Opensuse 11.3: Sound works, but stutters while moving window

**stendres** · 27-Jul-2010, 00:22

Hi,

I'm using OpenSUSe 11.3 and have problems: While moving windows or doing anything else, music gets faster, jumps forward or to interrupt. All worked fine in 11.1 and almost fine in 11.2.

hwinfo --sound

Code:

15: PCI 14.2: 0403 Audio device                                 
  [Created at pci.318]
  Unique ID: 5Dex.04rYcbu13CB
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2
  SysFS BusID: 0000:00:14.2
  Hardware Class: sound
  Model: "ATI IXP SB4x0 High Definition Audio Controller"
  Vendor: pci 0x1002 "ATI Technologies Inc"
  Device: pci 0x437b "IXP SB4x0 High Definition Audio Controller"
  SubVendor: pci 0x144d "Samsung Electronics Co Ltd"
  SubDevice: pci 0xc02b 
  Revision: 0x01
  Driver: "HDA Intel"
  Driver Modules: "snd_hda_intel"
  Memory Range: 0xc0400000-0xc0403fff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  IRQ: 16 (22717 events)
  Module Alias: "pci:v00001002d0000437Bsv0000144Dsd0000C02Bbc04sc03i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: snd_hda_intel is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe snd_hda_intel"
  Config Status: cfg=yes, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

uname -a

Code:

Linux linux-1bee.site 2.6.34-12-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2010-06-29 02:39:08 +0200 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

dmesg

Code:

[  870.871275] ALSA hda_intel.c:711: azx_get_response timeout, switching to polling mode: last cmd=0x10a90000
[  871.872017] ALSA hda_intel.c:719: No response from codec, disabling MSI: last cmd=0x10a90000
[  872.873015] ALSA hda_intel.c:750: hda_intel: azx_get_response timeout, switching to single_cmd mode: last cmd=0x10a90000

Pulseaudio is already disabled by "setup-pulseaudio --disable", but this did not help.

Thanks for any help.

**stendres** · 28-Jul-2010, 06:32

Using speaker-test results in:

Code:

stefan@linux-1bee:~> speaker-test -tsine

speaker-test 1.0.23

Wiedergabe-Ger�t ist default
Stream-Parameter sind 48000 Hz, S16_LE, 1 Kan�le
Sinuswelle mit Frequenz 440,0000 Hz
Rate ist 48000 Hz (angefordert: 48000 Hz)
Puffergr��e von 2048 bis 8192
Periodengr��e von 1024 bis 1024
Verwende maximale Puffergr��e 8192
Perioden = 4
gesetzt: period_size = 1024
gesetzt: buffer_size = 8192
 0 - Vorne links
Schreibfehler: -32, Daten�bergabe unterbrochen (broken pipe)
Schreibfehler: -32, Daten�bergabe unterbrochen (broken pipe)
Schreibfehler: -32, Daten�bergabe unterbrochen (broken pipe)

Using Ubuntu it works fine too: I found out, that there is a difference in interrupts:

Under Ubuntu, irq 16 is used.

In Opensuse cat /proc/interrupts retrievs 24:

Code:

           CPU0       CPU1       
  0:     112369          0   IO-APIC-edge      timer
  1:        500          0   IO-APIC-edge      i8042
  8:          1          0   IO-APIC-edge      rtc0
 12:      68187          0   IO-APIC-edge      i8042
 14:       8103          0   IO-APIC-edge      pata_atiixp
 15:       2859          0   IO-APIC-edge      pata_atiixp
 16:       7917          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ath
 17:       6600          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   radeon
 18:          0          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   eth0
 19:          2          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   ehci_hcd:usb1, ohci_hcd:usb2, ohci_hcd:usb3
 20:          0          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   yenta
 21:        308          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   acpi
 22:          0          0   IO-APIC-fasteoi   mmc0
 24:       2332          0   PCI-MSI-edge      hda_intel
NMI:          0          0   Non-maskable interrupts
LOC:     123332     141755   Local timer interrupts
SPU:          0          0   Spurious interrupts
PMI:          0          0   Performance monitoring interrupts
PND:          0          0   Performance pending work
RES:      37131      48591   Rescheduling interrupts
CAL:        140         53   Function call interrupts
TLB:       1338       1656   TLB shootdowns
TRM:          0          0   Thermal event interrupts
THR:          0          0   Threshold APIC interrupts
MCE:          0          0   Machine check exceptions
MCP:          2          2   Machine check polls
ERR:          1
MIS:          0

May be, I have a problem with interrupts?

Greetings,
Stefan

**schoeffler** · 31-Jul-2010, 09:17

The same to me. Sound was ok with 11.2. Now, for example, it's unpossible to watch a video, because the speech isn't understandable because of the CPU load (I assume). When I choose the "Start" window in Kaffeine, so that there is no video image any more, the sound is much much better (but not completely ok).

Laptop: ASUS F5RL-AP277D

Code:

# hwinfo --sound
23: PCI 14.2: 0403 Audio device                                 
  [Created at pci.318]
  Unique ID: 5Dex.IOFetRyhSn6
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2
  SysFS BusID: 0000:00:14.2
  Hardware Class: sound
  Model: "ATI SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)"
  Vendor: pci 0x1002 "ATI Technologies Inc"
  Device: pci 0x4383 "SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)"
  SubVendor: pci 0x1043 "ASUSTeK Computer Inc."
  SubDevice: pci 0x1339 
  Driver: "HDA Intel"
  Driver Modules: "snd_hda_intel"
  Memory Range: 0xfebf4000-0xfebf7fff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  IRQ: 16 (150549 events)
  Module Alias: "pci:v00001002d00004383sv00001043sd00001339bc04sc03i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: snd_hda_intel is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe snd_hda_intel"
  Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

Any hint how the problem could be solved? Thanks.

Schoeffler

**oldcpu** · 31-Jul-2010, 09:26

You state this occurs when 'moving' a window, ... does this happen when the window is NOT moving ?

If happens when moving ... that suggests to me that something to do with the graphics processing involved in moving the window is impacting the sound. Ergo one needs to know what graphic hardware on your PCs, and what graphic driver any use, and what desktop (KDE or Gnome or Xfce or LXDE) and whether special desktop effects are enabled or disabled. If enabled, does the same happen when they are disabled?

Any hints as to what those graphic hardware/drivers might be ?

**schoeffler** · 31-Jul-2010, 10:35

Thank you for answering.

Originally Posted by oldcpu

You state this occurs when 'moving' a window, ... does this happen when the window is NOT moving ?

It's not depending on CPU load, I tested this using a script loop.

You are right, it depends on the desktop effects. I use KDE. When I deactivate the desktop effects in KDE system control, I can watch a video as usual, provided I don't move a window. When I move a window, speech cannot be understood, also when desktop effects are deactivated.

In Amarok, while moving a window, the music (mp3) plays accelerated, and the played time is displayed as running quicker.

When desktop effects are activated and there is no activity with the windows, then there is a short interruption in the sound every 2 seconds. It's sufficient to absorb about a syllable when hearing speech.

Originally Posted by oldcpu

Any hints as to what those graphic hardware/drivers might be ?

Code:

# hwinfo --gfxcard
26: PCI 105.0: 0300 VGA compatible controller (VGA)             
  [Created at pci.318]
  Unique ID: ul7N.ki6N8VLN_JB
  Parent ID: vSkL.4UFp5fHqms6
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:05.0
  SysFS BusID: 0000:01:05.0
  Hardware Class: graphics card
  Model: "ATI Radeon XPRESS 200M 5A62 (PCIE)"
  Vendor: pci 0x1002 "ATI Technologies Inc"
  Device: pci 0x5a62 "Radeon XPRESS 200M 5A62 (PCIE)"
  SubVendor: pci 0x1043 "ASUSTeK Computer Inc."
  SubDevice: pci 0x1402 
  Driver: "radeon"
  Driver Modules: "drm"
  Memory Range: 0xc0000000-0xcfffffff (ro,non-prefetchable)
  I/O Ports: 0x9800-0x98ff (rw)
  Memory Range: 0xfa8f0000-0xfa8fffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0xfa8c0000-0xfa8dffff (ro,non-prefetchable,disabled)
  IRQ: 17 (88576 events)
  I/O Ports: 0x3c0-0x3df (rw)
  Module Alias: "pci:v00001002d00005A62sv00001043sd00001402bc03sc00i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    XFree86 v4 Server Module: radeon
  Driver Info #1:
    XFree86 v4 Server Module: fglrx
    3D Support: yes
    Extensions: dri
  Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #9 (PCI bridge)

Greetings

Schoeffler

**schoeffler** · 31-Jul-2010, 11:39

The problem exists also in the IceWM-GUI.

Greetings

Schoeffler

**oldcpu** · 31-Jul-2010, 14:59

Originally Posted by schoeffler

Thank you for answering.

It's not depending on CPU load, I tested this using a script loop.

You are right, it depends on the desktop effects. I use KDE. When I deactivate the desktop effects in KDE system control, I can watch a video as usual, provided I don't move a window. When I move a window, speech cannot be understood, also when desktop effects are deactivated.

I note the ATI Radeon XPRESS 200M with the radeon driver. Thats NOT a new card. Just the contrary. It is old. ATI do not even support that card any more under Windows nor under Linux.

What video player are you using? Did you try more than one? What output video mode have you selected in your video player? Did you try "xv" (ie xvideo) or try any other output video modes in your players to see if that provided an improvement?

**schoeffler** · 01-Aug-2010, 04:24

Originally Posted by oldcpu

I note the ATI Radeon XPRESS 200M with the radeon driver. Thats NOT a new card. Just the contrary. It is old. ATI do not even support that card any more under Windows nor under Linux.

I bought the laptop in June 2008, it was new. It's labeled „Graphic: ATI Radeon Xpress 1100“, but I think that this doesn't give us a new chance. I see that AMD has published Radeon Xpress 200M Catalyst driver version 10.2 for Vista on 23.02.2010.

Originally Posted by oldcpu

What video player are you using? Did you try more than one? What output video mode have you selected in your video player? Did you try "xv" (ie xvideo) or try any other output video modes in your players to see if that provided an improvement?

I tried kaffeine and vlc, the problem exists with each of them. In kaffeine, I cannot see where to adjust video output modes. In vlc, I tried what is offered, but no improvement: speech can only be understood with desktop effects disabled and no window movement.

Greetings

Schoeffler

**oldcpu** · 01-Aug-2010, 04:54

Originally Posted by schoeffler

I tried kaffeine and vlc, the problem exists with each of them. In kaffeine, I cannot see where to adjust video output modes. In vlc, I tried what is offered, but no improvement: speech can only be understood with desktop effects disabled and no window movement.

Please, can you try to be more exact in terms of your video player details. Unless I read the details you tried, I can't be convinced you adequately tried the various options.

In the case of kaffeine, it obtains its video settings from the KDE desktop. Typically, if one does not see custom controls in a media player, then one can assume the media player gets its settings from the desktop. If not in the application, and if not from the desktop, then from where else could the settings be controlled? Hence thats a logical assumption that the settings are thus in the desktop (since not in the application), and not difficult to deduce. Perhaps the exception would be if the settings are in Pulse Audio (but that would not be the case for video, unless there is some proprietary driver video control).

So go to KMENU > Configure Desktop > Computer Administration > Multimedia > Backend and check which backend you have selected. GStreamer ? Xine? In either case, have you replaced the crippled SuSE-GmbH packaged GStreamer/libxine1 with the superior packaged Packman packaged version ?

If you have selected xine, then to tune the xine backend settings, you need an interface to access the xine settings (which is logical).

Hence if you look on both the OSS repository and the Packman repository, you will see the application xine-ui (ie the xine user interface). Install that application so as to tune the xine settings. Then run 'xine'. In the window right click and select SETTINGS > SETUP > GUI > Configuration Experience Level and select 'master of the known universe'. Apply that, close xine, and then restart xine so that setting is applied. Now under SETTINGS > SETUP > VIDEO > Video driver to use, instead of 'auto' try 'xv' or some other setting and see if that helps.

Also in xine under SETTINGS > SETUP > AUDIO > Audio driver to use you can look at trying something other than audio. Maybe try 'OSS' or some other setting. You likely need to close and restart for those settings to be applied.

Reference vlc, EXACTLY what video settings did you try ? When you say you 'tried what is offered' I have NO IDEA as to exactly what you tried, which makes it really impossible for me to say, "ok thats all you can do" or to say "hey! you missed setting x ".

**schoeffler** · 01-Aug-2010, 11:32

Originally Posted by oldcpu

Please, can you try to be more exact in terms of your video player details. Unless I read the details you tried, I can't be convinced you adequately tried the various options.

I'm sorry, I don't have in-depth knowledge of multimedia concepts by now, and misestimated the level of details you asked for.

Originally Posted by oldcpu

In either case, have you replaced the crippled SuSE-GmbH packaged GStreamer/libxine1 with the superior packaged Packman packaged version ? [...] Then run 'xine'. In the window right click and select SETTINGS > SETUP > GUI > Configuration Experience Level and select 'master of the known universe'. Apply that, close xine, and then restart xine so that setting is applied. Now under SETTINGS > SETUP > VIDEO > Video driver to use, instead of 'auto' try 'xv' or some other setting and see if that helps.

Also in xine under SETTINGS > SETUP > AUDIO > Audio driver to use you can look at trying something other than audio. Maybe try 'OSS' or some other setting.

libxine1 and GStreamer come from Packman:

Code:

# zypper info libxine1
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
                                                                                          
Information for package libxine1:                                                           
                                                                                            
Repository: @System                                                                         
Name: libxine1                                                                              
Version: 1.1.19-1.pm.44.1                                                                   
Arch: i586                                                                                  
Vendor: http://packman.links2linux.de                                                       
Installed: Yes                                                                              
Status: up-to-date                                                                          
Installed Size: 6.4 MiB                                                                     
Summary: Video Player with Plug-Ins  

# zypper info gstreamer-0_10
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...

Information for package gstreamer-0_10:

Repository: @System
Name: gstreamer-0_10
Version: 0.10.29-9991.pm.9991.1
Arch: i586
Vendor: http://packman.links2linux.de
Installed: Yes
Status: up-to-date
Installed Size: 2.7 MiB
Summary: Streaming-Media Framework Runtime

The multimedia backend setting is xine. The video driver setting �xv� in xine doesn't help neither for kaffeine nor xine player. I tried �raw�, �opengl� in xine player: the same, no improvement (this means: when desktop effects enabled: speech cannot be understood permanently; when desktop effects disabled: speech cannot be understood when moving a window). When I choose �none�, there is no video present (clear), but the sound is ok, except when moving a window. This is independent of desktop effects enabled or disabled.

Instead of moving a window, the sound is disturbed also for example when I press the return key in a konsole window, and the konsole window content must be scrolled one line. Then the sound is interrupted for about 2 seconds. The sound is not interrupted when I press the return key and the konsole window content is not scrolled, because e.g. the command prompt is in the first line of the konsole window. This is true for all audio drivers in xine (auto, pulseaudio, alsa, oss).

When I set the multimedia backend to GStreamer, I have the same appearance. The sound interruption by pressing the return key in the konsole windows lasts about 1/2 second.

As mentioned above, amarok shows some strange behaviour too. So the problem doesn't seem to come from the video driver for multimedia playing.

Greetings

Schoeffler