[SOLVED] Running in software rendering mode

[Moem]

Hi all,
The desktop computer as described in the inxi output below has Cinnamon running in software rendering mode. The driver manager is not offering anything. I'm not sure what to do next. I'd appreciate pointers. Thanks!

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moem@pjoeter:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Pjoeter Kernel: 4.15.0-38-generic x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.9 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1)
           Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: desktop Mobo: Gigabyte model: M55S-S3 serial: N/A
           BIOS: Award v: FI date: 03/07/2008
CPU:       Dual core AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (-MCP-) 
           arch: K8 rev.F+ cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 svm) bmips: 8040
           clock speeds: max: 2300 MHz 1: 2000 MHz 2: 2000 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Matrox Systems Millenium P650 PCIe bus-ID: 02:00.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: fbdev (unloaded: modesetting,vesa)
           Resolution: 1280x1024@77.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card NVIDIA MCP55 High Def. Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:06.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-38-generic
Network:   Card: NVIDIA MCP55 Ethernet
           driver: forcedeth port: e400 bus-ID: 00:08.0
           IF: enp0s8 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 720.2GB (3.0% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HDS72168 size: 80.0GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: Hitachi_HDT72503 size: 320.1GB
           ID-3: /dev/sdc model: Hitachi_HDT72503 size: 320.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 30G used: 14G (46%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: /home size: 36G used: 141M (1%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 8.19GB used: 0.00GB (0%)
           fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 168 Uptime: 15 min Memory: 622.1/3945.4MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56 

[trytip]

i haven't seen: OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits) before. a place to start is: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... ug/1752938

[kukamuumuka]

Hi all,
The desktop computer as described in the inxi output below has Cinnamon running in software rendering mode. The driver manager is not offering anything. I'm not sure what to do next. I'd appreciate pointers. Thanks!

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Graphics:  Card: Matrox Systems Millenium P650 PCIe bus-ID: 02:00.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: fbdev (unloaded: modesetting,vesa)
           Resolution: 1280x1024@77.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 6.0, 128 bits)
           version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Render: Yes

Cinnamon is too demanding for that graphic card. Try Mate or XFce.

[Moem]

Thanks. I do not have the knowledge to do anything with that, but perhaps someone else here does. By the way, the software rendering mode happened while running the live session, directly after installation and after updating too.

[Moem]

Cinnamon is too demanding for that graphic card. Try Mate or XFce.

Thank you, that's certainly an option. I assume it could also be resolved by swapping out the graphic card for a better one?

[kukamuumuka]

Cinnamon is too demanding for that graphic card. Try Mate or XFce.

Thank you, that's certainly an option. I assume it could also be resolved by swapping out the graphic card for a better one?

Absolutely that is an (better) option.

[trytip]

my advice is to download if you don't have it, the latest mint xfce live disk boot it up and test some things
https://testdrive-archive.azurewebsites ... /fishbowl/
http://webglsamples.org/aquarium/aquarium.html
https://ptpb.pw/K8Vr.webm

open Terminal and run glxgears wait for the terminal to output frames (test these in cinnamon and xfce)

[thx-1138]

...on xenial / Mint 18.3, there appears to exist a xserver-xorg-video-mga driver:
"This package provides the driver for the Matrox MGA family of chipsets, including Matrox Millennium and Mystique cards."
On Bionic, the package appears to be retired / non-existent.

You might wanna try earlier 18.3 with such - but in any case, i'd forget Cinnamon...

[DAMIEN1307]

hi moem...i noticed the "age" of that computer...

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BIOS: Award v: FI date: 03/07/2008

i think cinnamon is way to heavy on something that is almost 13 yrs old...i would try either mate or xfce for that system.

[trytip]

hi moem...i noticed the "age" of that computer...

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BIOS: Award v: FI date: 03/07/2008

i think cinnamon is way to heavy on something that is almost 13 yrs old...i would try either mate or xfce for that system.

i can run cinnamon just fine with all effects enabled. i do have a graphics rated old by today's standards, still no issues. but i run XFCE since Cinnamon has memory leaks

BIOS: Award v: FI date: 11/27/2007

[thx-1138]

BIOS date indeed doesn't have to do with it...it's the lack of driver support for that card what matters.
On Moem's case above, due to lack for such under Mint 19 / Bionic,
she's using the fallback fbdev driver (which 'is a non-accelerated driver' etc etc)...

Actually, i'm not even convinced that the aformentioned xserver-xorg-video-mga under 18.x,
would work 'flawlessly' or without further fiddling...
I suspect that the package quite likely was more or less already in maintenance mode
(aka. package it builds ok, but doesn't really receive any extended proper / real testing...)
Still, I'd probably try that myself, because...'hey, since it exists, why not / whatever',
and also, if nothing else, out of pure curiosity...
On a side note, on Matrox's site, the card appears to have gone EOL back in November 2009...

All in all, as administrollaattori & Moem already discussed above -
if a newer / different card is available as an option, then i wouldn't give it the slightest second thought...

[Moem]

Spot the difference...

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moem@Pjoeter:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Pjoeter Kernel: 4.15.0-38-generic x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.9 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu1)
           Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: desktop Mobo: Gigabyte model: M55S-S3 serial: N/A
           BIOS: Award v: FI date: 03/07/2008
CPU:       Dual core AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (-MCP-) 
           arch: K8 rev.F+ cache: 1024 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 svm) bmips: 7237
           clock speeds: max: 2300 MHz 1: 1800 MHz 2: 1800 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA G80 [GeForce 8800 GTS] bus-ID: 02:00.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: nouveau (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1280x1024@60.02hz, 1280x1024@60.02hz
           OpenGL: renderer: NV50 version: 3.3 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card NVIDIA MCP55 High Def. Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:06.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-38-generic
Network:   Card: NVIDIA MCP55 Ethernet
           driver: forcedeth port: e000 bus-ID: 00:08.0
           IF: enp0s8 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1724.4GB (1.4% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HDS72168 size: 80.0GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: Hitachi_HDT72503 size: 320.1GB
           ID-3: /dev/sdc model: Hitachi_HDT72503 size: 320.1GB
           ID-4: USB /dev/sdd model: DISK_2.0 size: 4.0GB
           ID-5: USB /dev/sde model: External_USB_3.0 size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 30G used: 14G (46%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: /home size: 36G used: 155M (1%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 8.19GB used: 0.00GB (0%)
           fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 39.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 187 Uptime: 3 min Memory: 586.6/3945.4MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56 

[thx-1138]

...that was quick

[Moem]

People often give me old mobos or cards if they are an interesting colour, because they know I like to make stuff from circuit board... This one was lucky and got a new job instead of being sawed into pieces!

Oh, and Cinnamon seems to be running pretty fine on this old rig.

[trytip]

you now have the nvidia 8800GTS . i had nvidia 8800GT for 10 years and even when i got it it was bought second hand

install nvidia graphics 340 from the driver manager and you'll get a 100% boost

ps: use timeshift before nvidia driver install things can go bad sometimes

[Moem]

install nvidia graphics 340 from the driver manager and you'll get a 100% boost

In what? It's working fine with the Nouveau driver, but I still might try it if there's a clear advantage to be expected.

[trytip]

rightnow with the nouveau drivers you don't have hardware acceleration, you will get an advantage when playing videos or youtubes.
it will rely less on your cpu and give all the work to your graphics card which is more than capable. be sure to timeshift a snapshot though

you are not using the full potential of your graphics with the nouveau drivers

[Moem]

rightnow with the nouveau drivers you don't have hardware acceleration, you will get an advantage when playing videos or youtubes.

I'm not planning to use this machine for that, or for gaming. But it's worth a try.

[Moem]

you are not using the full potential of your graphics with the nouveau drivers

So I tried the Nvidia driver and the thing ran like crap. Everything was slowed down and it took 30 seconds for clicking on anything to be processed. If this is the full potential, I'll happily settle for less.
Back to the Nouveau driver, and back to a usable machine. And the screens look fine.