OpenGL applications crash in Optiplex 745

Question

Hi all: With both Suse and Ubuntu Linux I've been experiencing crashes with OpenGL applications, mainly Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) and Pymol programs. In this crashes, after starting the visualization of some molecule, some lines appear in the screen, which after that completely freezes. Finally the X server completely stops working. The only solution I've found is restarting the system. My computer is a Dell Optiplex 745 with Intel Core2 processor, 4GB RAM, and Intel 965 graphics card with i810 driver. The problem might be there: http://www.suseforums.net/index.php?showtopic=42356&pid=213765&mode=threaded&show=&st=& Thanks very much for help. Cheers, d.

mepnoob2005 · Answer

You could try a different video card temporarily to see if the card is the problem. I use MEPIS linux and if x ever freezes or crashes I just hit Ctrl/Alt/Baclspace and that will restart x without a full reboot. Not sure if it works with ubuntu but if a single page ever freezes up when using MEPIS I just hit Ctrl/Alt/Esc Hitting those keys will change my mouse pointer into a skull and crossbones. I click the skull and crossbones on the page that won't close and 'poof' it disappears. Be careful what you click with the skull and crossbones as it can evaporate almost anything (even the task bar). If you make a skull and crossbones but decide not to use it just hit Ctrl/Alt/Esc again and the mouse pointer will be back as normal again. A mem check might show something but it's a long shot. Pretty sure it's the graphics card but trying a different one would show that.

RobRunsLinux · Answer

Are you running with updates? Yast -> Online Update has important bug fixes, the Update Applet might also show you available upgrades (only required if there's relevant X server/driver ones)

rob@fir:~> uname -a
Linux fir 2.6.22.13-0.3-default #1 SMP 2007/11/19 15:02:58 UTC i686 athlon i386 GNU/Linux

There was a dodgy kernel release out the "2.6.22.9-0.4", I've found 2.6.22.12-0.1 solid, but there's been more bug fixes since.

Those registers are to do with memory accesses -
http://www.linuxhq.com/kernel/v2.1/99/Documentation/mtrr.txt

As you have 4GiB RAM, you also may benefit from upping the graphics aperture, or "video memory" if it's called that in the BIOS. I have to hit F2 on boot up.

There is a weakness, in the memory management for graphics, and without upping that value, perhaps your large data sets, have exposed a fault, in the kernel. Looks like it'll be the agpart, or the i810 driver that's the cause, if it's not a bug in the core memory management. I vaguely remember some fixes in this area so you might find it's been sorted already.

Message Edited by RobRunsLinux on 12-15-2007 06:40 PM

LinuxReign · Answer

Is the 915resolution package available on SuSE? The i810 package is kind of old, if the 915.. is shown on YaST installer u should go that way. Regards LinuxReign

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OpenGL applications crash in Optiplex 745

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