New installation - UI2 alpha blending with no tearing

[Ray_N]

Hi guys!
   Just wanted to report my first success and see if I can somehow help out. This is a new (my first ever) installation of LMCE and just tested playing an .ISO last night. The movie played very very nicely, including the fight scenes (Jackie Chan and Jet Li together). The thing is, am using UI2 with alpha blending and since there seems to be so much complications with this setting, I was wondering if you guys wanted some specific information about my setup to help out. I had absolutely no tearing at all!!!
   Please let me know if you want any log or config files or anything that could help out. I'm not completely done with set up yet (still need to finish config of the Gyration and other stuff) but before I continue (and maybe mess something up later) I thought I'd share.

Ray

[seth]

 
The tearing generally take place while watching MythTV. Fire up a LiveTV or TV session, and let us know what you get there.

Regards,

Seth

[Ray_N]

Hmm...ok...didn't know that one...will report back when I get that going...getting HDHomeRun on Tuesday.
Thanks,
R

[colinjones]

no, the tearing happens with any video, not just live TV! Can you post your exact hardware, and your xorg.conf files? thx

[Craptastic]

Same results here. I also have not connected to a TV stream, but all other methods of putting video through are working with no tearing.

I am running the following:

ASUS M3N78-EM with GeForce 8300 and the latest 180.29 Nvidia driver
2 Gig OCZ DDR2 800
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core Processor AM2 2.7GHZ 2X512KB 65W
Corsair VX550W 550W ATX 12V 41A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC

LinuxMCE  0710 i386 DVD install

While this machine is under construction the output being used is only VGA, out to an old CRT monitor.

xorg.conf below.
_________________________________________________________
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Thu Feb  5 00:18:17 PST 2009

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
#   InputDevice     "stylus"   "SendCoreEvents"
#   InputDevice     "cursor"   "SendCoreEvents"
#   InputDevice     "eraser"   "SendCoreEvents"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen         "Default Screen" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Generic Keyboard"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "CoreKeyboard"
    Option         "XkbRules" "xorg"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Configured Mouse"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "CorePointer"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "stylus"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "stylus"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"      # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "eraser"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "eraser"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"      # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "cursor"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "cursor"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"      # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Generic Monitor"
    Option         "DPMS"
   Modeline    "1024x768" 60.80 1024 1056 1128 1272 768 768 770 796
   HorizSync   20-500
   VertRefresh   59-61
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
    Driver         "nvidia"
   Option "XvmcUsesTextures" "true"
   Option "renderAccel" "true"
   Option "NoDDCValue"
   Option "UseEDID" "false"
   Option "ExactModeTimingsDVI" "true"
   Option "NoLogo" "true"
   Option "NoBandWidthTest" "true"
   Option "ModeValidation" "NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, NoMaxPClkCheck, AllowInterlacedModes, AllowNon60HzDFPModes"
   Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
   Option "UseEvents" "true"
   Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
   Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
   Option      "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
    Monitor        "Generic Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
   SubSection "Display"
      Modes      "1024x768"
      Virtual      1024 768
   EndSubSection
   Option "XvmcUsesTextures" "true"
   Option "renderAccel" "true"
   Option "NoDDCValue"
   Option "UseEDID" "false"
   Option "ExactModeTimingsDVI" "true"
   Option "NoLogo" "true"
   Option "NoBandWidthTest" "true"
   Option "ModeValidation" "NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, NoMaxPClkCheck, AllowInterlacedModes, AllowNon60HzDFPModes"
   Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
   Option "UseEvents" "true"
   Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
   Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
   Option   "TVStandard"   "1024x768"
EndSection


Section "Extensions"
   Option "Composite" "true"
   Option "RENDER" "true"
EndSection
_____________________________________________________________

[tkmedia]

Looks  like you are using a monitor  at 1024x768 generally you wont have tearing with that combination try running at 1080p to at TV and report back.


Tim

[colinjones]

I presume someone out there can confirm that tearing is generally an issue when using a TVOut connection rather than a VGA or some form of digital connection? Also, I would have thought there are plenty of people using 720p, so surely it would have been noticed already if it was related to resolution/size and so didn't happen at resolutions like 1024x768?

The only other comment I would make is, Craptastic - you have allowed the driver installation tool to update/overwrite your xorg.conf file.... I would say that isn't the best idea. Certainly, if you ever go into the AV Wizard again, it will overwrite this config with the default one before modifying it. There doesn't look to be anything new/different in yours that might have "fixed" the tearing, but you may find things suddenly change if you use the AV Wizard. Perhaps make a backup of it, then go into the AV Wizard and let it re-write your xorg.conf then see if the tearing comes back.

[darrenmason]

Colin,

I always assumed that the tearing issue that you are talking about was resolution based. I run both my main MDs with alpha on and have never seen tearing. They both use low end nvidia cards and one runs PAL (svideo) and the other 720p(VGA)

Regards
Darren

[colinjones]

Interesting.... I'm pretty sure I have run my display at 720p with alpha in the past and still seen the tearing... but this was using HDMI... can anybody else post their experience with alpha/tearing at different resolutions and connectors? I have written (again!) to nVidia - this time directly to the manager of nVidia "Unix" drivers - about this issue, so would like to be able to define it precisely.... not very hopeful that I will get a response, but its worth a try....

[Afkpuz]

I use vga @ 720p and I expereince tearing when using alpha blending, but not in overlay.  I bet alot of it has to do with the fact that you're using the newest NVIDIA driver.  I've seen a large improvement in that driver over the old 177.   

[Craptastic]

Okay, so hooked up to Samsung LCD via DVI out of m/b to HDMI input on LCD.

Booted to monitor, ran AV Wizard, changed to DVI/HDMI output/720p/60Hz

Loaded up fine to LCD, looked great.

Ran the same host of different video files and overall it ran extremely well.

The only thing I could notice, and it is difficult, is what appears to be one, maybe two horizontal lines that seem to loose sync. This line is about 40% of the screen height down from the top and I could only see it on one Divx video I played during very high action scenes. Even then it was barely noticeable and over in a flash. Based on how it performed I will be leaving it in UI2+alpha.

For the other videos I ran I did not see any artifacting at all. See xorg.conf below.

colinjones, having just ran the AV Wizard again to change to 720p I can not see any differences between my two xorg.conf files except for the monitor and resolution. What should have happened?


_________________________________________________________________________
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Thu Feb  5 00:18:17 PST 2009

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
#   InputDevice     "stylus"   "SendCoreEvents"
#   InputDevice     "cursor"   "SendCoreEvents"
#   InputDevice     "eraser"   "SendCoreEvents"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen         "Default Screen" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Generic Keyboard"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "CoreKeyboard"
    Option         "XkbRules" "xorg"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option         "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Configured Mouse"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "CorePointer"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "stylus"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "stylus"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"      # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "eraser"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "eraser"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"      # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "cursor"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "cursor"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"      # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Generic Monitor"
    Option         "DPMS"
   Modeline    "1280x720" 74.250 1280 1390 1430 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync
   HorizSync   20-500
   VertRefresh   59-61
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
    Driver         "nvidia"
   Option "XvmcUsesTextures" "true"
   Option "renderAccel" "true"
   Option "NoDDCValue"
   Option "UseEDID" "false"
   Option "ExactModeTimingsDVI" "true"
   Option "NoLogo" "true"
   Option "NoBandWidthTest" "true"
   Option "ModeValidation" "NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, NoMaxPClkCheck, AllowInterlacedModes, AllowNon60HzDFPModes"
   Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
   Option "UseEvents" "true"
   Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
   Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
   Option      "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
    Monitor        "Generic Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
   SubSection "Display"
      Modes      "1280x720"
      Virtual      1280 720
   EndSubSection
   Option "XvmcUsesTextures" "true"
   Option "renderAccel" "true"
   Option "NoDDCValue"
   Option "UseEDID" "false"
   Option "ExactModeTimingsDVI" "true"
   Option "NoLogo" "true"
   Option "NoBandWidthTest" "true"
   Option "ModeValidation" "NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, NoMaxPClkCheck, AllowInterlacedModes, AllowNon60HzDFPModes"
   Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
   Option "UseEvents" "true"
   Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
   Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
   Option   "TVStandard"   "720p (16:9)"
EndSection


Section "Extensions"
   Option "RENDER" "true"
EndSection


Thanks,

Craptastic

[skeptic]

It's been a while since I updated the nvidia driver, but with an nVidia 7300 card, 720p, and HDMI I had tearing with alpha blending.  Video is fine with overlay.  

I don't think it's 720p vs. 1080p, but for those that have it working without tearing it may be related to HDMI vs. VGA or driver version.  Based on Afkpuz's post, vga/720p/alpha=tearing, I'm guessing it may be a driver version that gets it fixed.  It might also be a combination of driver version and better cards.  I have a pretty cheap/low end card so if I can get it to not tear, most people should as well.  If I get a chance I'll update my driver and report back.   Unfortunately I don't (yet) have a 1080p TV to test.

[skeptic]

Okay, so hooked up to Samsung LCD via DVI out of m/b to HDMI input on LCD.

Booted to monitor, ran AV Wizard, changed to DVI/HDMI output/720p/60Hz

Loaded up fine to LCD, looked great.

Ran the same host of different video files and overall it ran extremely well.

The only thing I could notice, and it is difficult, is what appears to be one, maybe two horizontal lines that seem to loose sync. This line is about 40% of the screen height down from the top and I could only see it on one Divx video I played during very high action scenes.

That sounds like it may be the same kind of tearing I see, only for me it's much more noticeable and on pretty much any video if I'm in alpha mode.

[Ray_N]

Ok...so here's my setup. Coincidentally, I also have the ASUS M3N78-EM.

- Motherboard: ASUS M3N78-EM  Uses NVIDIA GeForce 8300
- CPU: AMD Athon 64 X2 Kuma 2.7 GHz
- RAM: Kingston HyperX 1Gb
- Display: Samsung 40" TFT-LCD LN-T4061F

This is some of what I've done:
- Installed from the i386 DVD.
- Connected through the HDMI port AND VGA port. Boot-ups on the VGA, but once LMCE is up, PC switches to HDMI output.
- Running at 1980x1080p. I did set the LCD's HDMI input name to HDMI-PC. This helped to get the alignment on the screen correctly.
- On the BIOS, I'm sharing 256 of memory with the video card (I'm curious about this and will test out by reducing it later when I have time)
- Installed latest nVidia drivers as described in: wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Display_Drivers#Latest_Drivers
- Have only watched DVD .ISO files, and no problem. Still fighting with HDHomeRun (hdhomerun_config doesn't want to discover it, even though I can clearly see it from the webpage and pings)

   I will say this. During the setup wizard, I did not see the whole image. It looked like a square where I didn't see two quadrants. But I did see part of the flamethrower.
Let me know if this helps or how I can help with some minor what-if scenarios. Don't have a whole lot of time right now, but can probably squeeze in couple of times.

Cheers,
Ray

Here's my xorg.conf

Code:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Thu Feb  5 00:18:17 PST 2009

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice     "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice     "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice     "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen         "Default Screen" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Generic Keyboard"
    Driver         "kbd"
    Option         "CoreKeyboard"
    Option         "XkbRules" "xorg"
    Option         "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Configured Mouse"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "CorePointer"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option         "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "stylus"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "stylus"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "eraser"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "eraser"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "cursor"
    Driver         "wacom"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
    Option         "Type" "cursor"
    Option         "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "SAMSUNG"
    Option         "DPMS"
Modeline "1920x1080" 148.5 1920 1960 2016 2200 1080 1082 1088 1125
HorizSync 20-500
VertRefresh 59-61
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
    Driver         "nvidia"
Option "XvmcUsesTextures" "true"
Option "renderAccel" "true"
Option "NoDDCValue"
Option "UseEDID" "false"
Option "ExactModeTimingsDVI" "true"
Option "NoLogo" "true"
Option "NoBandWidthTest" "true"
Option "ModeValidation" "NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, NoMaxPClkCheck, AllowInterlacedModes, AllowNon60HzDFPModes"
Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
Option "UseEvents" "true"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "nVidia Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
    Monitor        "SAMSUNG"
    DefaultDepth    24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1920x1080"
Virtual 1920 1080
EndSubSection
Option "XvmcUsesTextures" "true"
Option "renderAccel" "true"
Option "NoDDCValue"
Option "UseEDID" "false"
Option "ExactModeTimingsDVI" "true"
Option "NoLogo" "true"
Option "NoBandWidthTest" "true"
Option "ModeValidation" "NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck, NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, NoMaxPClkCheck, AllowInterlacedModes, AllowNon60HzDFPModes"
Option "DynamicTwinView" "false"
Option "UseEvents" "true"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"
Option "TVStandard" "1080p"
EndSection


Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "true"
Option "RENDER" "true"
EndSection

[Craptastic]

Forgot to mention that I too did not see the proper image during the test procedure. Same results as Ray_N with missing quadrants. Didn't expect it to work, but it works great.