reduce screen tearing in VBOX for SL7.3/CentOS 7

[harishpathangay]

Hi,
How to reduce screen tearing in Gnome Desktop in Scientific Linux or Centos 7 Guest with VBOX 5.1 in Windows 10 Host.

I tried the following. It is still not working.

Code: Select all

[root@SL-VM ~]# more /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"
 Identifier "VirtualBox Graphics"
 Driver "vboxvideo"
 VendorName "InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH"
 BoardName "VirtualBox Graphics Adapter"
 Option "AccelMethod" "sna"
 Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection

Any helpful inputs? I have already installed Guest Additions - Have no issue with shared folders or screen resolution or shared clip boards. all fine except for screen tearing issue.

Code: Select all

[root@SL-VM ~]# lspci -k
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440FX - 82441FX PMC [Natoma] (rev 02)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82371SB PIIX3 ISA [Natoma/Triton II]
00:01.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
	Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
	Kernel modules: ata_piix, pata_acpi, ata_generic
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH VirtualBox Graphics Adapter
00:03.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Intel Corporation PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter
	Kernel driver in use: e1000
	Kernel modules: e1000
00:04.0 System peripheral: InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH VirtualBox Guest Service
	Kernel driver in use: vboxguest
	Kernel modules: vboxguest
00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801AA AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 0177
	Kernel driver in use: snd_intel8x0
	Kernel modules: snd_intel8x0
00:06.0 USB controller: Apple Inc. KeyLargo/Intrepid USB
	Kernel driver in use: ohci-pci
00:07.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 08)
	Kernel modules: i2c_piix4
00:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Intel Corporation PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter
	Kernel driver in use: e1000
	Kernel modules: e1000
00:0d.0 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: ahci
	Kernel modules: ahci

please any inputs for fixing tear issue - during window movement or watching video etc..

thanks , hp

[harishpathangay]

Any Inputs?

TIA

[Perryg]

Post the guests log file ( as an attachment ). Right click on the guest in the Main Manager then click show log. Save and post as an attachment. Compress if it is too large to post.

[harishpathangay]

hi,
thanks for your response.

attached log file.

thanks,
harish pathangay

[Perryg]

Couple of things to take care of.

1) You are running version 5.1.0 which had a lot of issues due to it being the first of the 5.1 release and you really should install 5.1.16 along with installing the 5.1.16 additions in the guest.
2) I see you have altered the xorg config file and this almost always causes issues with the VBox video driver. Editing the config on metal is a way to make things work, but VirtualBox does not use the GPU your host has. It requires special drivers to pass the information back and forth to your host GPU and editing the config file negates its ability not enhance it.

[harishpathangay]

Response for 1:
If I upgrade to VBOX 5.1.16 - should I re-install guest additions inside the guest OS by mounting Guest Additions ISO again? like one more time? I have like 6 Guest OS. In all of them I should be doing it again? I hope I need not re-install guest OS again?

Response for 2:
The issue is there before modifying the X.Org conf file.
I repeat the issue is there even before I do modifications to x org config file.
I only added the file myself, thinking that it will solve the problem. but it did not.

Let me also explain what I interpret as screen tearing.
I open the File Manager, Terminal and drag one window from left to right of the screen.
when the window moves, the borders are getting very shaky. it is not moving in the screen in a fluid or pleasant manner. it stutters when moving. like shaky movement.
I hope my interpretation of screen tearing is correct.

thanks,
harish pathangay

[Perryg]

All of this is a suggestion as I don't have your PC but from experience I can only tell you what I would do to eliminate the problem if it were me.

Newer guest additions may not be needed in all of the guests. I have some with older GAs but I also have some that required the newer additions to work properly.

The main thing is the version of VirtualBox itself. Reports on the first release of 5.1.* showed issues for some and the best thing you can to is upgrade to test this out unless you have extensive knowledge with debugging.

You should not need to remove the guests. They should survive just fine.

[harishpathangay]

hi,
let me thank you very much for your inputs.
I have also upgraded to 5.1.16 r113841.
still seeing the same issue.

I do not mean like a video tearing. it is only issue on window movement.
can you confirm please on my interpretation of screen tearing is correct.

thanks,
harish pathangay

[socratis]

can you confirm please on my interpretation of screen tearing is correct.

Can you make a video out of it and upload it in YouTube or something like that? I don't know about Perryg, but I'm having a hard time understanding the details of the problem. Oh, and we'll need a new, updated log please...

[harishpathangay]

i am a newbie Linux person.
that is why I ask that confirmation. sometimes do I over exaggerate things. I do not know.
you tell me after viewing video. small size only - 3MB

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bwm0G ... EFTSU50Mms

thanks,
harish pathangay

[harishpathangay]

sorry I do not want to upload to youtube.
youtube will apply some processing, and I suspect if it changes anything.
do not want to give room for that.
forgot the log.

[Perryg]

I see a slight shadowing on the trailing side of the window when you move it and I do have a few things to note.

• 1) Interl graphics GPU ( probably built in on your CPU )
  2) Host does not support OpenGL extensions
  3) you are assigning both core of your host CPU to the guest.

You should watch the host and the guest CPU usage while moving the window. I suspect you will see a high use during this move. Notebook graphics are usually not that great and it may be that you will always have some shadowing. The shadow is caused by the windows being redrawn and the CPU is working hard to keep up. You might try changing the guest to use 1 cpu and see if it improves.

[harishpathangay]

hi,
I did try with One CPU. Still observe that stuttering but some what less.
if it is a complex thing to correct, I can live with that. It is not a show stopper.

thanks,
harish pathangay