Re: [gentoo-user] Issues with >=x11-drivers/xf86-video-ati-6.14.4: driver issue or hardware issue?

[Michael Scherer <a6702894@unet.univie.ac.at>]

On Thu, 7 Jun 2012 16:18:02 +0200
Michael Scherer <a6702894@unet.univie.ac.at> wrote:

> On Thu, 7 Jun 2012 04:52:35 -0400
> Andrey Moshbear <andrey.vul@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > On Tue, Jun 5, 2012 at 11:41 AM, Michael Scherer
> > <a6702894@unet.univie.ac.at> wrote:
> > > On Fri, 1 Jun 2012 04:11:35 -0400
> > > Andrey Moshbear <andrey.vul@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 11:12 AM, Michael Scherer
> > >> <a6702894@unet.univie.ac.at> wrote:
> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrey Moshbear"
> > >> > <andrey.vul@gmail.com> To: "gentoo-user"
> > >> > <gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org> Sent: Tuesday, 22 May, 2012
> > >> > 08:02 Subject: [gentoo-user] Issues with
> > >> > >=x11-drivers/xf86-video-ati-6.14.4: driver issue or hardware
> > >> > >issue?
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >> Lately, I've been having some issues with segfaults when
> > >> >> running startx and it's been pretty persistent.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Xorg.0.log and emerge --info are available at
> > >> >> https://gist.github.com/2766926 .
> > >> >> Kernel config is available at https://gist.github.com/276943 .
> > >> >>
> > >> >> I've tried downgrading, but
> > >> >> <=x11-drivers/xf86-video-ati-6.14.2 fails to compile due to
> > >> >> incomplete structs.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Is this more a driver or a hardware issue?
> > >> >>
> > >> >
> > >> > first thing thing is your usage of ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="amd64
> > >> > ~amd64". with ~amd64 you globally
> > >> > allow all packages masked for amd64. unless you are a
> > >> > developer/tester for gentoo you should remove
> > >> > this keyword, because gentoo usually has good reasons to mask
> > >> > some packages. if for some reason you
> > >> > really need a masked package, you can do this easily only for
> > >> > that package. global unmasking alone might be the reason for
> > >> > half of your troubles.
> > >> >
> > >> > second, it is advisable to use kernel modesetting, which is
> > >> > obviously not enabled. gentoo has a detailed
> > >> > howto for this under
> > >> > http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xorg-config.xml. this gives you
> > >> > all necessary details.
> > >> >
> > >> > just a quick shot for the moment. your kernel config doesn't
> > >> > under the link you give, I'd like to see that
> > >> > too, and maybe /etc/X11/xorg.conf or the contents
> > >> > of /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d, if you have any of these,
> > >> >
> > >> > regards, nichael
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >> Well, I added radeon drm & modesetting and the kernel is crashing
> > >> right after the microcode is loaded, but without any signs of
> > >> panic, be it flashing keyboard lights or kernel backtrace with
> > >> register values.
> > >>
> > >> Also, the segfault was caused by the DRI code interpreting a DRI
> > >> opcode as a pointer, hence 0xa4 or similar in the back trace.
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> m0shbear
> > >>
> > >
> > > in any case, I'd need some more information:
> > > the link to your .config is broken, I only get an empty page.
> > > if the kernel is involved, output of dmesg and rc.log would
> > > be needed to.
> > >
> > > by the way, did you anything with your ACCEPT_KEYWORDS?
> > > if not, the best thing would be set it simply ="" (and
> > > afterwards --update world, --depclean and revdep-rebuild),
> > > but that's up to you.
> > >
> > > please send me the requested information, otherwise it's
> > > difficult to find out what's wrong.
> > >
> > 
> > Also, I've noticed that that radeon.ko autodetection configures it
> > as a RS780, whereas, according to motherboard documentation, it
> > should be RS880 (780G vs 785G).
> > This may be a reason for crashing, since the video card dies due to
> > being supplied bad microcode.
> > 
> 
> according to the gentoo manual, under "device drivers-graphics-
> support for framebufferdevices" you should uncheck
> -everything- except "enable video mode handling helpers".
> instead of uvesafb in the kernel parameters you may use
> "radeondrmfb", if anything at all.
> 
> from the Xorg radeon page:
> "First of all check that you don't load radeonfb, uvesafb or vesafb
> module. This includes no vga parameters for kernel when using KMS.
> Console is provided by fbcon and radeondrmfb frame buffer console. So
> it is best to make sure that fbcon module is loaded"
> 
> disabling vesa also should rid you of uvesa messages in Xorg.0.log.
> 
> the rs880 and configuring as rs780 is indeed probably at the root
> of your troubles. seems that you got the wrong firmware. I have
> found other postings with the exact same problem, but as yet
> no clear solution. I'll see what I can find and let you know.
> 
> regards, michael
> 
> 

if you haven't solved your problem already, there are two
possibilities you coud try:
one is using the Radeon R600-family RLC microcode: radeon/R600_rlc.bin
(without something else). this should include the rs880.
another option might be to download firmware-linux-nonfree from
http://packages.debian.org/de/squeeze/firmware-linux-nonfree
some people seem to have used it successfully, but I don't
know if it works on gentoo.

sorry that I can only guess on this, not having an rs880 myself.
isn't someone on gentoo users with a similar configuration who
could give you better advice?

regards, michael