Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

Xi0N · 2011-11-26 18:01:45

Hi!
My computer has a nVidia GeForce GT240 and I currently use the nvidia drivers.
I have two screens connected to the video card: A 19'' Samsung screen via VGA and a 32'' LG TV via HDMI for movie playback.

The one thing that really bothers me about the TV is that i have lots LOTS of image tearing,..... that effect that makes you see a line dividing the screen when the images change too fast.... like bad refreshing rate:
I have been trying to correct this for a long time unsuccessfully (i don't know what to try) and my thought was that, maybe changing to nouveau driver i might be able to correct this..... is there any chance?
If someone can help me to correct this nagging bug, i would be really happy.

Thanks

SS4 · 2011-11-26 18:42:06

It's possible, only one way to find out...

Some kind soul made a script to easily switch: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Nv … au_drivers

.:B:. · 2011-11-26 18:50:50

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_tearing

Tried setting VSync?

I am using an AppleTV here with the binary nVidia drivers, no tearing. So it's definitely possible, and probably not related to the nVidia driver itself. I'd rather think your Xorg settings are the culprit somehow.

Xi0N · 2011-11-26 18:52:58

Yeah, that image in the right side of the wikipedia article is what im talking about.

This is my xorg.conf:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 285.05.09  (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-02.nvidia.com)  Fri Sep 23 17:55:42 PDT 2011

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
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 "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Samsung SyncMaster"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 81.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GT 240"
    BusID          "PCI:3:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "1"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "CRT-1"
    Option         "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0, DFP: 1920x1080 +1680+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

How to set vsync up?

Last edited by Xi0N (2011-11-26 18:56:45)

paziul · 2011-11-27 04:16:34

I have / had the most luck with nvidia-drivers version 280.13 for xorg-server 1.10.3 ( most stable and good performance )
if you are running xorg-server 1.11 - this might be a problem: ( source: Gentoo ebuild history for your version: 285.05.09 )

Due to a regression in X that requires a deprecated function to be copied into the nvidia-drivers binary component, there is a significant performance degradation with xorg-server-1.11. As a result I'm re-marking this release as not supporting xorg-server-1.11. bug #385669

for newer releases then 1.10 of xorg I would rather go with the latest 290.10
for 64-bit go to:

ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/290.10/

for 32:

ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/290.10/

good luck!

Last edited by paziul (2011-11-27 04:18:40)

bangkok_manouel · 2011-11-27 04:42:11

paziul wrote:

I have / had the most luck with nvidia-drivers version 280.13 for xorg-server 1.10.3 ( most stable and good performance )
if you are running xorg-server 1.11 - this might be a problem: ( source: Gentoo ebuild history for your version: 285.05.09 )
Due to a regression in X that requires a deprecated function to be copied into the nvidia-drivers binary component, there is a significant performance degradation with xorg-server-1.11. As a result I'm re-marking this release as not supporting xorg-server-1.11. bug #385669

are you talking about the trapezoids issue? if yes then arch's xorg-server package is already patched: http://projects.archlinux.org/svntogit/ … org-server

paziul wrote:

for newer releases then 1.10 of xorg I would rather go with the latest 290.10
for 64-bit go to:
ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/290.10/
for 32:
ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/290.10/
good luck!

please don't advise using nvidia installer, which is not supported, especially when arch has the exact same version in its repo.

paziul · 2011-11-27 05:36:07

ok, will not advise anymore to use the installer, sorry

Xi0N · 2011-11-27 10:51:58

I dont know still how to set vsync... actually, if you google it a bit, you find info saying that you cannot set vsync on linux nvidia drivers (or xorg, i cant remember now)....

Swapping from nvidia to nouveau is a pain because of dependencies..... so i did not try it... :S

Last edited by Xi0N (2011-11-27 10:52:29)

zenlord · 2011-11-28 16:20:20

Xi0N wrote:

Swapping from nvidia to nouveau is a pain because of dependencies..... so i did not try it... :S

It's not nearly as hard as typing this post

2 pacman commands and a change of modprobe.conf is all it takes...

I'm a fan of the nouveau drivers, but since it lacks power management features, my laptop runs to hot and my battery runs empty to fast. So I'm held hostage by the nvidia-driver....

Xi0N · 2011-11-28 16:23:55

Well, you're right,,..... I'm a lazy ass...
I might give it a try.... OR... maybe i can try Ubuntu live, which enables nouveau by default, and then, try to watch a movie from there.... i think its better than playing with the packages.....

karol · 2011-11-29 05:46:04

Xi0N wrote:

Swapping from nvidia to nouveau is a pain because of dependencies..... so i did not try it... :S

Have you tried https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Nv … au_drivers ?

Xi0N · 2011-11-29 21:27:24

Ok, im testing the nouveau drivers right now..... the script you suggested me to use has some flaws... but ets get over them later...

Now, i got it to boot into gnome... but i find something strange:

My TV is detected as a model that does not correspond (Goldstar Company Ltd 52'' ", when its a LG 32''... and the maximum resolution available is 1360x760, when before i have been able to reach 1080p (hence its usage as a HD TV)
The other screen is well detected and has a good resolution
Any idea?

karol · 2011-12-26 17:41:19

Xi0N wrote:

the script you suggested me to use has some flaws... but ets get over them later...

Status?

MadCat_X · 2011-12-26 18:37:50

You can force VSync with proprietary nVidia drivers for both Xv and OpenGL in nvidia-settings X Server XVideo settings or OpenGL settings respectively (tick Sync to VBlank). I understand that VDPAU should attempt to sync the image automatically. Some people recommend switching compositing off or even disabling the Composite extension in XOrg.

zenlord · 2011-12-27 17:27:20

Xi0N wrote:

My TV is detected as a model that does not correspond (Goldstar Company Ltd 52'' ", when its a LG 32''

LG = former "Lucky-Goldstar", which might explain a portion of the mystery...

Xi0N · 2011-12-27 18:48:32

Ok, now... why 52" instead of 32"?

Xi0N · 2012-08-12 22:39:18

Ok, lately the playback in the movies has became really slow... i think i might give nouveau another try and see how did it evolve and if its better now....
Also, I'm emulating steam with wine and thinking of playing this way.... better nouveau or nvidia for this kind of things?

fsckd · 2012-08-13 01:15:28

Necro-bumping. It's better to open a new thread since this one was specifically about screen tearing. It keeps the discussion cleaner and easier for people with the same problem to follow.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-11-26 18:01:45

Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#2 2011-11-26 18:42:06

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#3 2011-11-26 18:50:50

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#4 2011-11-26 18:52:58

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#5 2011-11-27 04:16:34

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#6 2011-11-27 04:42:11

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#7 2011-11-27 05:36:07

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#8 2011-11-27 10:51:58

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#9 2011-11-28 16:20:20

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#10 2011-11-28 16:23:55

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#11 2011-11-29 05:46:04

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#12 2011-11-29 21:27:24

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#13 2011-12-26 17:41:19

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#14 2011-12-26 18:37:50

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#15 2011-12-27 17:27:20

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#16 2011-12-27 18:48:32

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#17 2012-08-12 22:39:18

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

#18 2012-08-13 01:15:28

Re: Nvidia drivers vs Nouveau

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