Interesting graphics bug

[Hmfan]

Okay so here's the story, I have a pair of old netbooks, both of them based on the N270 Atom chip (Acer Aspire one zg5 and a Samsung n130). I was trying to set at least one of them up as a computer to give to a friend as a temporary measure. (his kids are in school and they need a computer. something a little more than a Raspberry Pi2) Well I got them installed and running and configured and when I ran an update it did something weird on reboot. It also seemed to happen with the new linux firmware (I know upgrade that at your own risk) but now I get a quarter of the screen rendering and the rest... well...https://i.imgur.com/Rr3W9dx.jpg It's odd because I can move the mouse and mess with what is not rendered correctly.

I guess my question is, is this a known bug with the 32 bit version, or is it kernel/firmware specific?

Edit: I rolled back the Kernel to 4.10.0-38 and the problem went away, so this really isn't a help request as it is a warning to anybody messing with old atom computers.

[absque fenestris]

Hello Hmfan

here the data from my Acer Atom 270 netbook...
But: upgraded to 2GB RAM and a 120 GB SSD

Try Mint 17.3 Rosa 32-bit Xfce or Mate (requires less RAM)

Code: Select all

msz@msz-Aspire-one ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: msz-Aspire-one Kernel: 4.13.0-38-generic i686 (32 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: MATE 1.18.0 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: Acer (portable) product: Aspire one v: V1.25
           Mobo: Acer model: Aspire one v: V1.25
           Bios: Acer v: V1.25 date: 11/28/2009
CPU:       Single core Intel Atom N270 (-HT-) cache: 512 KB
           flags: (nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3) bmips: 3191
           clock speeds: max: 1600 MHz 1: 1517 MHz 2: 1501 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Mobile 945GSE Express Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1024x600@60.08hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 945GME x86/MMX/SSE2
           GLX Version: 1.4 Mesa 17.2.8 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.13.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
           driver: ath9k bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: wls1 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet
           driver: atl1c v: 1.0.1.1-NAPI port: 2000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 135.7GB (31.5% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Samsung_SSD_840 size: 120.0GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: DataTraveler_2.0 size: 15.6GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 108G used: 38G (38%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1
           ID-2: /boot size: 472M used: 133M (30%) fs: ext2 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 2.13GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 48.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 185 Uptime: 1:05 Memory: 1078.5/2003.2MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 
msz@msz-Aspire-one ~ $ 

and remember: it was already 9 years ago the cheapest in every respect...

[Hmfan]

That's interesting, and perhaps I will try it with the similarly speced samsung n130 I have later on (since I finished fixing the Aspire One zg5 and gave it to someone in need), But is there really any real reason to run 4.13.0-38 kernel? and (since they are available) couldn't I just grab one that is a higher version level still like a 4.15 series? Is there any reason why this would be a bad idea?

[absque fenestris]

Hi Hmfan
actually it would make more sense to use Mint Rosa 17.3 Mate with the weak Atom chip - and Yes, the update to the 4.13 kernel was a misunderstanding
But surprisingly everything runs without errors - not fast, but stable. Unfortunately, the screen is so bad that it hurts my eyes.
However, it is a challenge for me to install new Linux systems on old, cheap devices...

[Hmfan]

Out of Curiosity Why do you recommend Rosa instead of the current Sylvia?? (not questioning MATE but I prefer XFCE4 if I have the choice on the device)

On a side note, since this is more in tune with a Kernel issue than it is the hardware, is this truly the right forum to have put this topic? Or maybe it is since it effects these netbooks but doesn't seem to effect my Toshiba t135D. then again 64 bit vs 32 bit

[absque fenestris]

Out of Curiosity Why do you recommend Rosa instead of the current Sylvia?? (not questioning MATE but I prefer XFCE4 if I have the choice on the device)
On a side note, since this is more in tune with a Kernel issue than it is the hardware, is this truly the right forum to have put this topic? Or maybe it is since it effects these netbooks but doesn't seem to effect my Toshiba t135D. then again 64 bit vs 32 bit

Hi Hmfan
I have Virtualboxes running on 2 different Mac's: on a MacBook (2009) with 4 GB RAM and on a miniMac (2011) with 16 GB. In both virtualizations Mint Mate Rosa runs incredibly fast, with a very low memory requirement.

It would be the far more ideal system for the old digital dwarf

[Hmfan]

A fair point, but since i installed XFCE4 edition it runs pretty darn fast even with the outdated 4.10 kernel on 18.3 So I don't see much reason beyond the lol of perhaps using it as a mini remote downloader (for files too large for my home internet). Though I will have to do something about that 802.11g. Maybe use the wipi I have from when I was still using the Raspi 2. Either way it seems to run just fine like that and it's not like it takes forever to boot, I have a phone that takes just as long to boot and it's still faster than the Windows 7 starter that was on it to begin with.

[absque fenestris]

Amazingly Mint 18.3 runs well and stable, but I think with Mint Rosa the old thing would even be fast. If I hadn't done it so nicely, I'd downgrade.
But the aging solves all questions: plastic parts fall off, the screen starts to flicker when moving and is also distorted due to excessive use.
And the screen is bad - that's masochism.
I still have an orphaned, semi-failed HP netbook with the same processor; that would be a project for a Linux-Atom-Cluster...

[NutWrench]

I was able to fix my Desktop flickering problems on a KDE Linux Mint install on an old, cheap laptop. The desktop flickered and tore quite a bit. As it turned out, part of the reason why the laptiop was so cheap was because it had NO 2D hardware rendering at all. Only 3D.

I was able to fix it by going into Settings --> Hardware --> Display and Monitor --> Compositor.
And changing the 'Rendering Background' from 'OpenGL' to 'XRender' and
'Tearing Prevention' to 'Full Screen Repaints'

Hope this helps.