Could my graphics adaptor have died?

English Hardware
1

Running KDE desktop an Leap 42.3 and have not touched hardware for a couple of years. Suddenly my higher resolution picture degraded to VGA.

My console resolution has been set in Boot Loader at video=1920x1080@60 for same period, ie I have not altered this in any way. The resolution used to be acceptable on wide screen monitor but now has suddenly deteriorated and is like with VGA. (Some pictures do not fit on screen!)

I am assuming I have an hardware problem rather than a dodgy update but before I rush out for a replacement board please could somebody give me help with quick diagnosis. My board is an AMD Radeon HD6450 Sapphire with 2G DDR3. No idea what driver is being used but I have not changed it for a long time; so long that I have forgotten everything.

Grateful for some guidance please once more.
Budge

2

Simple things first are always worth a try.

Power down the system, re-seat the video cable at both PC and monitor, power back up.

3

Dell Radeon HD6450 works fine here using 42.3 with Radeon DDX:

# inxi -GxxS
System:    Host: gx151 Kernel: 4.4.179-99-default x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 4.8.5 Desktop: KDE 3.5.10
           tk: Qt 3.3.8c wm: kwin dm: N/A Distro: openSUSE Leap 42.3
Graphics:  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Caicos [Radeon HD 6450/7450/8450 / R5 230 OEM] vendor: Dell
           driver: radeon v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 1002:6779
           Display: server: X.Org 1.18.3 driver: ati,radeon unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa alternate: fglrx
           resolution: 2560x1440~60Hz, 1920x1200~60Hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD CAICOS (DRM 2.43.0 / 4.4.179-99-default LLVM 3.8.0)
           v: 3.3 Mesa 17.0.5 compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes
# xrandr | egrep 'onnect|creen|\*' | grep -v disconn | sort -r
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 4480 x 1440, maximum 16384 x 16384
DisplayPort-0 connected primary 2560x1440+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 598mm x 336mm
DVI-0 connected 1920x1200+2560+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 519mm x 324mm
   2560x1440     59.95*+  74.92
   1920x1200     59.95*+
# grep -v ^# /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-device.conf
# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
cat: /etc/X11/xorg.conf: No such file or directory
#

and also using modesetting DDX:

# inxi -GxxS
System:    Host: gx151 Kernel: 4.4.179-99-default x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 4.8.5 Desktop: KDE 3.5.10
           tk: Qt 3.3.8c wm: kwin dm: N/A Distro: openSUSE Leap 42.3
Graphics:  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Caicos [Radeon HD 6450/7450/8450 / R5 230 OEM] vendor: Dell
           driver: radeon v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 1002:6779
           Display: server: X.Org 1.18.3 driver: modesetting resolution: 2560x1440~60Hz, 1920x1200~60Hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD CAICOS (DRM 2.43.0 / 4.4.179-99-default LLVM 3.8.0)
           v: 3.3 Mesa 17.0.5 compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes
#

Do you have a live media stick or OM to boot to see if X is OK using another OS? Software update might have caused it.

4

Not looking good at present. Will find a bootable stick and try again but meanwhile here is result of my snooping using your suggested code:-

alastair@ibmserver2:~> inxi -GxxS
Resuming in non X mode: xdpyinfo not found. For package install advice run: inxi --recommends
System:    Host: ibmserver2 Kernel: 4.4.179-99-default x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.5)
           Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.8.7 (Qt 5.6.2) dm: kdm Distro: openSUSE Leap 42.3
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Caicos [Radeon HD 6450/7450/8450 / R5 230 OEM]
           bus-ID: 15:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:6779
           Display Server: X.org 1.18.3 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 88x30
alastair@ibmserver2:~> xrandr | egrep 'onnect|creen|\*' | grep -v disconn | sort -r
VGA-0 connected primary 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 553mm x 311mm
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 16384 x 16384
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    60.00* 
alastair@ibmserver2:~>

Out of my comfort zone here but if you can suggest any other test please do. Meanwhile I conclude card is not running and I am getting VGA only. I am bidding on an affordable replacement on ebay but will be days before I get it here if I get it at all so grateful for all suggestions.
Regards,
Budge.

5

Old ATI Radeons Cards seem to only show VGA - you can try to get a better resolution by telling Linux what you want - I had to to get 1920x1200 - VGA is all that showed

first get the required command parameters from cvt - this generate 1920x1200 and 1920x1080 for my Radeon card

> cvt 1920 1200
# 1920x1200 59.88 Hz (CVT 2.30MA) hsync: 74.56 kHz; pclk: 193.25 MHz
Modeline "1920x1200_60.00"  193.25  1920 2056 2256 2592  1200 1203 1209 1245 -hsync +vsync
> cvt 1920 1200
# 1920x1200 59.88 Hz (CVT 2.30MA) hsync: 74.56 kHz; pclk: 193.25 MHz
Modeline "1920x1200_60.00"  193.25  1920 2056 2256 2592  1200 1203 1209 1245 -hsync +vsync
>

find the system name for you video card - on mine it is VGA-0 via xrandr -q

> xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1864 x 973, maximum 16384 x 16384
VGA-0 connected primary 1864x973+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
 === lines deleted ===

put it in a batch file - mine is called video.sh - I deleted the _60 from the lines as that is a comment for your benefit - the OS could care less. The --output sets the screen the --newmode tells the driver the options and --addmode makes it visible to Display app.

> cat video.sh
/usr/bin/xrandr --newmode "1920x1080"  173.00  1920 2048 2248 2576  1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync 
/usr/bin/xrandr --addmode VGA-0 1920x1080 
/usr/bin/xrandr --newmode "1920x1200"  193.25  1920 2056 2256 2592  1200 1203 1209 1245 -hsync +vsync
/usr/bin/xrandr --addmode VGA-0 1920x1200 
#/usr/bin/xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1920x1200
/usr/bin/xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1920x1080
>

you can run the video.sh with “sh video.sh” and get high resolution again.

6

[QUOTE=Budgie2;2905914]

alastair@ibmserver2:~> inxi -GxxS
Resuming in non X mode: xdpyinfo not found. For package install advice run: inxi --recommends

It’s telling you the report is not complete because dependencies are unfulfilled.

Out of my comfort zone here but if you can suggest any other test please do.
Please pastebin /var/log/Xorg.0.log.

7

X.org/XFree86 Video Timings HOWTO](http://en.tldp.org/HOWTO/XFree86-Video-Timings-HOWTO/obsolete.html), which should be considered superceded, reports your less than simple instructions should not be necessary. How else do I know that? OP and I both reported using the exact same 1002:6779 gfxchip, and the exact same OS and drivers, and, same as with my older and newer Radeon HDs, I didn’t need to specially configure anything whatsoever, for either of the two relevant competent DDX drivers (radeon & modesetting) , plus I have both 1920x1200 and 2560x1440 displays connected and working, automatically. The primary differences between OP and I are his display, a slim (IMO) possibility of a component failure (gfxcard, cable, or display), and the (IMO most likely) possibility of a malconfiguration on his that is thwarting automagic X operation. It could be the latter is what happened to you too.

Xorg automatically generates the same modelines as CVT and GTF do via EDID, as long as EDID is competent. In cases where EDID isn’t working, it’s normally sufficient to provide equivalent information via /etc/X11/xorg.conf*, e.g.:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier	"MyMonitor"
    HorizSync	30-91
    VertRefresh	56-76
EndSection

Naturally, the actual sync and refresh for the connected display must be substituted for the example’s. This may be a simpler solution than your script.

8

Ironically, when I boot up Centos 6, the display does show as 1920x1200. Only in OpenSUSE 42.3 and 15.0 does it not work.

It also works correctly in Windows 10. So that can rule out EDID info and the cable and the monitor. All 3 old Radeon cards display this issue. None of my machines that have newer cards have any issue - the old Radeon card would not boot unless I set iommu=pt on the boot command line - I suspect that might be the issue. I have not tried removing it as that was what was suggested when I started with OpenSUSE 41 some time ago.

Remember the 1980’s when all Unix gurus decried that X was DEC’s ultimate virus as it consumed all resources on most every 1980’s computer. It is still the only application that has the client and server programs names that backwards from all client server models.

9

Please open a new thread if you wish to continue this digression from the OP’s problem, which is a was working but suddenly is no longer problem. Such things should never happen as a result of ordinary security updates.

10

[quote="“mrmazda,post:6,topic:136823”]

Hi and sorry for the delay. Just finally managed to created 64 bit antiX live disto which worked out of the box first time. Brilliant distro. On booting this stick I find my graphics are fine and working at 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz. I have saved the /var/log/Xorg.0.log but no idea how to use pastebin. I have saved in Dropbox and if you PM me I can send you an email with the Dropbox link. Otherwise I will take your advice. Meanwhile looks like the graphics card is OK so why it has stopped working in openSUSE is where I need more help please. Regards, Budge

11

You can pastebin using sites other than dropbox, which does not work for me, such as

[http://susepaste.org/](http://susepaste.org/)
[http://paste.opensuse.org/](http://paste.opensuse.org/)
[http://pastebin.centos.org/](http://pastebin.centos.org/)
[http://paste.debian.net/](http://paste.debian.net/)
[http://paste.fedoraproject.org](http://paste.fedoraproject.org)
[http://pastebin.com/](http://pastebin.com/)
[http://paste.ubuntu.com/](http://paste.ubuntu.com/)
[https://gist.github.com/](https://gist.github.com/)

as well as from shell prompts. In openSUSE, the command is susepaste. In most Debians, including AntiX, it’s pastebininit.

In this forum, PM outbound for me is broken. Whether it works inbound I don’t know.

12

Here goes:- SUSE Paste Please let me know if this reaches you. Regards, Budge

13

You reached the right place, but the log either didn’t make it, or it expired too quickly for me to reach.

susepaste -n budgie2 -e 10000 /var/log/Xorg.0.log

would upload the file for a period of nearly a week before it would disappear (10000 minutes).

14

Hi, I think it works better when I have susepaste installed! Hope you receive this now. Sorry about my mistakes. Regards, Budge

15

This what?

16

Hi and sorry if I am a bit lost here. With susepaste installed on my system I ran the command you gave me above. I have no idea where I am missing the plot but I assume you still do not have the /var/log/Xorg.0.log file. Will try again when I am back at my machine but I may need more guidance!!!

17

Post the link (URL) that it provides so that others can review it.

For example…

~> susepaste -n test -e 10000 /var/log/Xorg.0.log
Pasted as:
   http://susepaste.org/54706650
   http://paste.opensuse.org/54706650
Link is also in your clipboard.

http://susepaste.org/54706650

18

Believe me I am trying. Here it is once more:- SUSE Paste Regards Budge

19

I guess not. I have disabled all add-ons as with my VGA screen I cannot see what I am missing and am trying again.

Try this one:-
http://paste.opensuse.org/17390903

This seems to work OK. Sorry about the previous attempts which appear to have been blocked. This should be OK so I hope somebody can now help with the original problem.
Regards,
Budge

20

That’s empty. Can you run the command like I did, and post the entire output here please.