Rock 4C+ - GPU is llvmpipe

#1

Rock 4C+ using image [rock-4c-plus_debian_bullseye_xfce_b55.img.xz] from https://github.com/radxa-build/rock-4c-plus/releases

About screen for Xfce says GPU is llvmpipe (LLVM 11.0.1 128 Bits) (3.8 Gib).

Rock 4C+ using image [rock-4c-plus_debian_bullseye_kde_b55.img.xz] from https://github.com/radxa-build/rock-4c-plus/releases

System info for KDE says Graphics processor is llvmpipe.

Rock 4SE running Dietpi (image [DietPi_ROCKPi4-ARMv8-Bullseye.img] an image for Rock Pi 4B) with Xfce desktop installed, about screen says GPU is Mali T860 (which the Rock 4 SE Technical Specifications says the GPU is [Arm Mali™ – T860MP4 GPU]).

Is this related to LibGL errors that show up?

On KDE I get…

LibGL error: failed to authenticate magic 1
LibGL error: failed to load driver: rockchip

On Xfce I get…

LibGL error: failed to create dri screen
LibGL error: failed to load driver rockchip

You can see these errors when you load VLC from the command line. Note that Dietpi on SE doesn’t give these errors when VLC is run from the command line. The error also shows up on KDE when running the Python GStreamer examples which is much more relevant to the use of this unit.

I can’t help but think this is related to some performance issue because on the Rock 4C+ (with both of these images) VLC player plays HD video really badly (awful stuttering), whereas the Rock 4 SE with Dietpi can play the same video pretty much flawlessly (example video I’ve been using from -> https://www.videvo.net/video/pair-of-lionesses-walking-together/463057/).

Please note I’m aware that VLC doesn’t have hardware acceleration but that’s what makes it good in this test. It definitely feels like it’s software all the way on Rock 4C+ whereas the GPU is at least getting used on the 4SE with Dietpi.

Please advise what to do about this. I don’t know where else to turn to.

I’d be kinda be tempted to go with Dietpi only I’ve no real idea how to go about getting gstreamer with rockchip support running on Dietpi nor does there seem to be any Dietpi for the 4C+ yet and I’ve not got time to delve into that side of it yet. I’d kinda like to stick to Radxa stuff but the whole lvvmpipe deal has me wondering.

Help on getting a GPU for 4C+ images or gstreamer with rockchip support on Dietpi most welcome.

#2

So, I’m trying. I’m poking. I’m prodding. I’m learning.

Like, I’m pretty sure the errors I’m getting aren’t anything to do with GPU or llvmpipe. Pretty sure they are just gstreamer or whatever trying different options and failing (i.e., if I try gstreamer to glimagesink then I’ll see those errors).

Could still be wrong. Dunno.

But one step forward and two steps back…

Why doesn’t kmssink or rkximagesink work? When were they ditched? Why were they ditched? What’s the deal with that? No idea. Not that I expect an answer either.

Why does adding a change of size to pipeline stop gstreamer working?

Or why does playing videos on 4C+ (dragon player, vlc, browser) cause the display to turn off and on again (at start of play back and end of play back)? Am I seriously the only person witnessing that? Seems audio related. Go into audio settings of KDE and set the built in audio profile to off to test. Play a video, screen goes blank, screen comes on again, default audio has changed from off to HDMI. Can’t be a coincidence. Why is stuff overriding my settings (I know “enough” to guess it’s pulseaudio although I’ve tried disabling some of the load-module stuff with no joy)?

Bonkers.

This thread is gonna just be a blog of my woes instead of actual help, innit.