Bug#2039: X server font erosion
Package: xserver-mach64
Version: 3.1.2-2
This problem is difficult to describe, and difficult to trace or reproduce.
I'm not sure it is specific to the XF86_Mach64 server, but that's the only one
I've used, and it's occurred for all versions of XF86 3.1.2 I've used
(Slackware 2.3.0, Debian 0.93R6, latest Debian ALPHA-TEST.)
On occasion, apparently at random, certain characters of a particular font
will become "eroded": the bottom portion of the character will blank, so that
every newly drawn occurence of the character on the screen only shows the top
portion.
Currently, for example, I'm using the font
-schumacher-clean-bold-r-normal--16-160-75-75-c-80-*-*
in my xterms and in Emacs. The legs on the letter "R" are missing. I'm
including a screen snapshot with this message that demonstrates what I mean.
This rarely happens, but when it does it's noticeable and annoying. Sometimes
the erosion gradually worsens, blanking more of the character, or sometimes it
begins affecting other characters at the same time. Usually I can fix the
problem by logging out and back in (via xdm), or sometimes the problem will go
away by itself after an indeterminate period of time.
Here's the current status of my X server:
XFree86 Version 3.1.2 / X Window System
(protocol Version 11, revision 0, vendor release 6001)
Operating System: Linux
Configured drivers:
Mach64: accelerated server for ATI Mach64 graphics adaptors (Patchlevel 0)
(using VT number 7)
XF86Config: /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config
(**) stands for supplied, (--) stands for probed/default values
(**) Mouse: type: MouseMan, device: /dev/mouse, baudrate: 1200
(**) Mach64: Graphics device ID: "ATI WinTurbo"
(**) Mach64: Monitor ID: "MAG DX17F"
(**) FontPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
(**) Mach64: Option "power_saver"
(--) Mach64: card type: PCI
(--) Mach64: Clock type: ATI18818-1
(--) Mach64: Number of Clocks: 32
(--) Mach64: clocks: 50.35 56.64 63.00 72.00 40.00 44.90 49.50 50.00
(--) Mach64: clocks: 0.00 110.00 126.00 135.00 0.00 80.00 75.00 65.00
(--) Mach64: clocks: 25.18 28.32 31.50 36.00 20.00 22.45 24.75 25.00
(--) Mach64: clocks: 0.00 55.00 63.00 67.50 0.00 40.00 37.50 32.50
(--) Mach64: Maximum allowed dot-clock: 135.000 MHz
(**) Mach64: Mode "1280x1024": mode clock = 110.000, clock used = 110.000
(**) Mach64: Mode "1024x768": mode clock = 75.000, clock used = 75.000
(**) Mach64: Mode "800x600": mode clock = 40.000, clock used = 40.000
(**) Mach64: Mode "640x480": mode clock = 25.175, clock used = 25.175
(**) Mach64: Virtual resolution: 1280x1024
(--) Mach64: videoram: 2048k
(--) Mach64: Using hardware cursor
(--) Mach64: Using 4 MB aperture
(--) Mach64: Ramdac is ATI68880
(**) Mach64: Using 6 bits per RGB value
(--) Mach64: Aperture mapped to 0x7c000000
(--) Mach64: Pixmap cache: 1 256x256 slots, 2 128x128 slots, 8 64x64 slots
(--) Mach64: Font cache: 16 fonts
Here's the screen snapshot:
begin 664 eroded-R.gif
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`
end
If I can provide any more helpful information, I will do so gladly. Thanks for
any help.
--
Robert Leslie
rob@advantage.org
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