Bug for some graphics cards from Silicon Integrated Systems / SIS solved in 14.04

[mörgæs]

Cards from Silicon Integrated Systems (SIS) are a frequent topic for discussion in Ubuntuforums. They were popular around 2001-5, and many of these computers are still suitable for light use.

Up to and including 12.04 there was no problem here, but the Xorg environment used in Buntus after 12.04 did not support some of the SIS cards out of the box. Many a thread has been posted here asking what to do.

The problem was a broken xserver-xorg-video-sis package. A patch for most of the affected cards has been available for a long time, and normally the people maintaining Xorg would receive such a patch and fix xserver-xorg-video-sis so all distros built on Xorg would get fixed automatically.

That didn't happen.

Long story short, with the package from Xorg still being buggy the options were

1. using 13.10 with hardware accereration disabled
2. using 13.10 with the patch applied through a PPA from Temüjin
3. using a 12.04-based distro like Bodhi Linux

For most beginners the easiest solution was 3). The advice has been more or less a standard answer (at least my standard answer) when a SIS problem was posted.

From 14.04 the Buntu repositories have been upgraded with the fix. This makes Buntu 14.04 (and derived distros) the only new distro that I know of which supports SIS cards out of the box - or out of the bugs - with hardware acceleration.

I'm posting here and not in the development forum in order to reach people answering posts, not people testing. Now it's time to un-learn the 12.04 routine answer and point to 14.04 in stead. Maybe this is not going to be an issue, for chances are that we will not see many post about SIS problems at all. Only some very old SIS cards still have the problem but they might be too slow to be useable anyway, fixed or not.

For people posting other places than Ubuntuforums this is a chance for marketing Buntu, especially Lubuntu.


14.04 is now bringing three important fixes: This one for SIS, a boot option for non-PAE Pentium M's and a fix for Flash on Intel 8xx graphics cards. Good news for everyone dealing with old hardware.

[mörgæs]

If the command

sudo lshw -C video

yields 661/741/760 or 662/761 then a 14.04.1 install works right away, but in 14.10 or 15.04 (development version) the package is only available in a personal package archive (PPA). The commands

sudo apt-add-repository ppa: xorg-edgers
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-sis

install the necessary packages. Reboot. More info here.

Lubuntu 14.04 is supported through april 2017 so most users would probably prefer this one.


Also if the card is 771/671 some modifications are necessary. The two options are

1. install Lubuntu 14.04 in low resolution, add updates and create an xorg.conf, as described later in this thread, or
2. install a 12.04-based distro with support like Bodhi Linux or LXLE, both of which are supported through 2017.

[KBD47]

Great news about SIS. I've been using Linux Lite on that computer, I noticed Ubuntu quit working on it after 11.10.
What is the Flash fix? Something for SSE I hope?

[mörgæs]

As you can see the bug fix is for a particular series of Intel graphics cards. It's not related to the processor.

I don't think anyone is going to develop new stuff for processors with only SSE and not SSE2. We are talking about AMD XP's from 2001-3.

Back on track, let's keep the tread focused on SIS.

[javier-ejsf]

Morgaes, I've been trying Trusty Live DVD, and it had an "acceptable 1024x768" (1200x800 was expected) resolution and wireless worked. But when I installed it wireless stopped working, couldn't install additional driver [solved somehow installing driver right from DVD] and resolution went down to 640x480, it won't allow any other option. Kinda disappointed, still searching though, In case any one finds a fix/trick keep me posted :-/

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter (rev 10)

[KBD47]

This is not working for me.
"SIS...no compatible module..."
On booting the Live DVD. Could get no working desktop with either Ubuntu or Xubuntu 14.04.
BTW I'm using Linux Lite on the machine with no issues. Before that I used Debian Wheezy with no issues.

System: Host: karlton-PW532AA-ABA-SR1403WM-NA520 Kernel: 3.8.0-34-generic i686 (32 bit)
Desktop: Xfce 4.8.3 Distro: Ubuntu 12.04 precise
Machine: System: Compaq Presario 061 product: PW532AA-ABA SR1403WM NA520 version: 0n41411RE101SALMO00
Mobo: ASUSTek model: Salmon version: 1.04 Bios: Phoenix version: 3.14 date: 08/11/2005
CPU: Single core AMD Sempron 3000+ (-UP-) cache: 128 KB flags: (nx sse sse2) clocked at 1808.435 MHz
Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
X.Org: 1.11.3 drivers: vesa (unloaded: fbdev) Resolution: 1280x1024@0.0hz
GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 0x300) GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 8.0.4
Audio: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS7012 AC'97 Sound Controller driver: snd_intel8x0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k3.8.0-34-generic
Network: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet driver: sis900
IF: eth0 state: unknown speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: 00:11:d8:ac:1e:92
Drives: HDD Total Size: 80.0GB (33.6% used) 1: id: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD800BB size: 80.0GB
Partition: ID: / size: 72G used: 26G (38%) fs: ext4 ID: swap-1 size: 0.49GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap
ID: swap-2 size: 2.10GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap
RAID: No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 147 Uptime: 10 min Memory: 274.7/939.1MB Client: Shell inxi: 1.8.4

[mörgæs]

Both of you, please post in CODE tags the output from

apt-cache show xserver-xorg-video-sis
xrandr -q
sudo lshw -C video

[javier-ejsf]

My homework! I followed all your instructions, here's what I got:

javier@exo:~$ apt-cache show xserver-xorg-video-sis
Package: xserver-xorg-video-sis
Priority: optional
Section: x11
Installed-Size: 640
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com>
Original-Maintainer: Debian X Strike Force <debian-x@lists.debian.org>
Architecture: i386
Version: 1:0.10.7-0ubuntu6
Replaces: xserver-xorg (<< 6.8.2-35), xserver-xorg-driver-sis
Provides: xorg-driver-video, xserver-xorg-video-
Depends: libc6 (>= 2.7), xorg-video-abi-15, xserver-xorg-core (>= 2:1.14.99.902)
Conflicts: xserver-xorg-driver-sis
Filename: pool/main/x/xserver-xorg-video-sis/xserver-xorg-video-sis_0.10.7-0ubuntu6_i386.deb
Size: 224774
MD5sum: 6690e9fcffa3312230f75f0527961097
SHA1: 663b9b043a9b74ee2ee83d6eed2f7f0c6fda3afb
SHA256: e6326f8006c5df30a19a97f52fb229a4b0b0d2a3a354b9e8164974e8d20406fe
Description-en: X.Org X server -- SiS display driver
 This package provides the driver for all SiS and XGI Volari cards.
 .
 More information about X.Org can be found at:
 <URL:http://www.X.org>
 .
 This package is built from the X.org xf86-video-sis driver module.
Description-md5: 42dac6b9768ebbc736ea67fc56bc1813
Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Origin: Ubuntu
Supported: 5y
Task: ubuntu-desktop, ubuntu-usb, kubuntu-desktop, kubuntu-active, kubuntu-active-desktop, kubuntu-active, edubuntu-desktop, edubuntu-usb, xubuntu-desktop, mythbuntu-frontend, mythbuntu-desktop, mythbuntu-backend-slave, mythbuntu-backend-master, lubuntu-core, ubuntustudio-desktop, ubuntu-gnome-desktop

javier@exo:~$ xrandr -q
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 640 x 480, current 640 x 480, maximum 640 x 480
default connected 640x480+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   640x480        73.0* 
javier@exo:~$ sudo lshw -C video
[sudo] password for javier: 
  *-display UNCLAIMED     
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter
       vendor: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 10
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 66MHz
       capabilities: pm agp agp-3.0 vga_controller cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:d4000000-d401ffff ioport:9000(size=128)
javier@exo:~$ 

[mörgæs]

Hmmm... we don't have the exact same graphics card, but they are close relatives. You only get one resolution to choose from.

Did you add an xorg.conf?
Which screen are you using?

Package: xserver-xorg-video-sis
Priority: optional
Section: x11
Installed-Size: 640
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com>
Original-Maintainer: Debian X Strike Force <debian-x@lists.debian.org>
Architecture: i386
Version: 1:0.10.7-0ubuntu6
Replaces: xserver-xorg (<< 6.8.2-35), xserver-xorg-driver-sis
Provides: xorg-driver-video, xserver-xorg-video-
Depends: libc6 (>= 2.7), xorg-video-abi-15, xserver-xorg-core (>= 2:1.14.99.902)
Conflicts: xserver-xorg-driver-sis
Filename: pool/main/x/xserver-xorg-video-sis/xserver-xorg-video-sis_0.10.7-0ubuntu6_i386.deb
Size: 224774
MD5sum: 6690e9fcffa3312230f75f0527961097
SHA1: 663b9b043a9b74ee2ee83d6eed2f7f0c6fda3afb
SHA256: e6326f8006c5df30a19a97f52fb229a4b0b0d2a3a354b9e8164974e8d20406fe
Description-en: X.Org X server -- SiS display driver
 This package provides the driver for all SiS and XGI Volari cards.
 .
 More information about X.Org can be found at:
 <URL:http://www.X.org>
 .
 This package is built from the X.org xf86-video-sis driver module.
Description-md5: 42dac6b9768ebbc736ea67fc56bc1813
Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Origin: Ubuntu
Supported: 5y
Task: ubuntu-desktop, ubuntu-usb, kubuntu-desktop, kubuntu-active, kubuntu-active-desktop, kubuntu-active, edubuntu-desktop, edubuntu-usb, xubuntu-desktop, mythbuntu-frontend, mythbuntu-desktop, mythbuntu-backend-slave, mythbuntu-backend-master, lubuntu-core, ubuntustudio-desktop, ubuntu-gnome-desktop

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 1920 x 1080
default connected 1920x1080+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1920x1080      60.0* 
   1680x1050      60.0  
   1400x1050      75.0     60.0  
   1280x1024      75.0     60.0  
   1440x900       60.0  
   1280x960       60.0  
   1280x854       59.0  
   1360x768       60.0  
   1280x800       60.0  
   1152x864       75.0     60.0  
   1280x768       60.0  
   1280x720       60.0  
   1024x768       70.0     60.0     75.0  
   1024x576       60.0  
   960x600        60.0  
   960x540        60.0  
   800x600        60.0     56.0     75.0     72.0  
   768x576        60.0  
   720x576        60.0  
   856x480        60.0  
   848x480        60.0  
   800x480        60.0  
   720x480        61.0  
   640x480        67.0     60.0     75.0     73.0  
   720x400        70.0  
   640x400        72.0  
   512x384        60.0  
   400x300        60.0  
   320x240        61.0  
   320x200        71.0

  *-display UNCLAIMED
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
       vendor: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 00
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 66MHz
       capabilities: pm agp agp-3.0 vga_controller cap_list
       configuration: latency=0
       resources: memory:e8000000-efffffff memory:f8100000-f811ffff ioport:2000(size=128)

[javier-ejsf]

When I do a fresh install no xorg.conf is created. The output I pasted in the previous message was without any xorg.conf.

But since resolution 640x480 is too low I kill X, paste this xorg.conf into /etc/X11 and start X again, which allows me to get 1280x768 resolution, lousy video playback and pressumably no acceleration, but at least it makes my notebook usable. I really don't understand what is written in this xorg.conf but it's supposed to force Vesa and it's been ok since Buntu 12.04 LTS, and it goes like this:

Section "Device"
  Identifier "Generic Video Card"
    VendorName  "Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS]"
        BoardName   "771/671 PCIE VGA Display Adapter"
    Busid "PCI:1:0:0"
    Driver "vesa"
    Screen 0
        Option "UseFBDev" "true"
        Option "DPMS"
        Option "ShadowFB"
        Option "MaxXFBMem"
        VideoRam 262016
        Option "RenderAccel" "true"
        Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option "backingstore" "true"
        Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"

EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier    "Configured Monitor"
    Vendorname    "Generic LCD Display"
    Modelname    "LCD Panel 1280x800"
    HorizSync 20-107
        VertRefresh 50-185
  modeline  "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1280x768@60" 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 -hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1280x720@60" 74.48 1280 1336 1472 1664 720 721 724 746 -hsync +vsync
  modeline  "1280x800@60" 83.46 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828 -hsync +vsync
    Gamma    1.0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier    "Default Screen"
    Monitor        "Configured Monitor"
    Device        "Configured Video Device"
    Defaultdepth    24
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth    24
        Virtual    1280    768
        Modes        "1280x768@60"    "1280x720@60"    "800x600@60"    "1280x800@60"    "800x600@56"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load "dri"
    Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
    Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
    Load "extmod"
    Load "type1"
    Load "freetype"
    Load "glx" # 3D layer
    Load "GLcore"
    Load "i2c"
    Load "bitmap"
    Load "ddc"
    Load "int10"
    Load "vbe"
    Load "speedo"
    Load "record"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Mode 0666
EndSection

I'm pasting it here since this might give a clue to the solution. I have to remind you that Live Session plays quite fine at a 1024x780 resolution, but I can't figure out how to keep that driver.