[SOLVED] Arch Linux / XFCE / X / SDTV Configuration

IronManRust · 01-02-2015, 04:25 PM

I'm trying to configure an old desktop to use a standard-definition television as a monitor and am having some issues getting X to work properly. Relevant hardware details:

2.93 GHz Celeron D (133x22)
ASUS 845G Chipset Motherboard
1 GB DDR 333 RAM (2x 512 MB)
PNY Verto GeForce FX 5200 PCI (NV34) 256 MB
20" Toshiba 20AF41 CRT TV Over S-Video

The ultimate goal of the project is to boot the PC into an emulator front-end to run old console video games, so high-resolution display isn't an issue. As the title says, I'm running XFCE from inside Arch.

During initial installation I had an old computer monitor hooked up to the PC via VGA and everything displayed nicely. However, when I switched over to the TV exclusively over S-Video the system won't make it to the login screen. Initial POST and start-up are legible, but once X tries to load the screen becomes scrambled and doesn't progress.

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/xorg.conf

Code:

Section         "Device"
  Identifier    "Device-1"
  Driver        "nouveau"
  Option        "TVOutFormat"      "SVIDEO"
  Option        "TVStandard"       "NTSC-M"
  Option        "UseDisplayDevice" "TV-1"
  Option        "UseEDID"          "FALSE"
EndSection

Section         "Monitor"
  Identifier    "VGA-1"
  Option        "Ignore" "True"
EndSection

Section         "Monitor"
  Identifier    "DVI-I-1"
  Option        "Ignore" "True"
EndSection

Section         "Monitor"
  Identifier    "TV-1"
  VendorName    "Toshiba"
  ModelName     "20AF41"
  HorizSync     30-50
  VertRefresh   55-65
EndSection

Section         "Screen"
  Identifier    "Screen-1"
  Device        "Device-1"
  Monitor       "TV-1"
  DefaultDepth  16
  SubSection    "Display"
    Depth       24
    Modes       "640x480" "320x240"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection    "Display"
    Depth       16
    Modes       "640x480" "320x240"
  EndSubSection
  SubSection    "Display"
    Depth       8
    Modes       "640x480" "320x240"
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section         "ServerLayout"
  Identifier    "ServerLayout-1"
  Screen        0 "Screen-1" 0 0
EndSection

/var/log/Xorg.0.log

Code:

[   863.717] X.Org X Server 1.16.0 Release Date: 2014-07-16
[   863.717] X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
[   863.717] Build Operating System: Linux 3.15.5-2-ARCH i686 
[   863.717] Current Operating System: Linux relax 3.16.1-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Aug 14 07:48:39 CEST 2014 i686
[   863.717] Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=../vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/sda1 rw initrd=../initramfs-linux.img memory_corruption_check=0
[   863.717] Build Date: 31 July 2014  11:55:52AM
[   863.717]  
[   863.717] Current version of pixman: 0.32.6
[   863.717] 	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org to make sure that you have the latest version.
[   863.717] Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting, (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational, (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[   863.718] (==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Jan  2 16:18:32 2015
[   863.718] (==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[   863.718] (==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
[   863.718] (==) ServerLayout "ServerLayout-1"
[   863.718] (**) |-->Screen "Screen-1" (0)
[   863.718] (**) |   |-->Monitor "TV-1"
[   863.719] (**) |   |-->Device "Device-1"
[   863.719] (==) Automatically adding devices
[   863.719] (==) Automatically enabling devices
[   863.719] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[   863.719] (==) FontPath set to:
	/usr/share/fonts/misc/,
	/usr/share/fonts/TTF/,
	/usr/share/fonts/OTF/,
	/usr/share/fonts/Type1/,
	/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/,
	/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/
[   863.719] (==) ModulePath set to "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
[   863.719] (II) The server relies on udev to provide the list of input devices. If no devices become available, reconfigure udev or disable AutoAddDevices.
[   863.719] (II) Loader magic: 0x82a0700
[   863.719] (II) Module ABI versions:
[   863.719] 	X.Org ANSI C Emulation: 0.4
[   863.719] 	X.Org Video Driver: 18.0
[   863.719] 	X.Org XInput driver : 21.0
[   863.719] 	X.Org Server Extension : 8.0
[   863.722] (EE) systemd-logind: failed to get session: PID 929 does not belong to any known session
[   863.723] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card0)
[   863.723] (II) xfree86: Adding drm device (/dev/dri/card1)
[   863.725] (--) PCI: (0:0:2:0) 8086:2562:103c:2a00 rev 3, Mem @ 0xe0000000/134217728, 0xeb000000/524288
[   863.725] (--) PCI:*(0:1:9:0) 10de:0322:196e:01ad rev 161, Mem @ 0xe8000000/16777216, 0xd0000000/268435456, BIOS @ 0x????????/131072
[   863.726] (WW) Open ACPI failed (/var/run/acpid.socket) (No such file or directory)
[   863.726] (II) LoadModule: "glx"
[   863.726] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so
[   863.729] (II) Module glx: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   863.730] 	compiled for 1.16.0, module version = 1.0.0
[   863.730] 	ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 8.0
[   863.730] (==) AIGLX enabled
[   863.730] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau"
[   863.730] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
[   863.730] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   863.730] 	compiled for 1.16.0, module version = 1.0.10
[   863.730] 	Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[   863.730] 	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 18.0
[   863.730] (II) NOUVEAU driver 
[   863.730] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families :
[   863.731] 	RIVA TNT        (NV04)
[   863.731] 	RIVA TNT2       (NV05)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 256     (NV10)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 2       (NV11, NV15)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 4MX     (NV17, NV18)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 3       (NV20)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 4Ti     (NV25, NV28)
[   863.731] 	GeForce FX      (NV3x)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 6       (NV4x)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 7       (G7x)
[   863.731] 	GeForce 8       (G8x)
[   863.731] 	GeForce GTX 200 (NVA0)
[   863.731] 	GeForce GTX 400 (NVC0)
[   863.731] (++) using VT number 7
[   863.732] (II) [drm] nouveau interface version: 1.1.1
[   863.732] (II) Loading sub module "dri2"
[   863.732] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
[   863.732] (II) Module "dri2" already built-in
[   863.732] (--) NOUVEAU(0): Chipset: "NVIDIA NV34"
[   863.732] (**) NOUVEAU(0): Depth 16, (--) framebuffer bpp 16
[   863.732] (==) NOUVEAU(0): RGB weight 565
[   863.732] (==) NOUVEAU(0): Default visual is TrueColor
[   863.732] (==) NOUVEAU(0): Using HW cursor
[   863.732] (==) NOUVEAU(0): GLX sync to VBlank disabled.
[   863.733] (==) NOUVEAU(0): Page flipping enabled
[   863.733] (==) NOUVEAU(0): Swap limit set to 2 [Max allowed 2]
[   863.786] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Output VGA-2 using monitor section TV-1
[   863.791] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Output DVI-I-1 using monitor section DVI-I-1
[   863.791] (**) NOUVEAU(0): Option "Ignore" "True"
[   863.816] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Output TV-1 using monitor section TV-1
[   863.869] (II) NOUVEAU(0): EDID for output VGA-2
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): EDID for output TV-1
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "720x576" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "1024x768" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "800x600" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "720x480" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "640x480" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "400x300" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "320x240" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Not using mode "320x200" (vrefresh out of range)
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): No remaining probed modes for output TV-1
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Output VGA-2 disconnected
[   863.896] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Output TV-1 connected
[   863.897] (WW) NOUVEAU(0): Unable to find initial modes
[   863.897] (EE) NOUVEAU(0): Output TV-1 enabled but has no modes
[   863.897] (--) NOUVEAU(0): Virtual size is 0x0 (pitch 0)
[   863.897] (**) NOUVEAU(0):  Mode "0x0"
[   863.897] (==) NOUVEAU(0): DPI set to (96, 96)
[   863.897] (II) Loading sub module "fb"
[   863.897] (II) LoadModule: "fb"
[   863.897] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfb.so
[   863.898] (II) Module fb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   863.898] 	compiled for 1.16.0, module version = 1.0.0
[   863.898] 	ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[   863.898] (II) Loading sub module "exa"
[   863.898] (II) LoadModule: "exa"
[   863.898] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libexa.so
[   863.898] (II) Module exa: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   863.898] 	compiled for 1.16.0, module version = 2.6.0
[   863.898] 	ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 18.0
[   863.898] (II) Loading sub module "shadowfb"
[   863.898] (II) LoadModule: "shadowfb"
[   863.898] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libshadowfb.so
[   863.899] (II) Module shadowfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[   863.899] 	compiled for 1.16.0, module version = 1.0.0
[   863.899] 	ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[   863.899] (II) NOUVEAU(0): Opened GPU channel 0
[   863.901] (II) NOUVEAU(0): [DRI2] Setup complete
[   863.901] (II) NOUVEAU(0): [DRI2]   DRI driver: nouveau
[   863.901] (II) NOUVEAU(0): [DRI2]   VDPAU driver: nouveau
[   863.901] -22
[   863.901] (EE) NOUVEAU(0): Error allocating scanout buffer: 0
[   863.901] (EE) Fatal server error:
[   863.901] (EE) AddScreen/ScreenInit failed for driver 0
[   863.901] (EE) 
[   863.901] (EE) Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support at http://wiki.x.org for help. 
[   863.902] (EE) Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[   863.902] (EE) 
[   863.902] (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.

From the log output I clearly see that it can't properly set the refresh rate of the TV, but I've tried a number of configuration settings both manual and automatic without success.

Anybody have any ideas?

Head_on_a_Stick · 01-03-2015, 09:49 AM

It also says it is unable to find initial modes and that the output is enabled but it has no modes (863.897).

I think you need to re-write your xorg.conf -- try just setting one mode with the correct refresh rate (whatever that is).

I don't use NVIDIA though, so I may be completely wrong here.

Some links:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Nouveau#Dual_Head
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xrandr

Does your system load the X server correctly if you connect it to a normal monitor without the xorg.conf?

IronManRust · 02-08-2015, 11:36 PM

Just to close the loop on this, I tried a number of different approaches to get that TV to play nicely with X over S-video and ultimately gave up. In the end I dropped $10 on a USB-powered VGA-to-RCA converter box and put this issue behind me. I hate throwing money at problems, but in this case I decided my time was worth more.

To Head_on_a_Stick's comment, yes, with no xorg.conf file and a spare LCD monitor hooked up over VGA everything worked just fine; that's how I initially installed Arch. I ended up using an xorg.conf file to adjust overscan settings after buying the converter box, but that was about it.