Arch Linux

MattMatt2

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 29

[SOLVED] Color banding

Hello,
I've been experimenting for a month now color banding on my machine. It's especially visible with blurred backgrounds (terminal for example), but also while playing games.

It seems that the issue occurs randomly: sometimes I boot my machine and everything works fine, sometimes I boot and I experience color banding. Note it doesn't appear while the machine is running: it's like the machine "chooses" in the start to work fine or not, and stick to its decision until I shut it down.

The problem isn't specific to a compositor: Using another DE/WM with another compositor doesn't fixes the issue.

Sorry if the problem isn't very well described. I have no idea on how to investigate for now, so if you need more info please ask.

Last edited by MattMatt2 (2021-04-04 13:28:25)

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,766

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Color banding

You should probably share details of your graphics hardware and drivers. Also check the systemd journal for anything relevant and post the full content from an affected boot here if you can't decipher it.

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

MattMatt2

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 29

Re: [SOLVED] Color banding

Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU N3450 @ 1.10GHz
Laptop model: HP Probook x360 G1 EE
No GPU (only Intel integrated graphics)

Here is dmesg | grep intel from a session with color banding:

[    1.720483] intel_idle: MWAIT substates: 0x11242020
[    1.720488] intel_idle: v0.5.1 model 0x5C
[    1.721161] intel_idle: Local APIC timer is reliable in all C-states
[    1.966149] intel_pstate: Intel P-state driver initializing
[    6.240505] intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain package
[    6.240535] intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain core
[    6.240538] intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain uncore
[    6.240541] intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain dram
[    7.038097] fb0: switching to inteldrmfb from EFI VGA
[    7.099459] Bluetooth: hci0: Intel Bluetooth firmware file: intel/ibt-hw-37.8.10-fw-22.50.19.14.f.bseq
[    7.161852] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:0e.0: bound 0000:00:02.0 (ops i915_audio_component_bind_ops [i915])
[    7.239457] intel_telemetry_core Init

Graphics drivers installed: mesa, xf86-video-vesa xf86-video-intel

Note that I'm using PowerTop autotune (which starts at every boot), I don't know if there's a link...

I'm using Linux  5.11.8-arch1-1

Also here is everything related to intel in journalctl for the last day (last boot especially):

mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_idle: MWAIT substates: 0x11242020
mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_idle: v0.5.1 model 0x5C
mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_idle: Local APIC timer is reliable in all C-states
mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_pstate: Intel P-state driver initializing
mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain package
mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain core
mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain uncore
mars 24 17:01:32 archlinux kernel: intel_rapl_common: Found RAPL domain dram
mars 24 17:01:33 archlinux kernel: fb0: switching to inteldrmfb from EFI VGA
mars 24 17:01:33 archlinux kernel: Bluetooth: hci0: Intel Bluetooth firmware file: intel/ibt-hw-37.8.10-fw-22.50.19.14.f.bseq
mars 24 17:01:33 archlinux kernel: snd_hda_intel 0000:00:0e.0: bound 0000:00:02.0 (ops i915_audio_component_bind_ops [i915])
mars 24 17:01:33 archlinux systemd[1]: Starting Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:intel_backlight...
mars 24 17:01:33 archlinux systemd[1]: Finished Load/Save Screen Backlight Brightness of backlight:intel_backlight.
mars 24 17:01:33 archlinux audit[1]: SERVICE_START pid=1 uid=0 auid=4294967295 ses=4294967295 msg='unit=systemd-backlight@backlight:intel_backlight comm="systemd" exe="/usr/lib/systemd/systemd" hostname=? addr=? terminal=? res=success'
mars 24 17:01:33 archlinux kernel: intel_telemetry_core Init

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,766

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Color banding

only Intel integrated graphics

If you're using xf86-video-intel then try removing it, the modesetting DDX driver might work better.

Note that I'm using PowerTop autotune (which starts at every boot), I don't know if there's a link...

Do you still experience the problem if you boot without Powertop applying it's settings?

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

MattMatt2

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 29

Re: [SOLVED] Color banding

Hi,
I uninstalled xf86-video-intel, it seems that the problem is gone... however, I cannot change the brightness anymore. What do you mean by the modesetting DDX driver?

Last edited by MattMatt2 (2021-04-01 12:12:19)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,013

Re: [SOLVED] Color banding

The modesetting ddx is the 2D graphics driver in use when video-intel is removed.

Don't use xbacklight but something that actually controls the correct device for controlling backlight instead of piggy backing on a hack in xf86-video-intel. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ba … _utilities acpilight is a drop-in replacement.

Last edited by V1del (2021-04-01 12:23:15)

MattMatt2

Member

Registered: 2019-03-11

Posts: 29

Re: [SOLVED] Color banding

I installed acpilight, and everything works fine now. Thanks for your help!