Caught a nasty Ubuntu Gutsy bug

megamaced · 16-02-2008, 02:17 PM

I recently upgraded my graphics card from an nVidia Geforce FX 5200 PCI to an Geforce 7200 GS PCI Express card. The major reason for this is that I wanted to use PCI-E and also the fact that the FX cards suck.

However to my dismay, I have discovered that there is a major bug with the nVidia driver and the Gutsy kernel in that the system will just freeze for no reason whatsoever. This can happen within 5 minutes or 3 hours. However IT WILL happen! It doesn't matter whether Compiz is running or my computer is sitting idle.

I've even tried installing the binary driver from nVidia's website and installing it manually but the same problem occurs.

So I've had to revert back to my FX card until Hardy Heron comes along! What a royal pain in the

Anti-Trend · 16-02-2008, 10:01 PM

Why not try our custom kernel coupled with the official Nvidia drivers? Many people have found that the vanilla kernel is many times more reliable than Gutsy's default one, and much faster too.

megamaced · 20-02-2008, 08:47 AM

I am not one for drifting too far away from official Ubuntu packages, but thanks anyway. That being said, I might check out your custom kernel in my test Gutsy VM at some point. I'd be interested to compare the performance.

Anti-Trend · 20-02-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamaced

I am not one for drifting too far away from official Ubuntu packages....

Why? If they're broken anyway, what's to lose?

megamaced · 23-02-2008, 11:33 PM

LOL, I am gonna get Mark Shuttleworth on your ass!

Anti-Trend · 23-02-2008, 11:44 PM

Hey, you're the one who said it was broken, I only agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamaced

LOL, I am gonna get Mark Shuttleworth on your ass!

P.S. - Please do, I'd love to sit down and have a chat with Mr. Shuttleworth. I'm willing to bet though that if he has some kind of blacklist, I'd be on it when we parted ways.

Swansen · 28-02-2008, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Trend

Hey, you're the one who said it was broken, I only agreed.

P.S. - Please do, I'd love to sit down and have a chat with Mr. Shuttleworth. I'm willing to bet though that if he has some kind of blacklist, I'd be on it when we parted ways.

HAHAHA, lol, on a side note, it may just be for the 7300, as i have a 7600GT and never had a freezing issue???

Anti-Trend · 28-02-2008, 04:31 AM

I'd still be interested to see how it'd work using Nvidia's official Linux drivers rather than the generic Ubuntu repackage. There's a good chance it would actually work that way.

Swansen · 28-02-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Trend

I'd still be interested to see how it'd work using Nvidia's official Linux drivers rather than the generic Ubuntu repackage. There's a good chance it would actually work that way.

I was using Nvidia's drivers.

Anti-Trend · 28-02-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swansen

I was using Nvidia's drivers.

With a custom kernel, or Ubuntu's default? I've actually seen better stability on Ubuntu in my kernel build environment after running a custom kernel then it was running the default Ubuntu one.

Swansen · 28-02-2008, 10:48 PM

Ubuntu's default

megamaced · 05-04-2008, 02:26 PM

I honestly can't win right now...

The 7200GS freeze bug exists in Ubuntu Hardy Heron too, so I decided to cut my losses and buy an 8400GS. Ubuntu doesn't freeze anymore, so that's a good thing. But now I've caught another bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...iz/+bug/194851. What's the deal with nVidia lately? I've had no issues with their products until now.

So it looks like I have the following options:

Go back to my Geforce FX5200 PCI: No problems whatsoever, but as a graphics card it just plain and simply sucks...
Use the Geforce 7200GS: and enjoy random lock ups..
Use the Geforce 8400GS: and enjoy a camp desktop...
Use the inbuilt VIA Unicrome chipset: yikes!

ferg · 05-04-2008, 09:21 PM

Off Topic:

Or the 5th option - use windows and have it just 'work' teehee

*takes cover*

Anti-Trend · 05-04-2008, 09:26 PM

Off Topic:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferg

Or the 5th option - use windows and have it just 'work' teehee

*takes cover*

Oh, you mean like this? Windows "just works" in the same way that influenza "just works". Not a very tempting offer.

Besides, I don't have any of the problems experienced by Mr. Megamaced, and I am using Debian with the official NVidia drivers from nvidia.com. I suspect it may just be a problem with the way Ubuntu has packaged the drivers... much like the drivers that XP shipped with, having crippled or missing 3D support, if you recall.

16-02-2008, 02:17 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
megamaced Geek Geek Geek! Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 24 Male Posts: 3,467 Times Helpful: 352 My Mood: Fine Status: Offline My Computer	Caught a nasty Ubuntu Gutsy bug I recently upgraded my graphics card from an nVidia Geforce FX 5200 PCI to an Geforce 7200 GS PCI Express card. The major reason for this is that I wanted to use PCI-E and also the fact that the FX cards suck. However to my dismay, I have discovered that there is a major bug with the nVidia driver and the Gutsy kernel in that the system will just freeze for no reason whatsoever. This can happen within 5 minutes or 3 hours. However IT WILL happen! It doesn't matter whether Compiz is running or my computer is sitting idle. I've even tried installing the binary driver from nVidia's website and installing it manually but the same problem occurs. So I've had to revert back to my FX card until Hardy Heron comes along! What a royal pain in the __________________ "A computer is like air conditioning: it becomes useless when you open windows". ~Linus Torvalds

16-02-2008, 10:01 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,880 Times Helpful: 537 Status: Offline My Computer	Why not try our custom kernel coupled with the official Nvidia drivers? Many people have found that the vanilla kernel is many times more reliable than Gutsy's default one, and much faster too. __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

20-02-2008, 08:47 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
megamaced Geek Geek Geek! Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 24 Male Posts: 3,467 Times Helpful: 352 My Mood: Fine Status: Offline My Computer	I am not one for drifting too far away from official Ubuntu packages, but thanks anyway. That being said, I might check out your custom kernel in my test Gutsy VM at some point. I'd be interested to compare the performance. __________________ "A computer is like air conditioning: it becomes useless when you open windows". ~Linus Torvalds

23-02-2008, 11:33 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
megamaced Geek Geek Geek! Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 24 Male Posts: 3,467 Times Helpful: 352 My Mood: Fine Status: Offline My Computer	LOL, I am gonna get Mark Shuttleworth on your ass! __________________ "A computer is like air conditioning: it becomes useless when you open windows". ~Linus Torvalds

28-02-2008, 04:31 AM	#8 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,880 Times Helpful: 537 Status: Offline My Computer	I'd still be interested to see how it'd work using Nvidia's official Linux drivers rather than the generic Ubuntu repackage. There's a good chance it would actually work that way. __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

05-04-2008, 02:26 PM	#12 (permalink) Top
megamaced Geek Geek Geek! Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 24 Male Posts: 3,467 Times Helpful: 352 My Mood: Fine Status: Offline My Computer	I honestly can't win right now... The 7200GS freeze bug exists in Ubuntu Hardy Heron too, so I decided to cut my losses and buy an 8400GS. Ubuntu doesn't freeze anymore, so that's a good thing. But now I've caught another bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...iz/+bug/194851. What's the deal with nVidia lately? I've had no issues with their products until now. So it looks like I have the following options: Go back to my Geforce FX5200 PCI: No problems whatsoever, but as a graphics card it just plain and simply sucks... Use the Geforce 7200GS: and enjoy random lock ups.. Use the Geforce 8400GS: and enjoy a camp desktop... Use the inbuilt VIA Unicrome chipset: yikes! __________________ "A computer is like air conditioning: it becomes useless when you open windows". ~Linus Torvalds

05-04-2008, 09:21 PM	#13 (permalink) Top
ferg Manbearpig Join Date: May 2004 Age: 25 Male Posts: 539 Times Helpful: 26 My Mood: Innocent Status: Offline My Computer	Off Topic: Or the 5th option - use windows and have it just 'work' teehee takes cover __________________ FREE STUFF Spybot S&D Ad-Aware Spyware Blaster Comodo Free Firewall Speedfan Ad Block Plus (Plugin for Firefox)

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