Artifacts for Intel G31/G33 after Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 installation

[Piotr]

Dear Intel Community,

I notice artifacts for my GPU - Intel G31/G33 after Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 installation. I used Mesa graphic driver. I don't know what version it is was but I returned back to Windows 7 OS and now I still have these artifacts. I used Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 with liveUSB because I wanted recovery some files from my secondary hard drive.

This was coincidence or this was real chance that Ubuntu 20.04.2.0 operating system could destroy my hardware (GPU)? Can you tell me?

I didn't changed any settings in BIOS but I readed that maybe solution can be drop frequency of the GPU. How I can do this?

I hope that someone can help. I really want to get help because I still use this old computer.

[AndrewG_Intel]

Hello @Piotr

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities.

We would like to inform you that due to the Graphics Drivers for Intel® G31/G33 Express Chipset has been discontinued, Intel Customer Service no longer supports inquiries for it, but perhaps fellow community members have the knowledge to jump in and help. You may also find the Discontinued Products website helpful to address your request.

Note: You might need to search for the proper Product Category and click on its "Show more" link if the product is not visible in the top rows.

Please keep in mind that this thread will no longer be monitored by Intel. Thank you for your understanding. 

Best regards,

Andrew G.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Piotr]

@AndrewG_Intel thank you for your answer.

I can't edit my first post. I want to add my specification of the PC:

- Motherboard: ASUS P5KPL-AM-SE

- RAM Kingston 2x 2 GB DDR2

- GPU: Intel G31 from motherboard
- PSU: Chieftec 500W

- CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200


After installing Ubuntu 20.04.2 I noticed artifacts like I said. Is it a option that GPU was damaged because problem with the buggy linux driver?

What person from Intel Community have knowledge about old drivers and firmware for Intel G31? Can you tell me? If someone from community can help please answer me. I will very apreciate for this.

[n_scott_pearson]

For something this old, I can only provide general recommendations. Remember that the GMCH is using DRAM as VRAM for its graphics engine. Often, when artifacts are seen, it is the result of using bad or incompatible DRAM. Are you seeing the same issues when you are in the BIOS Setup?

...S

[Piotr]

@n_scott_pearson thank you for your answer. I think that RAM is good because before I used Ubuntu 20.04 my machine worked fine. I also noticed that these artifacts are visable randomly. This is not on all time in my screen. This looks strange. On BIOS I didn't see these artifacts. Is this possible that linux driver change something in firmware of my GPU? If yes, how I can restore it to default?

[n_scott_pearson]

There is no 'firmware' in the processor (per se) that Linux could interfere with. Linux has the ability - and I believe this is enabled by default - to install any microcode updates that are available for your processor. It is possible, though highly unlikely, that this is playing a role here.

As for your RAM, don't assume that it is good without actually testing it. Run something like MemTest86 or MemTest86+ and check your memory.

Your system is old, *very* old. Crap happens. You may want to look at getting a newer system.

...S

[Piotr]

@n_scott_pearson thank you very much for your answer. This graphic card Intel G31 is located on the motherboard, not in the processor. So the firmware for this GPU is included in BIOS of the motherboard or in the processor? Maybe linux updated microcode because Ubuntu 20.04 is new system but I didn't download update for Ubuntu OS. I returned quickly to Windows 7 OS because I believed that this is problem with Ubuntu and still I think that this OS could did something wrong with my machine. Is it option that drivers for my GPU in Ubuntu make someting wrong with firmware? If not maybe this did for example too high frequency or something similar and now I have problems?

If I will reflash BIOS of the motherboard this will reset firmware of the GPU? If firmware is located in BIOS on the motherboard? Or GPU have own BIOS and this is not BIOS of the motherboard? Do you know?

[n_scott_pearson]

Sorry, I was lumping the two (processor and chipset) together for brevity. The driver for the GMCH may load some firmware, but this would only be temporary and gone once a hard power cycle occurs. Installing a BIOS update may include a more-permanent version of the firmware (the "Video BIOS") but no O/S should be able to affect this in any permanent way (though BIOS and especially Firmware Hub security back then was not as good). You can certainly try updating (or re-updating) the BIOS to the latest available version.

...S

[Piotr]

@n_scott_pearson thank you for your answer. So the "Video BIOS" is located in motherboard because Intel G31 GPU is located in the motherboard but if I will update motherboard BIOS this probably don't change VIDEO BIOS? This is separated BIOS dedicated for GPU but how it can be updated or reflashed? Intel company didn't share with this firmware? How I can do this?

[n_scott_pearson]

No, that's incorrect. The Video BIOS for any embedded graphics solution (regardless of whether built into chipset or processor) is included (built into) the BIOS. You update it by updating the BIOS.

It is only when you have a 3rd-party graphics solution (from NVIDIA, AMD, etc.) that you see its Video BIOS provided in a separate OpROM and updated separately.

...S

[Piotr]

My story with hardware issues will not end. I don't use old computer with G31 GPU any more and I recycled it. Now I bought new notebook with i3 11 gen and I have similar hardware issues. I noticed also strange behavior on my another computers. I don't use Linux family operating system anymore and all my machines runs Windows so I think that these issues might be related to malware. I think that is it comes from exploits in Ubuntu OS in my old hardware. My old PC probably was compromised next this infect my home router so that is why my  new hardware also have issues. Of course I reinstalled Windows and wiped all data on SSD drive on all machines but this looks like firmware level issues so this can be BIOS rootkit or other malware in low level (firmware).

So I have question. How I can fix it? I know that is almost impossible in home environment so maybe someone from cybersecurity specialist can create vaccine for this malware? I know that Ingel have specialist because you owned McAfee Antivirus company in the past.

What is the symptomps? I have black artifacts in some scenarios. For example when loading images, websites etc. I also have issue with mouse which click right button itself and sometimes my apps like Chrome browser will close itself so this is not normal.

I think that this malware can be in GPU firmware so maybe Intel specialist should look on code from my machine to prevent this infection for other users?

I hope that you can help.

[Piotr]

I think that is not damaged RAM or GPU. It looks like bug because only some interface of Windows 7 looks like artifacts. When I play videos on full screen for example I don't have any artifacts. Very strange behaviour and this looks like microcode or driver are buggy now after trying Ubuntu.