DPMS-off running X

Output of radeontool when running X without rebooting the computer after the previous registers.
Comment 16 Adam Jackson 2018-06-12 19:09:42 UTC
Mass closure: This bug has been untouched for more than six years, and is not
obviously still valid. Please reopen this bug or file a new report if you continue to experience issues with current releases.

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