Arch Linux

marcusant

Member

Registered: 2012-12-18

Posts: 6

xf86-video-ati woes

Hello, I seem to be having problems using the open-source AMD drivers.

I decided to try out the open-source AMD drivers and for some reason on boot the screen goes blank after loading the driver (or has a random line like the GPU failed). My system works fine with the proprietary driver, but it does not have KMS which I would like to try.

At one point in trying to install the driver, I got to a point where my screen would be split in half like my monitor was two different monitors.

I've used the open drivers a while ago and they worked fine.

The drivers also work on the install CD just fine (the terminal is in my native resolution).

Please tell me what logs to attach and I will add them.

I have a Radeon HD 6870.

wuzzeb

Member

Registered: 2012-10-15

Posts: 6

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

I have the same problem, and it appeared last week when upgrading from 3.6.8 to 3.6.9.  I also tested the recent 3.7 kernel from testing, it has the problem too.  I haven't had enough time to try bisecting it, for now I have just downgraded back to 3.6.8 which works fine.

marcusant

Member

Registered: 2012-12-18

Posts: 6

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

I tried 3.7 as well. I'll check the code that changed in 3.6.9 and try to see what happened.

Definitely glad I am not the only one.

marcusant

Member

Registered: 2012-12-18

Posts: 6

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

These are the only commits that stick out to me

commit 0314f284eb000d55ccbac67a9b1fce4912d86937
Author: Paul Bolle <pebolle@tiscali.nl>
Date:   Mon Nov 19 21:17:31 2012 +0100

    radeon: add AGPMode 1 quirk for RV250

commit bba14defc28e372727bf98d63d2bee9efbd4bda2
Author: Alex Deucher <alexander.deucher@amd.com>
Date:   Wed Nov 21 18:37:38 2012 -0500

    drm/radeon: add new SI pci id

marcusant

Member

Registered: 2012-12-18

Posts: 6

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

Bump. This issue is still present.

Silex89

Member

From: Osorno, Los Lagos - Chile

Registered: 2011-10-16

Posts: 179

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

HI there

Did you install the driver in a new, clean installation of Arch, or in a existing one?

I'm asking because you have to setup some things before you migrate from Catalyst to the open-source driver (as the Wiki says)

Best of Luck

---

"The way your heart sounds makes all the difference" John Myung

I love Dream Theater! ImL
Best Guitar Solo Ever

marcusant

Member

Registered: 2012-12-18

Posts: 6

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

Confirmed as an issue with Arch's patchset. The issues exists on a new arch install but not with a new debian sid install with the same kernel version.

oldtimeyjunk

Member

From: /world/europe/uk/england

Registered: 2011-04-30

Posts: 202

Website

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

This has happened to me various times. The only workaround I could find was to disconnect and immediately reconnect to the mains supply.

---

"... being a Linux user is sort of like living in a house inhabited by a large family of carpenters and architects. Every morning when you wake up, the house is a little different. Maybe there is a new turret, or some walls have moved. Or perhaps someone has temporarily removed the floor under your bed." - Unix for Dummies, 2nd Edition

wuzzeb

Member

Registered: 2012-10-15

Posts: 6

Re: xf86-video-ati woes

As an update, I looked into this issue today and after bisecting and searching for the bad commit, I found an already existing bug report.

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=56139

for me, editing grub.cfg to use "set gfxpayload=text" fixed the problem and I am now posting this from the latest 3.7.5 arch built kernel.  I haven't tried any of the patches from the bug report yet since gfxpayload=text worked.