KDE4.5 desktop effects problems with nvidia at 1920x1080?

[littlenoodles]

Hi.  I'm running the latest PCLinuxOS with the latest updates applied.  So I have KDE4.5 and presumably the latest nvidia driver for my card.

My video card is an nvidia GeForce FX5200, and I've been running it for ages at 1280x1024 with no problems in any KDE version 3->4.5 - including the current software levels.

Just got a new Dell ST2310 1920x1080 monitor, and was able to get it to work at the native resolution.  But things are screwy unless I disable desktop effects in KDE.  Sometimes the display wraps vertically, but more often it just freezes.  The mouse cursor moves, but nothing changes in response to clicks.  Then if I hover over a taskbar button, the act of putting up a popup thumbnail forces the display to repaint, and I can see the results of whatever updates have been going on.  If I disable desktop effects in KDE, everything works fine.  If I drop the resolution back to 1280x1024, even desktop effects work.

For yucks, I went back to the original PCLOS Live CD (July 5th version).  Booted fine, autodetected my video card and monitor, and autoconfigured it to 1920x1080 with desktop effects.  Everything works.  So there seems to be a problem with something that's been updated since I installed from this CD.  That would include an upgrade from KDE4.4 to KDE4.5 as well as an upgrade to the nvidia driver.

I also tried rebooting to a Mandriva 2010.0 partition on the same machine.  Desktop effects work there at 1920x1080 too.  This is the prior Mandriva version with KDE4.3.

So, I'm guessing this is a KDE4.5 problem.  Anybody else out there having a similar problem?

Thanks,
Rob

[DeBaas]

Maybe some missing lines in /etc/X11/xorg.conf (post yours)
Or check in PCC for Plug and Play settings.

[littlenoodles]

Here's my xorg.conf.  I tried comparing it with the xorg.conf in my Mandriva partition, and the only differences were entries for the keyboard and mouse in the MDV version that aren't there in the PCLOS version, and a bunch of extra modelines in my original PCLOS version.  I think the modelines were added when I initially chose 'Other' instead of 'Automatic' for my resolution - I think that brought in the modelines.  But in any case, I removed them, and the problem's the same.  'Automatic' correctly sets up 1920x1080 mode, which works.  It's just that KDE desktop effects don't work.  By the way, OpenGL seems to be working too.  At least OpenGL screensavers work.  I think this is a KDE4.5 kwin effects thing.

After I post this, I'll try rebooting from the live CD and compare the xorg.conf there.

I assume PCC is 'PCLOS Control Center' (i.e. 'configure your computer'), no?  I don't see any Plug and Play settings there under 'Browse and Configure Hardware'.  What should I look for there?


# File generated by XFdrake (rev )

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the xorg.conf man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option "DontZap" "False" # disable <Ctrl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
    AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work
    #DontZoom # disable <Ctrl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Disable "dri"
    Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
    Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
    Load "extmod"
    Load "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Dell"
    ModelName "Dell ST2310"
    HorizSync 30.0-83.0
    VertRefresh 56.0-76.0
   
    # TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.
    # 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     50.00  768  832  846 1000   576  590  595  630
   
    # 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync
    ModeLine "768x576"     63.07  768  800  960 1024   576  578  590  616
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce FX series"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "DPMS"
    Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
    Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 24
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "layout1"
    Screen "screen1"
EndSection

[DBobb]

I am using an 9200M GS on a Benq G2412HD monitor (1920x1080) and have no resolution problems, using the HDMI cable on my laptop anyways. Though I don't know if my nvidia driver is different from your Nvidia driver, I am using 4.5 as you are. My xorg.conf file reads like this

Code: [Select]

[david@localhost ~]$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# File generated by XFdrake (rev )

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (root@localhost.localdomain)  Tue Apr 27 03:39:07 CDT 2010

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "Layout0"
    InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    Screen 0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Option "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    FontPath "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from data in "/etc/sysconfig/keyboard"
    Identifier "Keyboard0"
    Driver "kbd"
    Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier "Monitor0"
    VendorName "Unknown"
    ModelName "BenQ G2412HD"
    HorizSync 24.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh 50.0 - 76.0
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "Device0"
    VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName "GeForce 9200M GS"
    Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device "Device0"
    Monitor "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth 24
    
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
    EndSubsection
    Option "TwinView" "0"
    Option "metamodes" "DFP-1: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
EndSection

What are the first 3 lines that are displayed when you type in "xrandr" in the terminal?

[DeBaas]

Missing monitor and screen setting, I had a backup from my old settings, for your reference:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 256.35  (root@localhost.localdomain)  Wed Jul 28 12:48:50 CDT 2010

# File generated by XFdrake (rev )
# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the xorg.conf man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "layout1"
    Screen         "screen1" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
    Load           "v4l" # Video for Linux
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "glx" # 3D layer
    Disable        "dri"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"

 # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work
    #DontZoom # disable <Ctrl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
    Option         "DontZap" "False" # disable <Ctrl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
    Option         "allowmouseopenfail"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "keyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # Monitor supported modeline (60.0 Hz vsync, 65.3 kHz hsync, ratio 16/10, 87 dpi)
    Identifier     "monitor1"
    VendorName     "Plug'n Play"
    ModelName      "W2242"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    ModeLine       "1680x1050" 146.25 1680 1784 1960 2240 1050 1053 1059 1089 +hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "1680x1050" 119 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "768x576" 50.00 768 832 846 1000 576 590 595 630
    ModeLine       "768x576" 63.07 768 800 960 1024 576 578 590 616
    ModeLine       "1920x1200_120" 412.34 1920 2080 2296 2672 1200 1201 1204 1286 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1920x1200_100" 337.58 1920 2072 2288 2656 1200 1201 1204 1271 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1920x1200_85" 282.74 1920 2072 2280 2640 1200 1201 1204 1260 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1920x1200_75" 246.59 1920 2064 2272 2624 1200 1201 1204 1253 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1920x1200_60" 193.16 1920 2048 2256 2592 1200 1201 1204 1242 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1920x1200_50" 158.08 1920 2032 2240 2560 1200 1201 1204 1235 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1680x1050_120" 313.20 1680 1816 2000 2320 1050 1051 1054 1125 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1680x1050_100" 256.20 1680 1808 1992 2304 1050 1051 1054 1112 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1680x1050_85" 214.51 1680 1800 1984 2288 1050 1051 1054 1103 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1680x1050_75" 188.07 1680 1800 1984 2288 1050 1051 1054 1096 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1680x1050_60" 147.14 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1680x1050_50" 120.21 1680 1776 1952 2224 1050 1051 1054 1081 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1000_120" 284.04 1600 1728 1904 2208 1000 1001 1004 1072 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1000_100" 232.13 1600 1720 1896 2192 1000 1001 1004 1059 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1000_85" 194.21 1600 1712 1888 2176 1000 1001 1004 1050 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1000_75" 169.13 1600 1704 1880 2160 1000 1001 1004 1044 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1000_60" 133.14 1600 1704 1872 2144 1000 1001 1004 1035 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1000_50" 108.66 1600 1688 1856 2112 1000 1001 1004 1029 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1440x900_120" 229.75 1440 1552 1712 1984 900 901 904 965 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1440x900_100" 187.55 1440 1544 1704 1968 900 901 904 953 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1440x900_85" 156.79 1440 1536 1696 1952 900 901 904 945 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1440x900_75" 136.49 1440 1536 1688 1936 900 901 904 940 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1440x900_60" 106.47 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1440x900_50" 87.41 1440 1512 1664 1888 900 901 904 926 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x800_120" 181.21 1280 1376 1520 1760 800 801 804 858 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x800_100" 147.89 1280 1376 1512 1744 800 801 804 848 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x800_85" 123.38 1280 1368 1504 1728 800 801 804 840 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x800_75" 107.21 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 835 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x800_60" 83.46 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x800_50" 68.56 1280 1336 1472 1664 800 801 804 824 -hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "device1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "nVidia Corporation"
    BoardName      "NVIDIA GeForce 6100 and later"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "screen1"
    Device         "device1"
    Monitor        "monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "DPMS"
    Option         "DynamicTwinView" "true"
    Option         "AddARGBGLXVisuals"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1600x1000" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       15
        Modes      "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1600x1000" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1600x1000" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1920x1200" "1680x1050" "1600x1000" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

[littlenoodles]

I tried copying xorg.conf from the working Live CD boot to my installed system (there were hardly any differences, but I tried it anyway).  No change.

Here's the output of xrandr:

[localhost ~]$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 1920 x 1080
default connected 1920x1080+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1920x1080      60.0*
   1600x900       75.0     60.0 
   1400x1050      75.0     60.0 
   1368x768       75.0     60.0 
   1360x765       75.0     60.0 
   1280x1024      75.0     60.0 
   1280x960       60.0 
   1280x720       75.0     60.0 
   1152x864       75.0 
   1024x768       75.0     70.0     60.0 
   896x672       120.0 
   832x624        75.0 
   800x600       130.0    120.0     75.0     72.0     60.0     56.0 
   640x512       150.0    120.0 
   640x480       120.0     75.0     73.0     60.0 
   576x432       150.0 
   512x384       150.0    140.0    120.0 
   416x312       150.0 
   400x300       150.0    145.0    121.0    113.0 
   320x240       150.0    146.0    120.0 
[localhost ~]$

[DBobb]

Ah. It doesnt look like anything is messed up with the way that the OS detects your resolutions:

The command:

Code: [Select]

xrandr -s 0Usually will set your screen to the highest resolution possible which is usually your monitor's native resolution (1920x1080).

Secondly, adding modelines is often futile if Xorg is already correctly detecting your resolution settings and even in some cases where it does not (where it does not, its often more productive to make sure that the HorizSync and VertRefresh are properly set, at which point Xorg will properly determine the modelines).

Thirdly, I do not advise you use the horizSync, vertRefresh or modelines in the xorg.conf that you just posted -- they are incompatible with your monitor (ie: if you look closely, the highest resolution is 1680x1050 *not* 1920x1080 as is your monitor's native resolution)

I'm sorry to say, but I do not know how to solve your problem. It looks like something went south when your xorg.conf file was set up, I would advise either running the wizard in the PCC again *or* (and this might be a better solution) running nvidia-settings in root mode, setting the proper resolution, and then having it write those changes to your "X Configuration File", which will overwrite xorg.conf.

Restart your graphical server (<ctrl>+<backspace><backspace>) to see if the changes work well for you.

[T6]

i think that the problem here is not the driver or any config file

a nvidia fx5200 is a very old video card, your current resolution is 1080p, this is very high resolution and pairing it with kde desktop effects is a killer situation for a video card with a gpu running only at 250mhz and with only 128 mbs of ram, afik for this resolution compiz requires 256 mbs of ram

if you test compiz in this same situation you probably will have better results

this particular video card can have problems with resolution higher than 1600*1200/1000

seven years old card seems to be showing its limitations

better test compiz or live without desktop effects until you upgrade to a newer nvidia video card

[DBobb]

T6 makes a good point.

Some of the compositing code has changed in KDE 4.5 which causes issues with some cards and drivers. I looked up your videocard and it *is* quite old (I thought before that it was one of the newest type nvidia cards). I really don't know if that's the issue here.

Another thing you *could* try is disabling blur, and seeing if that helps at all. It solves the problems with intel graphics drivers, so it's worth trying.

[littlenoodles]

I was kind of expecting problems with my 'old' video card.  But the thing is, it works under Windows XP.  It works under Mandriva 2010.0.  Hell, it even works under PCLOS 2010 as originally installed.  If I could go back to KDE4.4, I guess I would.  Which begs the question, why on earth should a point release of KDE break compatibility with hardware?  If they're going to make changes that won't work on the same hardware as the previous point release, that ought to trigger a major number bump.  Or they should make it possible to disable just the new features that won't work.  It's sounding like KDE4.5 changed the whole way they do 3D effects.  Why was that necessary?  Just to allow for a 'blur' effect?  For what it's worth, I don't have the dreaded 'blur' effect enabled.

Honestly, I think this is just some kind of bug in KDE4.5.  The effects themselves actually work.  The 'magic lamp' effect is one of the tricks that gets my frozen screen to repaint.  But there's some kind of double-buffering problem that's causing screen updates to not make it to the video card all the time.

Maybe this is a known KDE issue.  I'm gonna poke around kde's forums to see if it's a common problem and whether they consider it a bug or whether I'm just out of luck.

[T6]

the video card is working, the problem here is not the os or the desktop, is the video card that when asked to do a certain task can't complete it properly

"It's sounding like KDE4.5 changed the whole way they do 3D effects.  Why was that necessary?  Just to allow for a 'blur' effect?  For what it's worth, I don't have the dreaded 'blur' effect enabled."

that can be seen as progress too, not only as a problem

kde4 is not for designed to run on old hardware anymore and since it is a constant work in progress, this growing pains can be expected

if this feature is not for you, the whole 3d and effects, disable them and don't worry for this minimum detail

[Texstar]

I had nothing but trouble with my fx5200 that I pulled it out of my computer and chucked it out the window. Got a 9400GT from New Egg for 49 bucks and been happy ever since.

[MerReady]

I had nothing but trouble with my fx5200 that I pulled it out of my computer and chucked it out the window. Got a 9400GT from New Egg for 49 bucks and been happy ever since.

I seen 9500GT for $20-30 with mail in rebates on Newegg here and there. Its works great and its enough to play 3d intensive games if you like doing that.

[littlenoodles]

Thanks, Tex, for the New Egg hint.  I guess that's the way to go.  I was in the middle of posting a rant, so I guess I'll go ahead and post it anyway, just to blow off the steam.

the video card is working, the problem here is not the os or the desktop, is the video card that when asked to do a certain task can't complete it properly

One might suggest not asking it to do that certain task if that task isn't really necessary.

that can be seen as progress too, not only as a problem
kde4 is not for designed to run on old hardware anymore and since it is a constant work in progress, this growing pains can be expected
if this feature is not for you, the whole 3d and effects, disable them and don't worry for this minimum detail

I guess I won't argue this to death.  Yes, I've disabled 3d effects and KDE4.5 (and PCLOS in general) is otherwise beautiful on my big new monitor.  But I quite liked the effects in 4.4, and i miss them - so it's not a 'minimum detail'.  Just because KDE is a work in progress doesn't mean that they should add features arbitrarily.  Actually, the KDE team has been pretty good at defining the goals for the KDE4 series upfront, and the various point releases have gotten closer and closer to the goal on the same hardware.  The 3D effects were pretty damn good in 4.4, and did I mention that they actually worked on my machine.

Seriously, part of the appeal of Linux for me is that you don't need to constantly upgrade the hardware to get the latest features.  PCLOS is super fast on my box - the original WinXP is unbearably slow.  I have done several hardware upgrades along the way.  In fact the accursed FX5200 card was an upgrade, since the original SIS video on the motherboard is unsupported.  I am not averse to doing hardware upgrades to get new features, but I am averse to having to upgrade hardware just to keep features that were already working.

Part of the appeal of PCLOS, by the way, is it's rolling upgrade scheme.  I was using Mandriva before, and got tired of having to do a new install just to go from, say, KDE4.3 to KDE4.4.  But now I'm having my doubts.  PCLOS 2010 as installed worked great - then a rolling upgrade broke it.  That shouldn't happen.  It's not Texstar's fault, I guess, and you can say it's not KDE's fault either.  But just because they can redo their 3D support on a point release, that doesn't mean they should.  I'm beginning to think that all the complaints about KDE4.0 have given the team the wrong message.  Essentially that their users are a bunch of ungrateful brats who don't read press releases that clearly tell them what's ready and what's not.  And because of that, we may as well do whatever we want, expecting no thanks.  I sure hope not, because I for one think they've done a great job with KDE4, and most of all, I think the KDE3-4 break was a smart and necessary move.

Oh look.  I'm ranting again.  Sorry.  I'm sure the blur effect is just fabulous for those lucky enough to be able to support it.

[littlenoodles]

I seen 9500GT for $20-30 with mail in rebates on Newegg here and there. Its works great and its enough to play 3d intensive games if you like doing that.

Almost a solution, except it turns out my machine doesn't have PCI-Express slots, just PCI.  Out of luck?  Again, I'd hate to have to chuck this perfectly good (admittedly 6 year old) machine just to get my wobbly windows back...