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#1 2026-10-07 21:40:25
- jmj
- Member
- Registered: 2023-12-10
- Posts: 13
Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
I have to disable both VariableRefresh and TearFree options after upgrading xorg, otherwise it crashes lxdm or sddm:
Section "Device"
Identifier "AMD"
Driver "amdgpu"
Option "VariableRefresh" "true"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSectionOct 07 14:51:00 main systemd[1]: Started Process Core Dump (PID 5376/UID 0).
Oct 07 14:51:00 main systemd-coredump[5377]: [?] Process 5261 (Xorg) of user 0 dumped core.
Stack trace of thread 5261:
#0 0x00007f56ea29a11c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x9a11c)
#1 0x00007f56ea23e5d0 raise (libc.so.6 + 0x3e5d0)
#2 0x00007f56ea225685 abort (libc.so.6 + 0x25685)
#3 0x000056123e20b47c OsAbort (Xorg + 0x16d47c)
#4 0x000056123e217958 FatalError (Xorg + 0x179958)
#5 0x000056123e20dfa3 n/a (Xorg + 0x16ffa3)
#6 0x00007f56ea23e6f0 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x3e6f0)
#7 0x00007f56e9bcf98f n/a (amdgpu_drv.so + 0x1298f)
#8 0x000056123e16e8d5 n/a (Xorg + 0xd08d5)
#9 0x000056123e172b43 n/a (Xorg + 0xd4b43)
#10 0x000056123e113552 n/a (Xorg + 0x75552)
#11 0x000056123e0d333e n/a (Xorg + 0x3533e)
#12 0x00007f56ea227781 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x27781)
#13 0x00007f56ea2278b9 __libc_start_main (libc.so.6 + 0x278b9)
#14 0x000056123e0d3955 _start (Xorg + 0x35955)
Stack trace of thread 5268:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5270:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5266:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5272:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5273:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5277:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea320bcb epoll_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x120bcb)
#2 0x000056123e20a8f0 n/a (Xorg + 0x16c8f0)
#3 0x000056123e20c2e9 n/a (Xorg + 0x16e2e9)
#4 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#5 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5271:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5267:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5274:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
Stack trace of thread 5269:
#0 0x00007f56ea2a08f2 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0xa08f2)
#1 0x00007f56ea294c79 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x94c79)
#2 0x00007f56ea2974ec pthread_cond_wait (libc.so.6 + 0x974ec)
#3 0x00007f56e6a26d4e n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626d4e)
#4 0x00007f56e69dbf0d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x5dbf0d)
#5 0x00007f56e6a26c8d n/a (libgallium-26.2.4-arch1.1.so + 0x626c8d)
#6 0x00007f56ea298042 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x98042)
#7 0x00007f56ea32072c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x12072c)
ELF object binary architecture: AMD x86-64Offline
#2 2026-10-08 06:44:40
- freeboro
- Member
- Registered: 2022-11-22
- Posts: 3
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
After update had the same with TearFree only. Thanks for providing a temporary workaround.
extra/xorg-server 21.1.25-1 (xorg) [installed]
extra/xf86-video-amdgpu 25.0.0-1 (xorg-drivers) [installed]
core/linux-firmware-amdgpu 20260916-1 [installed]
core/linux-lts 6.18.55-1 [installed]
core/linux-lts-headers 6.18.55-1 [installed]Section "OutputClass"
Identifier "AMD"
MatchDriver "amdgpu"
Driver "amdgpu"
Option "DRI" "3"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSectionOffsets of main thread are different, the other threads have same offsets:
Oct 08 07:33:07 host1 sddm[699]: Greeter stopped. SDDM::Auth::HELPER_AUTH_ERROR
Oct 08 07:33:07 host1 systemd-coredump[3094]: Process 3045 (Xorg) of user 0 dumped core.
Stack trace of thread 3045:
#0 0x00007fbc2429a11c n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x9a11c)
#1 0x00007fbc2423e5d0 raise (libc.so.6 + 0x3e5d0)
#2 0x00007fbc24225685 abort (libc.so.6 + 0x25685)
#3 0x0000555a05d2b47c OsAbort (Xorg + 0x16d47c)
#4 0x0000555a05d37958 FatalError (Xorg + 0x179958)
#5 0x0000555a05d2dfa3 n/a (Xorg + 0x16ffa3)
#6 0x00007fbc2423e6f0 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x3e6f0)
#7 0x00007fbc23bc69a5 n/a (amdgpu_drv.so + 0x129a5)
#8 0x0000555a05c8e8d5 n/a (Xorg + 0xd08d5)
#9 0x0000555a05ca6af8 n/a (Xorg + 0xe8af8)
#10 0x0000555a05ca857b n/a (Xorg + 0xea57b)
#11 0x0000555a05ca784a n/a (Xorg + 0xe984a)
#12 0x0000555a05bf333e n/a (Xorg + 0x3533e)
#13 0x00007fbc24227781 n/a (libc.so.6 + 0x27781)
#14 0x00007fbc242278b9 __libc_start_main (libc.so.6 + 0x278b9)
#15 0x0000555a05bf3955 _start (Xorg + 0x35955)
...Offline
#3 2026-10-08 08:51:18
- Lone_Wolf
- Administrator
- From: Netherlands, Europe
- Registered: 2005-10-04
- Posts: 15,474
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
The config snippets both of you posted don't disable those options but enable them.
Are you sure you need to disable them ?
Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.
clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky
Offline
#4 2026-10-08 09:53:15
- fangenoorth
- Member
- From: Germany
- Registered: 2021-02-07
- Posts: 3
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
I am experiencing the same issue. Either downgrade xorg-server and xorg-server-common to 21.1.24-1 or disable both VariableRefresh and TearFree. I have opened an issue here.
@Lone_Wolf the posted snippets presumably show the config state that was leading to the issue. I can confirm that after commenting out those two options my X server starts just fine without segfaulting
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#5 2026-10-08 11:35:01
- m040601
- Member
- Registered: 2020-04-20
- Posts: 8
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
Reporting my case which I am 99% convinced is related to the this issue.
I am also not able to "startx" since yesterday, I dont have and I have never had a display manager or any X11 custom config. Only downgrading xorg/common to 21.1.24-1 seems to work,
It started after this pacman update yesterday,
[2026-10-07T20:34:38+0100] [PACMAN] Running 'pacman -Syu'
[2026-10-07T20:34:38+0100] [PACMAN] synchronizing package lists
[2026-10-07T20:34:46+0100] [PACMAN] starting full system upgrade
[2026-10-07T20:34:59+0100] [ALPM] transaction started
[2026-10-07T20:34:59+0100] [ALPM] upgraded xorg-server-common (21.1.24-1 -> 21.1.25-1)
[2026-10-07T20:34:59+0100] [ALPM] upgraded xorg-server (21.1.24-1 -> 21.1.25-1)
[2026-10-07T20:34:59+0100] [ALPM] upgraded xorg-server-xephyr (21.1.24-1 -> 21.1.25-1)
[2026-10-07T20:34:59+0100] [ALPM] upgraded xorg-xwayland (24.1.13-1 -> 24.1.14-1)
[2026-10-07T20:35:00+0100] [ALPM] transaction completed
[2026-10-07T20:35:00+0100] [ALPM] running '30-systemd-daemon-reload-system.hook'...
[2026-10-07T20:35:00+0100] [ALPM] running '35-systemd-enqueue-marked.hook'...
[2026-10-07T20:35:01+0100] [ALPM] running '35-systemd-update.hook'...
[2026-10-07T20:35:01+0100] [ALPM] running 'rebuild-detector.hook'...
[2026-10-07T20:35:04+0100] [ALPM] running 'update-desktop-database.hook'...Which causes this segfault, ~/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log
.............
[ 1034.559] (EE)
[ 1034.559] (EE) Backtrace:
[ 1034.560] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.560] (EE) 0: /usr/lib/Xorg (?+0x0) [0x6191ac48ff44]
[ 1034.561] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.561] (EE) 1: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (?+0x0) [0x70411d63e6f0]
[ 1034.561] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.561] (EE) 2: /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/radeon_drv.so (?+0x0) [0x70411cfc3ea2]
[ 1034.562] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.562] (EE) 3: /usr/lib/Xorg (?+0x0) [0x6191ac3f08d5]
[ 1034.562] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.562] (EE) 4: /usr/lib/Xorg (?+0x0) [0x6191ac3f37a5]
[ 1034.562] (EE) 5: /usr/lib/Xorg (miPaintWindow+0x2b7) [0x6191ac363b17]
[ 1034.562] (EE) 6: /usr/lib/Xorg (miClearToBackground+0x10c) [0x6191ac372a5c]
[ 1034.563] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.563] (EE) 7: /usr/lib/Xorg (?+0x0) [0x6191ac38ed73]
[ 1034.563] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.563] (EE) 8: /usr/lib/Xorg (?+0x0) [0x6191ac35533e]
[ 1034.564] (EE) unw_get_proc_name failed: no unwind info found [-10]
[ 1034.564] (EE) 9: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (?+0x0) [0x70411d627781]
[ 1034.565] (EE) 10: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (__libc_start_main+0x89) [0x70411d6278b9]
[ 1034.565] (EE) 11: /usr/lib/Xorg (_start+0x25) [0x6191ac355955]
[ 1034.565] (EE)
[ 1034.565] (EE) Segmentation fault at address 0x0
[ 1034.565] (EE)
Fatal server error:
[ 1034.565] (EE) Caught signal 11 (Segmentation fault). Server aborting
[ 1034.565] (EE)
[ 1034.565] (EE)
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
[ 1034.565] (EE) Please also check the log file at "/home/a1/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[ 1034.565] (EE)
[ 1034.565] (II) AIGLX: Suspending AIGLX clients for VT switch
[ 1034.572] (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.journalctl,
..........
qProcess 4323 (Xorg) of user 1000 terminated abnormally with signal 6/ABRT, processing...
Started Process Core Dump (PID 4358/UID 0).
Process 4323 (Xorg) of user 1000 dumped core.
Stack trace of thread 4323:
#0 0x000070411d69a11c n/a (n/a + 0x0)
ELF object binary architecture: AMD x86-64
systemd-coredump@4-3-4358_4658-0.service: Deactivated successfully.
........I dont have and I have never had a custom xorg.conf or anything in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
I've tried messing with this suggestion
.... or disable both VariableRefresh and TearFree.
But it doesnt seem to do anything. It seems the above are from some user, who, already had a custom configuration, not the default one
$ pacman -Qo /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/ is owned by xf86-input-libinput 1.5.0-1
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/ is owned by xf86-video-ati 1:22.0.0-3
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/ is owned by xorg-server 21.1.25-1$ ls /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/
10-quirks.conf 10-radeon.conf 40-libinput.conf$ cat /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-radeon.conf
Section "OutputClass"
Identifier "Radeon"
MatchDriver "radeon"
Driver "radeon"
EndSection$ sudo cp /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-radeon.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/11-radeon.conf
# Section "OutputClass"
Section "Device"
Identifier "Radeon"
# MatchDriver "radeon"
Driver "radeon"
Option "VariableRefresh" "false"
Option "TearFree" "false"
EndSectionI still cant startx, same exact error messages.
IMPORTANT:
In addition I had to comment out, "MatchDriver "radeon", because it complained that "MatchDriver" is an invalid keyword.
Except for the old kernel (another issue I will report), it is an old system that has been working fine until yesterday for the last 15 years,
Kernel: Linux 6.11.5-arch1-1
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) Dual Core 4850e (2) @ 2.50 GHz
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 3200
Memory: 2.28 GiB / 7.26 GiB (31%)$ pacman -Qs | grep "xf86\|mesa\|vulkan"
local/libxxf86vm 1.1.7-1
local/mesa 1:26.2.4-1
local/mesa-utils 9.0.0-7
local/spirv-tools 1:1.4.363.0-1 (vulkan-devel)
local/vulkan-icd-loader 1.4.363.0-1 (vulkan-devel)
local/vulkan-mesa-implicit-layers 1:26.2.4-1
local/vulkan-mesa-layers 1:26.2.4-1
local/vulkan-radeon 1:26.2.4-1
local/vulkan-swrast 1:26.2.4-1
local/vulkan-tools 1.4.363.0-1 (vulkan-devel)
local/xf86-input-libinput 1.5.0-1 (xorg-drivers)
local/xf86-input-void 1.4.2-2 (xorg-drivers)
local/xf86-video-ati 1:22.0.0-3 (xorg-drivers)
local/xf86-video-dummy 0.4.1-3 (xorg-drivers)EDITS/UPDATES:
- I also have sway/wayland installed which continues to start fine with "sway".
- downgrading xorg/common to 21.1.24-1 seems to work,
$ sudo pacman -U /var/cache/pacman/pkg/xorg-server-21.1.24-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst /var/cache/pacman/pkg/xorg-server-common-21.1.24-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zstloading packages...
warning: downgrading package xorg-server (21.1.25-1 => 21.1.24-1)
warning: downgrading package xorg-server-common (21.1.25-1 => 21.1.24-1)
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...
Package (2) Old Version New Version Net Change
xorg-server 21.1.25-1 21.1.24-1 0.00 MiB
xorg-server-common 21.1.25-1 21.1.24-1 0.00 MiB
Total Installed Size: 3.98 MiB
Net Upgrade Size: 0.00 MiB
:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n]
(2/2) checking keys in keyring [------------------------------] 100%
(2/2) checking package integrity [------------------------------] 100%
(2/2) loading package files [------------------------------] 100%
(2/2) checking for file conflicts [------------------------------] 100%
(2/2) checking available disk space [------------------------------] 100%
:: Processing package changes...
(1/2) downgrading xorg-server-common [------------------------------] 100%
(2/2) downgrading xorg-server [------------------------------] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/2) Arming ConditionNeedsUpdate...
(2/2) Checking which packages need to be rebuiltLast edited by m040601 (2026-10-08 14:35:44)
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#6 2026-10-08 11:57:11
- Lone_Wolf
- Administrator
- From: Netherlands, Europe
- Registered: 2005-10-04
- Posts: 15,474
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
It looks like all that have this problem are using xf86-video-* drivers ?
Please remove any package that starts with xf86-video to ensure X will use the modesetting/glamor driver instead of the xf86-video ones.
Then restart/reboot and tell us the result .
Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.
clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky
Offline
#7 2026-10-08 12:52:44
- freeboro
- Member
- Registered: 2022-11-22
- Posts: 3
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
It looks like all that have this problem are using xf86-video-* drivers ?
I'm using it because the TearFree option is not available with modesetting driver in xorg 21.1. It is announced for xorg 26.1.0 afaik.
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#8 2026-10-08 12:59:37
- Lone_Wolf
- Administrator
- From: Netherlands, Europe
- Registered: 2005-10-04
- Posts: 15,474
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
I am aware of that, but I am using an amd dGPU with X11 modesetting and have no issues at all.
That suggests xorg 21.1.25 may have changed something that requires changes in the xf86-video drivers but works fine with modesetting .
It needs to be verified to get further in solving this.
Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.
clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky
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#9 2026-10-08 13:13:28
- fangenoorth
- Member
- From: Germany
- Registered: 2021-02-07
- Posts: 3
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
Upstream Xorg issue for reference https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xse … items/1930
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#10 2026-10-08 14:02:56
- ccook13
- Member
- Registered: 2020-09-29
- Posts: 10
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
Related to the VRR and Tearfree settings, I found last night I could no longer rotate my monitors to anything but landscape. Would cause a core dump regardless of if I used xrandr or the DE's display settings GUI. This was after a full pacman -Syu. I downgraded only xorg-server and linux-firmware-amdgpu and I got rotation back.
Seems to me an Xorg issue since rotation would work at 21.1.25 if I was in a Wayland DE.
P.S. Just another day with AMD hardware :^)
Last edited by ccook13 (2026-10-08 14:05:13)
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#11 2026-10-08 14:16:59
- m040601
- Member
- Registered: 2020-04-20
- Posts: 8
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
It looks like all that have this problem are using xf86-video-* drivers ?
Yes I was, but for no special reason. Just because it was the default setup like ??? many years ??? ago, and I avoid like the plague messing or changing any defaults.
Some how I missed that this is no longer the case, and I dont need them anymore, https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg
.... Hardware-specific Device Dependent X (DDX) drivers are considered legacy
So I had been living under a rock for some time ...
Please remove any package that starts with xf86-video to ensure X will use the modesetting/glamor driver instead of the xf86-video ones.
Then restart/reboot and tell us the result .
And so I did,
pacman -Rns xf86-video-ati xf86-video-dummyReporting that the problem is gone. Thanks.
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#12 2026-10-08 14:49:07
- jmj
- Member
- Registered: 2023-12-10
- Posts: 13
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
Rebuilding xf86-video-amdgpu is my preferred workaround.
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#13 2026-10-08 16:49:22
- m040601
- Member
- Registered: 2020-04-20
- Posts: 8
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
As stated above after removing anything "xf86-video-XYZ", I have no problem with Xorg and everything works fine.
Out of curiosity I wanted to took a look at the logs
(!!) notice,
(II) informational,
(WW) warning,
(EE) error,
(NI) not implemented,
(??) unknown.rm -rf ~/.local/share/xorg
startx~/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log, full log here, https://termbin.com/eb9yn
$ grep "(EE)" ~/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log
[ 11660.746] (EE) Failed to load module "ati" (module does not exist, 0)
[ 11660.747] (EE) Failed to load module "fbdev" (module does not exist, 0)
[ 11660.747] (EE) Failed to load module "vesa" (module does not exist, 0)I am left wandering about the above three "ati", "fbdev", "vesa". Since I dont need them, who and why is it still actually trying to load them ? Why am I still hearing about them here ? Since I dont do any custom configuration at all, and only use defaults, why is it considered and error "(EE)" ? Shouldnt it be just a "(WW)" warning or something ?
X.Org X Server 1.21.1.25
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[ 11660.713] Current Operating System: Linux gigabyty 6.11.5-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Tue, 22 Oct 2024 18:31:38 +0000 x86_64
[ 11660.713] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=799b874d-32a0-47d1-b83c-d1fc0a994832 rw fbcon=rotate:3 loglevel=3
[ 11660.718]
[ 11660.720] Current version of pixman: 0.46.4
[ 11660.723] Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
[ 11660.723] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 11660.733] (==) Log file: "/home/a1/.local/share/xorg/Xorg.0.log", Time: Thu Oct 8 17:24:29 2026
[ 11660.735] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
........
........
[ 11660.735] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/Type1" does not exist.
[ 11660.735] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 11660.735] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi" does not exist.
[ 11660.735] Entry deleted from font path.
[ 11660.735] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi" does not exist.
[ 11660.735] Entry deleted from font path.
........
.........
[ 11660.743] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[ 11660.743] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[ 11660.746] (II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 11660.746] compiled for 1.21.1.25, module version = 1.0.0
[ 11660.746] ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 10.0
[ 11660.746] (==) Matched ati as autoconfigured driver 0
[ 11660.746] (==) Matched modesetting as autoconfigured driver 1
[ 11660.746] (==) Matched fbdev as autoconfigured driver 2
[ 11660.746] (==) Matched vesa as autoconfigured driver 3
[ 11660.746] (==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout
............
............
[ 11660.746] (II) LoadModule: "ati"
[ 11660.746] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module ati
[ 11660.746] (EE) Failed to load module "ati" (module does not exist, 0)
............
...........
[ 11660.746] (II) LoadModule: "modesetting"
[ 11660.746] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/modesetting_drv.so
[ 11660.747] (II) Module modesetting: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 11660.747] compiled for 1.21.1.25, module version = 1.21.1
[ 11660.747] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 11660.747] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 25.2
...............
...............
[ 11660.747] (II) LoadModule: "fbdev"
[ 11660.747] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module fbdev
[ 11660.747] (EE) Failed to load module "fbdev" (module does not exist, 0)
[ 11660.747] (II) LoadModule: "vesa"
[ 11660.747] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module vesa
[ 11660.747] (EE) Failed to load module "vesa" (module does not exist, 0)
...........
...............
[ 11660.747] (II) modesetting: Driver for Modesetting Kernel Drivers: kms
[ 11660.747] (II) modeset(0): using drv /dev/dri/card0
[ 11660.747] (WW) VGA arbiter: cannot open kernel arbiter, no multi-card support
[ 11660.747] (II) modeset(0): Creating default Display subsection in Screen section
"Default Screen Section" for depth/fbbpp 24/32
[ 11660.747] (==) modeset(0): Depth 24, (==) framebuffer bpp 32
[ 11660.747] (==) modeset(0): RGB weight 888
[ 11660.747] (==) modeset(0): Default visual is TrueColor
[ 11660.747] (II) Loading sub module "glamoregl"
[ 11660.747] (II) LoadModule: "glamoregl"
[ 11660.748] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so
[ 11660.753] (II) Module glamoregl: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 11660.753] compiled for 1.21.1.25, module version = 1.0.1
[ 11660.753] ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[ 11660.824] (II) modeset(0): glamor: Using OpenGL 3.3 context.
[ 11660.824] (II) modeset(0): glamor X acceleration enabled on AMD RS780 (DRM 2.50.0 / 6.11.5-arch1-1)
[ 11660.824] (II) modeset(0): glamor initialized
...........
...........Last edited by m040601 (2026-10-08 16:52:07)
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#14 2026-10-08 17:05:32
- ccook13
- Member
- Registered: 2020-09-29
- Posts: 10
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
Confirmed here as we removing x86-video-amdgpu restores the ability to rotate monitors with 21.1.25. Thanks all who analyzed this.
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#15 2026-10-08 21:28:53
- jbosboom
- Member
- Registered: 2023-10-14
- Posts: 4
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
Removing x86-video-amdgpu worked for me in the sense that X doesn't crash, but the modesetting driver seems to have some problem with variable refresh. I'm happy to continue using xf86-video-amdgpu once the ABI issue is resolved, so I don't need to debug this now, but I've included details for completeness. I'm posting to point out that modesetting doesn't Just Work for at least one user.
On the modesetting driver, when fullscreen, Brotato and Slow Roads oscillate between 48-52 FPS, with mangohud showing a gradual wavy pattern in frametimes. This is with a Ryzen 5950x and Radeon 6800XT. These are not demanding games. With modesetting, vrrtest's bars pattern shows tearing when vsync is off, whereas with xf86-video-amdgpu it did not. Forcing vsync on with `vblank_mode=3` doesn't change the game performance.
IIRC I used x86-video-amdgpu because it was required for variable refresh rate at the time. The modesetting man page says VariableRefresh is supported, and Xorg.0.log says it's enabled, but the log also shows the following errors:
[ 3951.825] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC
0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3951.862] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC
0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3951.958] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC
0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3951.964] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC
0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3951.971] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC
0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3951.996] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC
0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3952.003] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC 0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3952.021] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC 0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3952.029] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC 0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3952.046] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC 0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3952.054] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: queue async flip during flip on CRTC 0 failed: Invalid argument
[ 3952.071] (WW) modeset(0): Present-flip: detected too frequent flip errors, disabling logs until frequency is reducedThe only /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d drop-in I have is named `20-radeon.conf` with the following contents:
Section "OutputClass"
Identifier "VRR"
MatchDriver "amdgpu"
Driver "modesetting"
Option "VariableRefresh" "true"
EndSectionI changed the Driver line from "amdgpu" to "modesetting" when I removed xf86-video-amdgpu.
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#16 Yesterday 07:23:39
- seth
- Member
- From: Won't reply 2 private help req
- Registered: 2012-09-03
- Posts: 78,215
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
Because of all the #metoo noise, xorg-server silently broke ABI compatibility, breaking 3rd binaries.
Rebuilding xf86-*-* would help but the correct fix is to maintain the ABI, https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xse … uests/2351 but nb.
The structure still grows; this does not address external allocations using its old size.
While this might avoid the immediate crashes, this isn't really an ABI stable change either (ie. upstream might reject that patch as fix)
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#17 Yesterday 07:26:45
- Macitron
- Member
- Registered: 2023-03-22
- Posts: 4
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
I am experiencing the same issue. Either downgrade xorg-server and xorg-server-common to 21.1.24-1 or disable both VariableRefresh and TearFree. I have opened an issue here.
@Lone_Wolf the posted snippets presumably show the config state that was leading to the issue. I can confirm that after commenting out those two options my X server starts just fine without segfaulting
Thanks for opening that issue, this was exactly my problem and commenting out the VariableRefresh line in my Xorg config fixed it just like you said.
This more than confuses me, though, since I use KDE and it's defaulted to Wayland for a long time by now. I didn't even know Xorg was still installed on my system. Anyone know if there's some way to completely uninstall X, or if there's a valid reason to keep it around?
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#18 Yesterday 08:07:54
- apstol
- Member
- Registered: 2023-06-04
- Posts: 12
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
I'm experiencing the same issue. Looks like temporarily downgrading to 21.1.24-1 is the best option?
Update: The downgrading worked
Last edited by apstol (Yesterday 08:19:49)
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#19 Yesterday 18:43:16
- Lone_Wolf
- Administrator
- From: Netherlands, Europe
- Registered: 2005-10-04
- Posts: 15,474
Re: Xorg 21.1.25 crashing on start up with VariableRefresh or Tearfree
This more than confuses me, though, since I use KDE and it's defaulted to Wayland for a long time by now. I didn't even know Xorg was still installed on my system. Anyone know if there's some way to completely uninstall X, or if there's a valid reason to keep it around?
Run
pactree --reverse libx11 | grep kde #pactree comes with pacman-contriband notice how many of your installed packages it lists .
A pure wayland setup is technically possible but you'll miss out on a lot of things like lutris, steam and libreoffice. A conservative estimate is that X11 will be present on the majority of systems for atleast another decade.
Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.
clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky
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