[SOLVED] Intel graphics, no signal once kernel loads i915

Black · Last edited by Black on Wed Jun 02, 2021 10:04 am; edited 1 time in total

Edit 2021/06/02
I'm marking this as [SOLVED], but the solution is less-than-ideal at this time. I ended up using git-sources-5.13_rc4 rather than gentoo-sources for the kernel, meaning that I'm now running a development kernel that is not considered stable. I haven't had any issue so far, but I'm still setting up that PC. I will try gentoo-sources 5.14 as soon as it is released.

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With my computer reaching 10 years old, I decided to get a new one. Since I don't do gaming, I settled for an Intel Core i5 with integrated graphics.

I followed the handbook and all is fine. However, I follow the Intel graphics, and this is where the issue appears. I build the the i915 driver in-kernel. Upon booting, as soon as the kernel activates the driver, the screen goes blank and displays "no signal". I tried on both the VGA port and the HDMI port. I have not even installed Xorg yet. The computer does keep on booting (I can ssh into it), but without any display is not very useful. If I add "nomodeset" in the grub config, then I do get the display, but then I won't be able to get Xorg.

Intel Core i5 10500 (10th generation)
Motherboard Asus Prime H510M-A/CSM

I can find a few posts with identical problem, such as here, but the solution is usually "disable legacy rom" in the computer's bios (there's no such thing in my computer's bios), or, in the case above, downgrade the kernel to 5.2, which is no longer available in Gentoo. As a troubleshooting step, I tried the Ubuntu install - it gets the same problem. I can get it to "work" by using the "safe graphics" option (which is really only nomodeset). It then gets into Xorg using fbdev, but I'm locked in a 1980x1024 resolution, and cannot use my second monitor to extend the desktop. Even a Windows 7 install disk only gets as far as "Starting Windows" with a red bar at the top, then freezes there. (That's the start of the install in the case of Windows - I can't even install it, not that I want to.)

Worst-case scenario, I could use fbdev, as long as I can change the resolution and extend to a second (and third) monitor - the motherboard has a VGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort connector. But obviously, I'd rather use that Intel GPU...

Edit: can't seem to get to put large data (such as dmesg or the kernel config) here, will have to use pastebin I guess. I'll get to it later today. I've got kids to feed at this time.

alamahant · Advocate Joined: 23 Mar 2019 Posts: 3879

Probably you need also

Black · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 1:02 pm Post subject:

Quite right, I do need linux-firmware. I do have it, but forgot to mention it.

I'll try loading as a module, but given that this is what the Ubuntu install disk does and it doesn't work for it, I don't have much hope.

I got a bit more info posted on pastebin:

dmesg
Kernel config

emerge --info:

alamahant · Advocate Joined: 23 Mar 2019 Posts: 3879

Your firmware is NOT loading

Black · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 2:29 pm Post subject:

Right again about the firmware. I've been banging my head on this for almost a week now, and I missed that.

So I've added that filename to the firmware load, as well as loading i915 as a module. I need to enable these:
KVM
VFIO_MDEV
VFIO_MDEV_DEVICE

in order to enable:
CONFIG_DRM_I915_GVT_KVMGT=m

Still no screen. Out of the entire dmesg, there's this that stands out:

Black · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 2:31 pm Post subject:

Jaglover · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 2:34 pm Post subject:

Your firmware loading is not showstopper, there is a crash in your dmesg. My suggestion is switching to latest stable kernel, which is currently 5.12.8. (Ignore Gentoo testing flag, it is stable at kernel.org)
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Black · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 3:13 pm Post subject:

Same thing with 5.12.8...

pietinger · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 3:34 pm Post subject:

My recommendation would be:

Put all fixed in your (newest) kernel (5.10.41 or 5.12.

:

a.) Drivers for GPU +
b.) (newest = ~amd64) Firmware for GPU

described in https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Intel

c.) (newest = ~amd64) Microcode for CPU

described in https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-1065464.html - or - chapter "NEW method without initram-fs/disk" https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Intel_microcode

Can you use the DisplayPort ? (I would prefer it before HDMI).

Jaglover · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 3:52 pm Post subject:

Here's what I think.

This is brand new hardware, correct?
Nothing has been proved working on it, Ubuntu, older Windows, all fail, correct?

If the above is true then it may be a hardware issue. I don't know about Windows 10, is there some trial version or something you can try and install? All hardware manufacturers make sure their product works with Windows. If yours does not then it is warranty time.
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Black · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 4:08 pm Post subject:

I was missing the microcode, but it did not change anything.

As far as I can tell, the latest versions of the firmware and microcode are already what's coming down from emerge.

Jaglover, yes, this is brand new hardware. Windows 7 failed, but reading on the net it might be "normal", being an old OS. I'm currently downloading a trial version of Windows (didn't know that existed!). If that fails then I agree with you, and I'll claim warranty. Maybe I should have gone for a Gigabyte instead of Asus...

Jaglover · Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 5:02 pm Post subject:

I stopped using Asus 6-7 years ago, after several negative experiences. Maybe it was just bad luck.
Anyhow, older versions of Intel all work without microcode and firmware, some features are missing but the basic functionality is there. KMS and DRI definitely works without, while yours is crashing. I'm not sure if this is the motherboard or CPU causing this ... or even a faulty RAM ...
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Black · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 12:51 pm Post subject:

The Windows 10 Trial at least goes further than Windows 7. I get to a "full windowing" system, but this is most likely the equivalent of fbdev. At this time I can't get Windows to install because it complains about missing media driver. I've fed it every driver from the motherboard's CD, but the message remains unhelpful as to which driver is missing exactly. I'll get back to it later today. For now, I have this thing called "work" to do. Apparently, that's what makes money appear magically in my bank account.

Another thing I'll try is to set up my boot partition for BIOS, rather than UEFI - if I can't disable "Legacy BIOS", might as well try using it. I'll report back once I get the chance to try it out.

Jaglover · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 12:55 pm Post subject:

Is this CPU listed as supported by mobo firmware? Is there a BIOS upgrade perhaps for this CPU? Out of curiosity, what is the PCI ID of graphics? Is it listed as supported in kernel driver database?
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Black · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 1:15 pm Post subject:

Yes, the motherboard supports "Intel® Socket LGA1200 for 11th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors & 10th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors".

PCI ID:

alamahant · Advocate Joined: 23 Mar 2019 Posts: 3879

Have you tried with Clear Linux live cd
https://cdn.download.clearlinux.org/releases/34640/clear/clear-34640-live-desktop.iso
?
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Black · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 1:35 pm Post subject:

alamahant · Advocate Joined: 23 Mar 2019 Posts: 3879

Since it is Intel platform optimized you have a better chance for its recognizing your hardware.
Please use Fedora Media Writer or Rufus to create the usb stick.
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Jaglover · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 1:46 pm Post subject:

Unless it has some special patch for kernel which is not accepted upstream I doubt it would be any different. If this was my computer the last thing to try would be reset the BIOS to make sure there is no corruption and if this does not help then mobo is the first suspect. Only because I believe Intel does test their CPU's thoroughly, while Asus may not have that rigorous quality control. My 2¢.
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Black · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 1:55 pm Post subject:

Jaglover · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 2:08 pm Post subject:

This mobo is still useful for headless purposes, and it will work with add-on graphics. Since this is a new purchase you should not have issues returning it, most sellers wouldn't dispute it.
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Black · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 4:12 pm Post subject:

I've managed to install Windows 10, with the graphic drivers, and it works without any problem. I'll still try Clear Linux and resetting the BIOS, but it might look like my other option is to get a separate nVidia GPU, which I wanted to avoid in the first place because support is 3 to 5 years; that's the main issue with my old/current computer, which is now 9 years. The official nVidia drivers no longer support it, and nouveau has its own issue. (Note that I don't mean to delve into this issue here - I just wanted to voice why I'm trying to avoid nVidia).

As for returning the mobo without evidence of defectiveness, I did not purchase it at a big box place, so they'll retake it but with a restocking fee. I went there because big-box-place sells only pre-made computers with unknown components. Plus they charge you for Windows.

Anyway, I'll report back here once I have more info to provide.

Thanks everyone! (But if anyone has anything else to suggest, please do!)

Black · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 4:57 pm Post subject:

As expected, Clear Linux has the same behavior on this system. I also tried resetting the BIOS - no luck.

Jaglover · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 5:27 pm Post subject:

Can't recall why I excluded Asus from my shopping list, I remember it had something to do with Windows-only-supported mentality. My personal ban on Asus will stand.

You can get AMD graphics, it does not have to be nVidia.
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Black · Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 5:30 pm Post subject:

I used to take Asus when I first started building my own PC. 9 years ago I switched to Gigabyte, but I don't recall why - I thought it was just because I liked it better, but Windows-only support might have been it. I'm banning Asus from now on as well.