Re: NVidia 8400M GT stuck @1024x768 (was: does Optimus ever work on Knoppix live media?)
It turns out this model does not have Intel GFX after all (not Optimus):
https://mobilespecs.net/laptop/Sony/Sony_VAIO_VGN-AR730E.html
Chipset: PM965 (no Intel graphics), not 965G. Still, no native video mode can be
found....
Also when I wrote OP, I has mistakenly using Knoppix 8.2 DVD, found where I was
expecting to find my 8.6, so overlooked the difference until after beginning to
respond to Klaus' response.
Klaus Knopper composed on 2019-09-08 16:03 (UTC+0200):
> On Sun, Sep 08, 2019 at 04:32:47 -0400, Felix Miata wrote:
>> This is a Sony Vaio known as both VGN-AR730E and PCG-8112L, with Intel 965G and
>> GeForce 8400M apparently equating to Optimus, though there's no sticker on it
>> saying as much. I've tried many combination of cheat codes, but so far not much
>> luck. ATM its paused with respawning too fast: disabled for 5 minutes as best as I
>> can make out on the half scrambled screen. I'm trying to gather info on exactly
>> what hardware is in this, but the screen makes it really touch to tell what I'm
>> typing, or what the onscreen glyphs are trying to tell me. There's nothing in the
>> BIOS that affects graphics behavior at all.
>> Is there any particular cheat code combination that stands a chance of working
>> with an old Optimus laptop?
Disappointing that 8.6 shipped with version 3.0.32 of inxi. Current as of timestamp
date of 8.6 on mirrors was 3.0.35 (July 15) or possibly even today's 3.0.36. Only
after 3.0.32 was the kernel cmdline added to the -a option.
> It seems the graphics card combination of this notebook is challenging.
> Either one of the Intel or NVidia chipsets is not working well with
> current kernels, or you need to "downgrade" graphics modes in order to
> get at least some kind of graphics.
> Please make sure you are using the newest kernel version (5.2.5 on
> Knoppix 8.6). Also, booting in 32 vs. 64bit modes may play a role
> (knoppix vs. knoppix64).
> Please try the follwing cheat codes:
> knoppix64 xmodule=nouveau nouveau.noaccel=1
> (which will enable the NVidia chipset and switch off a proably unsupported mode).
instead: knoppix xmodule=nouveau nouveau.noaccel=1
/dev/fb0 does not exist
# xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1024x768 61.00*
800x600 61.00
640x480 60.00
knoppix64 xmodule=nouveau desktop=kde
eventually flashed a Plasma desktop, much later the Knoppix graphic, eventually
Plasma. /dev/fb0 exists, but still limited to 1024x768.
> knoppix64 xmodule=intel
> (try ONLY the intel chipset)
ditto
> knoppix64 xmodule=modeset
> (If the framebuffer resolution looks OK, the
> X server MAY work by just using frame buffer)
knoppix64 xmodule=modeset desktop=kde
On modeswitch from 80x25, black for a long time, then tux graphic filling
large middle of screen, then normal KDE desktop.
IOW, same partial "success" as the other xmodules. Native mode is 1920x1080.
/dev/fb0 does exist
# ls -lGg /dev/fb*
crw-rw---- 1 29, 0 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb0
crw-rw---- 1 29, 1 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb1
crw-rw---- 1 29, 2 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb2
crw-rw---- 1 29, 3 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb3
crw-rw---- 1 29, 4 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb4
crw-rw---- 1 29, 5 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb5
crw-rw---- 1 29, 6 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb6
crw-rw---- 1 29, 7 Jul 13 2008 /dev/fb7
/dev/fb:
total 0
crw-r--r-- 1 29, 0 May 8 2008 0
# lspci | sort
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 0c)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 PCI Express Root Port (rev 0c)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation G86M [GeForce 8400M GT] (rev a1)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8055 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 13)
06:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network Connection (rev 61)
08:03.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCIxx12 Cardbus Controller
08:03.1 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments PCIxx12 OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
08:03.2 Mass storage controller: Texas Instruments 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD)
# xrandr --listproviders
Providers: number : 0
# xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1024x768 0.00* 800x600 0.00 640x480 0.00
# /nfs/bin/inxi -V | head -n1
inxi 3.0.35-00 (2019-07-15)
# /nfs/bin/inxi -Gxxbac0zSystem: Host: Microknoppix Kernel: 5.2.5-64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0
parameters: apm=power-off nomce hpsa.hpsa_allow_any=1 loglevel=1 BOOT_IMAGE=linux64 lang=en apm=power-off
initrd=minirt.gz nomce hpsa.hpsa_allow_any=1 loglevel=1 xmodule=modeset desktop=kde
Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.14.5 tk: Qt 5.11.3 wm: kwin_x11 dm: KDM Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Machine: Type: Laptop System: Sony product: VGN-AR730E v: C3LR1E11 serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter>
Mobo: Sony model: VAIO serial: <filter> BIOS: Phoenix v: R2090J8 date: 02/26/2008
CPU: Dual Core: Intel Core2 Duo T8100 type: MCP arch: Penryn speed: 1197 MHz min/max: 1200/2101 MHz
Graphics: Device-1: NVIDIA G86M [GeForce 8400M GT] vendor: Sony driver: N/A bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 10de:0426
Display: server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: nouveau,vesa unloaded: fbdev,modesetting alternate: nv compositor: kwin_x11
resolution: 1024x768~N/A
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 8.0 128 bits) v: 3.3 Mesa 19.1.2 compat-v: 3.1 direct render: Yes
Network: Device-1: Marvell 88E8055 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Sony driver: sky2 v: 1.30 port: 3000 bus ID: 02:00.0
chip ID: 11ab:4363
Device-2: Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network driver: iwl4965 v: in-tree: port: 3000 bus ID: 06:00.0
chip ID: 8086:4229
Drives: Local Storage: total: 149.05 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
Info: Processes: 140 Uptime: 20m Memory: 2.93 GiB used: 359.8 MiB (12.0%) Init: SysVinit v: 2.88 runlevel: 5 default: 5
Compilers: gcc: 8.3.0 alt: 8 Shell: bash v: 5.0.3 running in: konsole inxi: 3.0.35
# hwinfo --gfxcard
15: PCI 100.0: 0300 VGA compatible controller (VGA)
[Created at pci.386]
Unique ID: VCu0.3ZIBFiHqnhE
Parent ID: vSkL.__4Fox8chd3
SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.0
SysFS BusID: 0000:01:00.0
Hardware Class: graphics card
Model: "nVidia GeForce 8400M GT"
Vendor: pci 0x10de "nVidia Corporation"
Device: pci 0x0426 "GeForce 8400M GT"
SubVendor: pci 0x104d "Sony Corporation"
SubDevice: pci 0x9016 Revision: 0xa1
Memory Range: 0xce000000-0xceffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0xd0000000-0xdfffffff (ro,non-prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0xcc000000-0xcdffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
I/O Ports: 0x2000-0x207f (rw)
Memory Range: 0x000c0000-0x000dffff (rw,non-prefetchable,disabled)
IRQ: 5 (no events)
I/O Port: 0x00 (rw)
Module Alias: "pci:v000010DEd00000426sv0000104Dsd00009016bc03sc00i00"
Driver Info #0:
XFree86 v4 Server Module: nv
Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
Attached to: #11 (PCI bridge)
Primary display adapter: #15
# lsmod | sort
acpi_ipmi 16384 0
arc4 16384 2
cfg80211 258048 4 wl,iwl4965,iwlegacy,mac80211
coretemp 16384 0
custom_method 16384 0
i2c_i801 24576 0
ipmi_devintf 16384 0
ipmi_msghandler 40960 2 ipmi_devintf,acpi_ipmi
ipv6 360448 20
irqbypass 16384 1 kvm
iwl4965 77824 0
iwlegacy 49152 1 iwl4965
kvm 323584 0
ledtrig_audio 16384 2 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_realtek
lpc_ich 24576 0
mac80211 360448 2 iwl4965,iwlegacy
media 28672 4 videodev,videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
Module Size Used by
nfit 32768 0
nfs 126976 2 nfsv4
nfsv4 217088 2
pcc_cpufreq 16384 0
pcmcia 32768 0
rpcsec_gss_krb5 28672 0
sbs 16384 0
sbshc 16384 1 sbs
serio_raw 16384 0
sky2 53248 0
snd_hda_codec 69632 5 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_idt
snd_hda_codec_generic 53248 2 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_idt
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 40960 1
snd_hda_codec_idt 49152 1
snd_hda_codec_realtek 81920 1
snd_hda_core 49152 6 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_idt
snd_hda_intel 28672 1
sony_laptop 49152 0
tifm_7xx1 16384 0
uvcvideo 81920 0
videobuf2_common 32768 2 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops 16384 1 videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_v4l2 20480 1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_vmalloc 16384 1 uvcvideo
videodev 139264 3 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
wl 6365184 0
yenta_socket 24576 0
> knoppix64 xmodule=vesa
> (Try Vesa only, worst case, low resolution and slow)
knoppix64 xmodule=vesa:
# xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1024 x 768
default connected 1024x768+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1024x768 0.00* 800x600 0.00 640x480 0.00
knoppix xmodule=vesa:
80x25 screen never drew anything after:
...:
Koopqix 8.7!fouod au: /eew/ss1
>>?!Stasuing!in Live-Mode
>>> Please do not remove medium uotim!shuteown
> fb1024x768
> (no "knoppix" here, try the unaccellerated vesa 1024x768 framebuffer mode)
black screen after KMS kick-in; no response to Ctrl-Alt-Fn
> Please also try "knoppix" instead of "knoppix64". Bitness sometimes
> plays a role when parts of the GPU functions are handled CPU-internal.
> Please let me know if one of these works. There are even more "exotic"
> boot options possible in case the graphics output ports are internally
> rewired with order switched, but this usually rather results in a blank
> screen instead of the X server not starting.
1024x768 mode only from booting
knoppix64 nomodeset desktop=kde
also.
These are from modeset boot:
http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/sd-dmesg
http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/sd-xorg.conf1 (as generated)
http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/sd-Xorg.0.log1
http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/sd-xorg.conf2 (as I modified; X restart)
http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/sd-Xorg.0.log2
"User Guide" https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/W001/W0011502M.pdf
openSUSE 15.1 installation media also boots to VESA @1024x768.
Linuxmint 19.0 never manages to reach a graphical output mode after after KMS kick-in,
seems to loop in a fashion similar to respawning too fast: disabled for 5 minutes as
happened with Knoppix 8.2 DVD.
This laptop is not mine. It belongs to an 81 year old church elder. I'm supposed
to "fix Windows", so I don't know how long before it will no longer be available
to me to follow-up here. It was overheating, disrupting video. Once I had the
overheating solved I somehow managed to make Windows 7 unbootable, though a Windows
repair boot claimed to have fixed it.
--
Evolution as taught in public schools is religion, not science.
Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!
Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/
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