FreeBSD 10.3 + Intel video card = freeze

Kiki Novak · Mar 21, 2017

Hi,

I'm currently experimenting with FreeBSD on a Dell Optiplex 330, and I can't configure the video card. Here's the card seen by the Linux system on the machine.

Code:

$ /sbin/lspci | grep -i vga
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31 Express
Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0a)

Slackware Linux supports this card perfectly with the i915 driver in KMS mode.

With FreeBSD 10.3, once I have installed X.org and run startx, the system freezes, the monitor tells me that there is no signal, and I have to do a hard reset.

Is there any quirk to configure this card with FreeBSD? I'd be surprised if this card is not supported, since it's extremely common.

Cheers,

Niki

Phishfry · Mar 22, 2017

Try and add to /etc/rc.conf:
kld_list="i915kms"

Kiki Novak · Mar 22, 2017

Phishfry said:
Try and add to /etc/rc.conf:
kld_list="i915kms"

This time I don't even get to a login prompt. The system just freezes on bootup.

Phishfry · Mar 22, 2017

Well maybe instead you could try the scfb driver for Xorg.
https://wiki.freebsd.org/Graphics/SCFB

What does sysctl kern.vty show?

The Intel GMA 3100 should be supported by the xf86-video-intel driver.
Maybe try installing it to make sure the Intel Xorg driver is installed.

Kiki Novak · Mar 23, 2017

Phishfry said:
What does sysctl kern.vty show?

Code:

# sysctl kern.vty
kern.vty: vt

It looks like this extremely common card just doesn't work with FreeBSD. Which is a showstopper.

I just gave the GhostBSD LiveCD/installer a spin on this machine, with the same result. Hard freeze on bootup.

BTW, here's the exact model.

Code:

vgapci0@pci0:0:2:0:   class=0x030000 card=0x02201028 chip=0x29c28086 rev=0x0a hdr=0x00
    vendor     = 'Intel Corporation'
    device     = '82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics Controller'
    class      = display
    subclass   = VGA

drhowarddrfine · Mar 23, 2017

The Intel driver supports 82G33 but, for some reason, does not seem to support cards with the G31 suffix from what I've read.

Kiki Novak · Mar 23, 2017

drhowarddrfine said:
The Intel driver supports 82G33 but, for some reason, does not seem to support cards with the G31 suffix from what I've read.

X seems to work fine with the latest TrueOS on the same hardware. According to /var/log/Xorg.0.log, the intel driver is in use. Now as far as I understand (I'm relatively new to FreeBSD), TrueOS is based on FreeBSD's CURRENT branch. So it's either this, with a better hardware support on CURRENT. Or the TrueOS installer has found the magical combination to make this card work.

FloppyKing · Dec 13, 2017

Did you ever find a suitable resolution to this issue?

I know this thread is a bit old, but i'm running into the same issue on a Dell OptiPlex 360 system that utilizes the intel G31 chipset. If i install the xf86-video-intel driver it just causes the system to lock up when the x session starts. Without it installed the x session starts fine but has limited resolution options.