[SOLVED] Corrupt display on Live or Installation, multiple distros

Calab · 03-19-2023, 11:07 AM

I just downloaded Ubuntu 22.10 and put it onto a USB stick using Rufus. When the graphical installer starts, the display is corrupted as shown in the linked photo.

Imgur image link: https://i.imgur.com/ZJD0iEp.jpg

Imgur gif link: https://i.imgur.com/C6RW1ME.gif

I had the same thing happen months ago when I installed Kali Linux. The installer seemed OK, but the desktop afterwards did the same thing.

Now, I also just downloaded Mint Linux 21.1 and when I start the Live desktop it also does the same thing.

My display is 4K and distro is refreshing at 60Hz. Changing to 50Hz or 59Hz does not fix the issue. If I change to 30Hz the display looks fine.

I'm running a Gigabyte Z690 UD AX DDR4 mainboard with an Intel i9-12900K CPU and 32GB of DDR4 memory. My graphics card is an Asus 12GB RTX 3060. Display is a Samsung 40" UN40KU6270 4K TV.

Any idea how I can adjust the 60Hz timings that Linux is using by default, or at least set the display to 30Hz during installation?

Brains · 03-19-2023, 11:28 PM

Have you tried all 3 HDMI ports on the TV?

Some TVs will have some HDMI at 60hz and some at 30hz. You can also check the TV settings if you can set it to 30hz, native refresh rate for that TV is 60hz.

Calab · 04-21-2023, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brains

Have you tried all 3 HDMI ports on the TV?

Some TVs will have some HDMI at 60hz and some at 30hz. You can also check the TV settings if you can set it to 30hz, native refresh rate for that TV is 60hz.

Yes. The port I am plugged into is the only 60hz port on the TV. Windows has no issues running 60hz on this TV as well.

mrmazda · 04-21-2023, 11:17 PM

This wouldn't work for any normally installed distro, but it might for a GUI installer. Append option video=3840x2160@30 to the installation linux command line. A video= parameter normally only applies to framebuffers, but a framebuffer may be what a GUI installer employs. It's simpler and more reliable to make work than a normal Xorg or Wayland configuration.

Calab · 04-25-2023, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

This wouldn't work for any normally installed distro, but it might for a GUI installer. Append option video=3840x2160@30 to the installation linux command line. A video= parameter normally only applies to framebuffers, but a framebuffer may be what a GUI installer employs. It's simpler and more reliable to make work than a normal Xorg or Wayland configuration.

Thanks! I was able to get Ubuntu installed and have it running at 30Hz now. I'd like it at 60Hz with proper timing.

If it makes any difference, I'm running an nVidia 3060 video card.

I seem to remember from a LONG time ago tweaking a configuration file that told the system what timings to use for the display, but I can't find it - if it even exists any longer.

hazel · 04-25-2023, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calab

I seem to remember from a LONG time ago tweaking a configuration file that told the system what timings to use for the display, but I can't find it - if it even exists any longer.

That was xf86, the earlier form of the xorg server. I dimly remember that it came with a complicated /etc/X11/xorg.conf file that had to include all these display settings. If, like me, you didn't understand hardware at all, you were sunk. Nowadays xorg does its own configuration on the fly.

mrmazda · 04-25-2023, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calab

I was able to get Ubuntu installed and have it running at 30Hz now. I'd like it at 60Hz with proper timing.

I seem to remember from a LONG time ago tweaking a configuration file that told the system what timings to use for the display, but I can't find it - if it even exists any longer.

An optional file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ named 50-monitor.conf in the following form might work:

Code:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "DefaultMonitor"
	HorizSync	30-136
	VertRefresh	58-121
	Option	"PreferredMode"	"3840x2160"
EndSection

The HorizSync & VertRefresh values you must get from your display's specifications, which hwinfo --monitor may be able to provide if you're unable to find them in a manual. man xorg.conf

Code:

# inxi --vs -GSxx
inxi 3.3.26-00 (2023-03-28)
System:
  Host: ab560 Kernel: 6.2.12-300.fc38.x86_64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    compiler: gcc v: 2.39-9.fc38 Desktop: Trinity wm: Twin dm: 1: TDM 2: XDM
    Distro: Fedora release 38 (Thirty Eight)
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel RocketLake-S GT1 [UHD Graphics 730] vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-12.1 ports: active: HDMI-A-1
    empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-2,HDMI-A-3 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:4c8b
  Display: x11 server: X.org v: 1.20.14 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    alternate: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: 00srv.ij.net:0
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 model: LG (GoldStar) TV res: 3840x2160 dpi: 61
    diag: 1836mm (72.3")
# xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 4096 x 2160, maximum 16384 x 16384
HDMI-1 connected 4096x2160+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 1600mm x 900mm
   3840x2160     60.00 +  50.00    59.94    30.00    25.00    24.00    29.97    23.98
   4096x2160     60.00*   50.00    59.94    30.00    25.00    24.00    29.97    23.98
   1920x1080    120.00   100.00   119.88    60.00    50.00    59.94    30.00    25.00    24.00    29.97    23.98
   1920x1080i    60.00    50.00    59.94
   1280x1024     60.02
   1360x768      60.02
   1152x864      59.97
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94
   1024x768      60.00
   800x600       60.32
   720x576       50.00
   720x576i      50.00
   720x480       60.00    59.94
   640x480       60.00    59.94
   720x400       70.08
HDMI-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1 disconnected primary (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
# hwinfo --monitor
23: None 00.0: 10002 LCD Monitor
  [Created at monitor.125]
  Unique ID: rdCR.YU+i67CLbr8
  Parent ID: _Znp.57fBgivnCNE
  Hardware Class: monitor
  Model: "LG ELECTRONICS LG TV"
  Vendor: GSM "LG ELECTRONICS"
  Device: eisa 0x0001 "LG TV"
  Serial ID: "16843009"
  Resolution: 720x400@70Hz
  Resolution: 640x480@60Hz
  Resolution: 800x600@60Hz
  Resolution: 1024x768@60Hz
  Resolution: 640x480@60Hz
  Resolution: 800x600@60Hz
  Resolution: 1024x768@60Hz
  Resolution: 1152x864@60Hz
  Resolution: 1920x1080@60Hz
  Resolution: 3840x2160@60Hz
  Size: 1600x900 mm
  Year of Manufacture: 2017
  Week of Manufacture: 1
  Detailed Timings #0:
     Resolution: 3840x2160
     Horizontal: 3840 4016 4104 4400 (+176 +264 +560) +hsync
       Vertical: 2160 2168 2178 2250 (+8 +18 +90) +vsync
    Frequencies: 594.00 MHz, 135.00 kHz, 60.00 Hz
  Year of Manufacture: 2017
  Week of Manufacture: 1
  Detailed Timings #1:
     Resolution: 1920x1080
     Horizontal: 1920 2008 2052 2200 (+88 +132 +280) +hsync
       Vertical: 1080 1084 1089 1125 (+4 +9 +45) +vsync
    Frequencies: 148.50 MHz, 67.50 kHz, 60.00 Hz
  Driver Info #0:
    Max. Resolution: 3840x2160
    Vert. Sync Range: 58-121 Hz
    Hor. Sync Range: 30-136 kHz
    Bandwidth: 594 MHz
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #20 (VGA compatible controller)
# ls -1 /sys/class/drm
card1
card1-DP-1
card1-HDMI-A-1
card1-HDMI-A-2
card1-HDMI-A-3
renderD128
version
#

23.04 was released 5 days ago. I suggest an upgrade should get you newer kernel and Xorg, and possibly 60Hz by default.

Calab · 04-25-2023, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

An optional file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ named 50-monitor.conf in the following form might work: {snip}

Thanks! I will dig into this tonight!

Calab · 04-25-2023, 09:14 PM

So, I booted up Ubuntu this evening to fix my 60Hz refresh problem, but it had fixed itself. Display was running in 60Hz mode already. The only thing I can think of is that I recently updated the nVidia driver.

Anyhow, I decided to upgrade to 23.04, which appeared to go smoothly. I reboot and the 60Hz issue is back. I get the system to 30Hz and check the drivers and it's back to the XOrg video driver. Changed to nVidia 525 driver, reboot, and now I'm back at 60Hz without issue again.

I guess it's just a timing issue in the XOrg drivers.

Thanks for all the help folks!