Arch Linux

Webtm

Member

Registered: 2015-05-20

Posts: 5

Screen flicker when switching Monitors

Linux punks 4.4.1-2-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Feb 3 13:12:33 UTC 2016 x86_64 GNU/Linux

When switching to workspaces on a different monitor in i3 or any other window manager, the screen I'm switching away from flickers and for, a very short time(less than a second), a black box appears over half of the screen. xf86-video-intel is installed.

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Intel Graphics"
    Driver      "intel"
    Option      "AccelMethod"  "uxa"
        #Option      "AccelMethod"  "sna"
EndSection

The problem persists without the above file.

Here is a message that I think might have to do with it.

Feb 10 20:06:29 punks kernel: [drm:intel_cpu_fifo_underrun_irq_handler [i915]]
Feb 10 20:06:29 punks kernel: [drm:intel_pch_fifo_underrun_irq_handler [i915]]

dmesg

[  127.129457] [drm:intel_cpu_fifo_underrun_irq_handler [i915]] *ERROR* CPU pipe A FIFO underrun
[  127.129525] [drm:intel_pch_fifo_underrun_irq_handler [i915]] *ERROR* PCH transcoder A FIFO underrun
[  128.860629] [drm:intel_cpu_fifo_underrun_irq_handler [i915]] *ERROR* CPU pipe B FIFO underrun
[  128.860665] [drm:intel_pch_fifo_underrun_irq_handler [i915]] *ERROR* PCH transcoder B FIFO underrun

xrandr

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 2960 x 1050, maximum 8192 x 8192
LVDS1 connected 1280x800+1680+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 261mm x 163mm
   1280x800      60.02*+  50.05  
   1024x768      60.00  
   800x600       60.32    56.25  
   640x480       59.94  
VGA1 connected 1680x1050+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 474mm x 296mm
   1680x1050     59.95*+
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1024x768      75.08    60.00  
   800x600       75.00    60.32  
   640x480       75.00    60.00  
   720x400       70.08  
HDMI1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Last edited by Webtm (2016-02-11 11:49:30)

MacGyves

Member

Registered: 2016-02-05

Posts: 9

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

Hi,

I've been experiencing the symptoms you described since the kernel upgrade to 4.4.1-2.

For me, downgrading to linux-4.3.3-3-x86_64 was a temporary solution. Can you downgrade your kernel as well and see if the issues remain?

Cheers

ugjka

Member

From: Latvia

Registered: 2014-04-01

Posts: 1,957

Website

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

Give lspci | grep VGA

Do you use a compositor? (And with what options)

---

https://ugjka.net

grassmonk

Member

From: Utah

Registered: 2007-11-14

Posts: 68

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

I also am experiencing the same symptoms with nearly the same setup.  Downgrading to linux-4.3.3-3 also works as a temporary workaround.  I am using KDE Plasma 5.5, though the issue also occurs on the SDDM login screen.

I have a first generation i5 processor and a disabled Radeon 5650:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Madison [Mobility Radeon HD 5650/5750 / 6530M/6550M]

dummys

Member

Registered: 2015-12-29

Posts: 9

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

Hello,
Same problem here for an old macbookpro with intel i915. For a quick fix I solved it with this:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Intel Graphics"
    Driver      "intel"
    Option      "AccelMethod"  "uxa"
    Option "NoAccel" "True"
  EndSection

Seigfried

Member

Registered: 2015-09-12

Posts: 6

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

Do you know what specific part of that config file caused the fix (i.e. what did you change)? I have the same issue on kernel 4.4.1-2, after updating from 4.3.something, running i5-5200U integrated graphics. Also, does `NoAccel` cancel `AccelMethod`?

mrunion

Member

From: Jonesborough, TN

Registered: 2007-01-26

Posts: 1,938

Website

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

I read another forum post where another user solved this problem by making sure the Intel microcode was installed. Have you guys tried that?

---

Matt

"It is very difficult to educate the educated."

Silkworm205

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2012-05-21

Posts: 267

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

I read another forum post where another user solved this problem by making sure the Intel microcode was installed. Have you guys tried that?

I'm assuming you're referring to this one Mr Union. The OP posted a video showing his issue, you guys should check that and see if it's like your issue.
I'm surprised no one else came across this thread, a search would find it easily and it has almost the same title.

---

I think I know enough to know I don't know enough.

MacGyves

Member

Registered: 2016-02-05

Posts: 9

Re: Screen flicker when switching Monitors

Does the problem still persist for you?

For me, it has been solved by upgrading to the latest linux kernel (that's 4.5.0-1-ARCH).