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#1 2023-01-08 01:03:31

jeanluc162
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Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Hello everyone,

I'm running a fresh install of Arch Linux on a Thinkpad T60 with an ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 GPU. My Desktop Environment is Mate and I'm using the LTS Kernel (5.15.86-1-lts). The issue I'm about to describe also occured with the latest kernel and the XFCE Desktop, but I didn't experience anything similiar under Windows XP which is why I am assuming it's a software problem.

The system is running fine overall but I do get weird graphical artifacts from time to time. As they are visible on screenshots, it must be an issue with the GPU/rendering rather than the Display itself. UI Elements or Text is not displayed correctly. This happens with every application (text editor, Chromium, Discord, Mate Terminal. ...).
If the afflicted text is selectable, the problem can be resolved by simply doing that. For other elements (like drop-down menus) simply activating them also removes the artifacts. I assume this boils down to the UI being re-rendered.

https://i.imgur.com/6fEeRPM.png

https://i.imgur.com/h3Heej9.png

https://i.imgur.com/zQCGVbH.png

I'm thankful for any pointers and solutions.

Best regards,

jeanluc162

moderator edit -- replaced oversized images with links.
Pasting pictures and code

Last edited by 2ManyDogs (2023-01-09 12:41:42)

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#2 2023-01-09 01:19:02

babaliaris
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From: Greece
Registered: 2017-09-29
Posts: 77
Website

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Which driver did you install? It should be the ATI driver (Check ATI Installation).

For 32-bit application support, also install the lib32-mesa package from the multilib repository (Check out how to enable multilib here else you won't be able to install any packages from it).
For the DDX driver (which provides 2D acceleration in Xorg), install the xf86-video-ati package.

Also, run the following command and post the output using code tags (Check this wiki on how to make a good post):

sudo journalctl -p 3 -b

Check out System Maintenance for more information.

Last edited by babaliaris (2023-01-09 01:20:13)


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#3 2023-01-09 06:53:13

jeanluc162
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Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

The radeon driver as well as the other packages from the wiki entry are already installed.

Unfortunately, journalctl just returns

-- No entries --

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#4 2023-01-09 07:18:17

d.ALT
Member
Registered: 2019-05-10
Posts: 914

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

<EDIT>

# journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

</EDIT>

Is this happening on 2D rendering only? Or are you having the same problem when the iGPU renders 3D?
Post your Xorg.n.log and # journalctl --no-pager.

Last edited by d.ALT (2023-01-09 07:20:52)


<49,17,III,I>    Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa;
<50,17,III,I>    misericordia e giustizia li sdegna:
<51,17,III,I>    non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e passa.

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#5 2023-01-09 07:51:56

jeanluc162
Member
Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

As far as I can tell, this only happens in 2D Rendering and only for UI-Elements. I never noticed any artifacts when watching videos.

Xorg log: http://0x0.st/o7Za.txt

journalctl: http://0x0.st/o7ZA.txt

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#6 2023-01-09 08:06:53

d.ALT
Member
Registered: 2019-05-10
Posts: 914

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Does the rendering problem happen all the time? Or only when the CPU is under heavy load?

Said that, I don't see anything going wrong in your logs (but I'm NOT an expert!!).


<49,17,III,I>    Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa;
<50,17,III,I>    misericordia e giustizia li sdegna:
<51,17,III,I>    non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e passa.

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#7 2023-01-09 10:45:44

jeanluc162
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Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

It just happens from time to time without any clear correlation to CPU/GPU load or temperature.

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#8 2023-01-09 11:45:47

topcat01
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Registered: 2019-09-17
Posts: 123

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

I see you are using the radeon DDX driver, provided by the xf86-video-ati package. I would try removing that package and any Xorg configuration, so that modesetting is used.

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#9 2023-01-09 12:29:03

jeanluc162
Member
Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

topcat01 wrote:

I see you are using the radeon DDX driver, provided by the xf86-video-ati package. I would try removing that package and any Xorg configuration, so that modesetting is used.

I've tried removing that package which led to my screen looking similiar to this picture:

https://preview.redd.it/2xwf82mmt8v41.j … e6de5b39ef

After reinstalling everything is as before - readable, but with sporadic artifacts.

moderator edit -- replaced oversized image with link.
Pasting pictures and code

Last edited by 2ManyDogs (2023-01-09 12:42:18)

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#10 2023-01-09 12:40:34

Lone_Wolf
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From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,868

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Not very surprising since your card was manufactured before modesetting existed.

This could have to do with compositing Window Managers, can you try with a non-compositing WM like openbox or twm ?


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

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#11 2023-01-09 12:49:20

babaliaris
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From: Greece
Registered: 2017-09-29
Posts: 77
Website

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

I've seen this before in one of my KDE-Plasma systems, but I can't recall if it was causing me the same problems as yours.

[    14.268] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/misc" does not exist.
[    14.268] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    14.268] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/TTF" does not exist.
[    14.268] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    14.268] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/OTF" does not exist.
[    14.268] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    14.268] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/Type1" does not exist.
[    14.268] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    14.268] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi" does not exist.
[    14.268] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    14.268] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi" does not exist.
[    14.268] 	Entry deleted from font path.
[    14.268] (==) FontPath set to:

Maybe it might worth investigating it. Check this as well.

Last edited by babaliaris (2023-01-09 12:49:50)


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#12 2023-01-09 12:54:51

babaliaris
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From: Greece
Registered: 2017-09-29
Posts: 77
Website

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

I just remembered something!!!

I actually had the exact same problem with one of my KDE-PLASMA desktops, and the problem was in one of the options that I had enabled in the effects  tab.
I can't recall the option (maybe window animations while moving them) but disabling it was fixing the problem.

Have you customized your Mate environment? Do you remember if this problem was there before messing with the window options?

Check this video, maybe you can find and disable an option that is causing the problem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJI1iW6o_s4

You can try asking in the mate subreddit as well. /r/mate

I got the solution for my KDE problem from the KDE plasma subreddit.

Last edited by babaliaris (2023-01-09 12:59:33)


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#13 2023-01-09 15:00:18

jeanluc162
Member
Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Lone_Wolf wrote:

Not very surprising since your card was manufactured before modesetting existed.

This could have to do with compositing Window Managers, can you try with a non-compositing WM like openbox or twm ?

I've now installed openbox and configured Mate to use it, but the Problem persists.

babaliaris wrote:

Have you customized your Mate environment? Do you remember if this problem was there before messing with the window options?

I have not performed any customization.

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#14 2023-01-09 15:07:44

d.ALT
Member
Registered: 2019-05-10
Posts: 914

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Mmm... Totally a shot in the dark, but... Try installing mesa-amber
Be aware:


<49,17,III,I>    Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa;
<50,17,III,I>    misericordia e giustizia li sdegna:
<51,17,III,I>    non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e passa.

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#15 2023-01-09 16:58:26

Head_on_a_Stick
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From: London
Registered: 2014-02-20
Posts: 7,680
Website

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

^ Mesa is for 3D rendering.

Disable the compositor: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/MATE#D … ompositing

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#16 2023-01-09 19:08:44

jeanluc162
Member
Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

Wouldn't that already be disabled because I am using openbox now?

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#17 2023-01-09 19:30:21

Head_on_a_Stick
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From: London
Registered: 2014-02-20
Posts: 7,680
Website

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

That's for the MATE compositor and you said you're running MATE with openbox as the window manager. Is that not the case?

Do you still experience the artefacts if you switch to a TTY, log in as your normal user and run

startx /usr/bin/openbox-session

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#18 2023-01-09 19:58:26

topcat01
Member
Registered: 2019-09-17
Posts: 123

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

jeanluc162 wrote:
topcat01 wrote:

I see you are using the radeon DDX driver, provided by the xf86-video-ati package. I would try removing that package and any Xorg configuration, so that modesetting is used.

I've tried removing that package which led to my screen looking similiar to this picture:

Yeah, just wanted to see if modesetting handles it. I use it on many ancient computers.

If you run bare openbox, could you also try running picom with the glx backend (optionally with vsync enabled but that's probably not relevant). I have an old intel system where picom (which I run anyway with i3 for tearfree) fixes a similar issue.

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#19 2023-01-09 20:03:04

babaliaris
Member
From: Greece
Registered: 2017-09-29
Posts: 77
Website

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

You should try to disable the compositor as Head_on_a_Stick told you to do so. I'm pretty sure I had the exact same problem as you, and disabling this feature solved my issue.
How to disable the compositor

Last edited by babaliaris (2023-01-09 20:03:42)


Github Account: github.com/babaliaris     big_smileArch General Guidelinesbig_smile
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#20 2023-01-09 20:09:41

topcat01
Member
Registered: 2019-09-17
Posts: 123

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Yes, definitely first try with composition disabled as advised. I think the default MATE setup uses the xrender backend for composition, which has often given me artifacts.

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#21 2023-01-10 06:52:08

jeanluc162
Member
Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

Okay I've done that now. I have also switched back and forth between the default WM and OpenBox with Compositing disabled, but the artifacts sadly persist.

topcat01 wrote:

If you run bare openbox, could you also try running picom with the glx backend

Do I understand you correctly that this is not an option if I'm using OpenBox as a WM for the Mate DE?

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#22 2023-01-10 08:49:21

topcat01
Member
Registered: 2019-09-17
Posts: 123

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

jeanluc162 wrote:
topcat01 wrote:

If you run bare openbox, could you also try running picom with the glx backend

Do I understand you correctly that this is not an option if I'm using OpenBox as a WM for the Mate DE?

I'm not sure about Mate but for testing you can run bare openbox (or some other simple wm). I haven't run a DE for a long time and am unfortunately completely out of touch with them.

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#23 2023-01-10 12:43:33

Lone_Wolf
Member
From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,868

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

No need to use mesa-amber, as the Mobility Radeon X1400 has an RV515 chipset which uses the mesa r300 gallium driver which is still supported by extra/mesa .

For clarity :

If you run a pure openbox as described by HoaS in #17, do the artifacts persist ?

Does it make a difference under pure openbox if xf86-video-ati is installed or not ?

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2023-01-10 12:43:48)


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

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#24 2023-01-10 22:10:21

jeanluc162
Member
Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

Do you still experience the artefacts if you switch to a TTY, log in as your normal user and run

Lone_Wolf wrote:

If you run a pure openbox as described by HoaS in #17, do the artifacts persist ?

Yes, the artifacts do persist.

Lone_Wolf wrote:

Does it make a difference under pure openbox if xf86-video-ati is installed or not ?

The behaviour with the package removed is equal to the one I described #9.

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#25 2023-01-14 19:35:36

jeanluc162
Member
Registered: 2023-01-08
Posts: 10

Re: Thinkpad T60 with Mobility Radeon X1400: Graphical Artifacts

I've just found out about something called palinopsia bug via this user asking about a similiar problem on the same hardware.

Has anyone here heard about it? Whats the state of this in modern drivers?

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