Openbox - tearing

beat · 2009-07-26 22:16:17

I'm using Openbox with Xcompmgr and I get some tearing (e.g. when moving windows).
I have a nvidia card and I already tweaked xorg.conf as much as I could and I still get tearing. I also enabled vsync on nvidia-settings which is working since when I run glxgears I don't get tearing on that window.

Any ideia on how to fix this?

Statix · 2009-07-26 22:41:28

Try using xcompmgr-dana from the AUR.

beat · 2009-07-26 22:47:47

Followed your advice and it made no difference. I also get this tearing when using openbox without xcompmgr.

sHyLoCk · 2009-07-27 01:42:27

beat wrote:

Followed your advice and it made no difference. I also get this tearing when using openbox without xcompmgr.

Post your xorg.conf in pastebin and put the link here. Also how are you starting xcompmgr? Try to start it in xinitrc before openbox.

beat · 2009-07-27 11:50:22

Xorg.conf - http://pastebin.com/m37ce24e7

I'm using HAL so my config is pretty minimal.

The HorizSync and VertRefresh were added by me in order to match my monitor, I also tried adding modelines with no success. The options in the Device section were added just to try it out I also tried without adding them, same things.

I'm starting xcompmgr in the autostart.sh as follows:

# D-bus
if which dbus-launch >/dev/null && test -z "$DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS"; then
       eval `dbus-launch --sh-syntax --exit-with-session`
fi

#xcompmgr -c -t-5 -l-5 -r4.2 -o.55 &
nvidia-settings --load-config-only &
xcompmgr -cCfF -t-5 -l-5 -r4.2 -o.55 -D6 &
thunar --daemon &
nitrogen --restore &
pypanel &
(sleep 2 && conky) &
(sleep 2 && checkgmail) &

Also I find conky only starts when I first start the computer, if I logout and then restart X conky won't start and openbox will freeze.

Last edited by beat (2009-07-27 12:00:24)

sHyLoCk · 2009-07-27 16:06:43

You should put the dbus part in xinitrc rather than in autostart. Also, try as I said and see if it makes any difference

xcompmgr -c -t-5 -l-5 -r4.2 -o.55 &
dbus-launch exec openbox&

beat · 2009-07-27 20:14:46

Ok just tried that and it made no difference :\

beat · 2009-08-20 14:01:14

I still have this problem and it's a bit irritating. I don't know if this a normal behavior for 2D desktops since I've been using GNOME with Compiz up until now, but shouldn't xcompmgr and vsync fix this?
I really like Openbox but this tearing when moving windows is a bit frustrating.

Last edited by beat (2009-08-20 14:02:28)

Ranguvar · 2009-08-20 18:03:40

So where does the problem happen and where doesn't it?

With just Openbox, is there tearing? With just GNOME? With GNOME+Compiz?

beat · 2009-08-20 19:23:21

With just Openbox there is tearing.
With just GNOME there is tearing.
With GNOME+Compiz there is no tearing when I set Compiz to sync to vblank.

I guess it has to do with the fact that Compiz is OpenGL accelerated and in nvidia-settings I have vsync enabled for OpenGL. I hope there is a way to fix this in openbox.

klixon · 2009-08-20 19:30:01

Have you tried without the TrippleBuffer, BackingStore and DamageEvents in your xorg.conf. Those things are not defaults for a reason...
Especially BackingStore seems to be fickle with the current drivers

beat · 2009-08-20 19:58:36

Yep I tried without all of that and it was still the same. I only tried those settings in the first place to see if it would fix this problem.

beat · 2009-08-21 01:47:36

I am seriously going mad on this thing! I just tried a different monitor I had laying around and still got the same problem.
My monitor is a Samsung 226BW and it's connected through DVI, the graphics card is a NVIDIA 9600GT.

I made a video to try and show the tearing but since the video is recorded at 25fps it does not capture the tearing.

Seriously any help would be appreciated.

AdrenalineJunky · 2009-08-21 02:04:27

did a seach and it appears to be an nvidia driver bug that affects some 8xxx/9xxx cards.

best suggestion would be tryin installing a different driver version, if you are using beta try stable, stable try beta, switch to the last release, etc

beat · 2009-08-21 02:10:18

I tried the opensource nv driver and the same thing happened. I'll try the beta version of the official nvidia driver.

beat · 2009-08-21 02:26:30

Ok just tried nvidia-beta from the AUR and the problem still persists.
Also tried the nvidia-173xx branch and guess what... same thing

Last edited by beat (2009-08-21 02:35:36)

beat · 2009-08-21 11:27:35

After a good night of sleep I decided to try the nouveau driver and the problem persisted.
I guess I should just go back to bed.

beat · 2009-08-21 12:06:04

Just tried with a different NVIDIA card I had on another computer, NVIDIA 7600GS and the problem still happens. I guess the only thing to say is F**K YOU NVIDIA!

Is it possible that this issue might not be related to the graphics card itself? Could it have to do with the CPU?

Here's the video I recorded to try and show the tearing I get although it does not show it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdhODj9sW5U

Last edited by beat (2009-08-21 14:06:12)

beat · 2009-08-21 22:47:15

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_tearing - this is what I mean by tearing.

cryticfarm · 2009-08-22 14:37:33

I am having the same problem.

sHyLoCk · 2009-08-22 14:47:30

I don't know what could solve this but try: [I have no idea if this is gonna work]
Install the new nvidia and nvidia-utils driver,make sure you have the necesary xorg files installed. Then run a

depmod -a && nvidia-xconfig

beat · 2009-08-22 17:21:50

That didn't work (as expected).
I just finished installing Arch on another machine and the same things happens. I guess this is the normal behaviour for a 2D desktop it's just that most people don't notice it.
If I'm using a light (white) background I'm not able to notice the tearing although on a darker background it is easily noticeable (and annoying).

fogobogo · 2009-08-22 18:22:49

OT: I have no fix for you but your endurance on this topic is impressive

beat · 2009-08-22 20:42:53

I am very persistent!

fogobogo · 2009-08-22 21:12:34

May that give you a hint: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=63241

Arch Linux

#1 2009-07-26 22:16:17

Openbox - tearing

#2 2009-07-26 22:41:28

Re: Openbox - tearing

#3 2009-07-26 22:47:47

Re: Openbox - tearing

#4 2009-07-27 01:42:27

Re: Openbox - tearing

#5 2009-07-27 11:50:22

Re: Openbox - tearing

#6 2009-07-27 16:06:43

Re: Openbox - tearing

#7 2009-07-27 20:14:46

Re: Openbox - tearing

#8 2009-08-20 14:01:14

Re: Openbox - tearing

#9 2009-08-20 18:03:40

Re: Openbox - tearing

#10 2009-08-20 19:23:21

Re: Openbox - tearing

#11 2009-08-20 19:30:01

Re: Openbox - tearing

#12 2009-08-20 19:58:36

Re: Openbox - tearing

#13 2009-08-21 01:47:36

Re: Openbox - tearing

#14 2009-08-21 02:04:27

Re: Openbox - tearing

#15 2009-08-21 02:10:18

Re: Openbox - tearing

#16 2009-08-21 02:26:30

Re: Openbox - tearing

#17 2009-08-21 11:27:35

Re: Openbox - tearing

#18 2009-08-21 12:06:04

Re: Openbox - tearing

#19 2009-08-21 22:47:15

Re: Openbox - tearing

#20 2009-08-22 14:37:33

Re: Openbox - tearing

#21 2009-08-22 14:47:30

Re: Openbox - tearing

#22 2009-08-22 17:21:50

Re: Openbox - tearing

#23 2009-08-22 18:22:49

Re: Openbox - tearing

#24 2009-08-22 20:42:53

Re: Openbox - tearing

#25 2009-08-22 21:12:34

Re: Openbox - tearing

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