software vs. hardware openGL issue in R2014b?

Hi all,

I recently switched to matlab R2014b from R2013b.

When I was using R2013b, there was openGL issues about surface rendering (if I specified CData for a surface object it'll not render properly in the figure window), but when I save it as a png figure it looks normal so I was OK with it.

Now in R2014b matlab seems to recognize this issue (it says 'known graphics driver issues' when I type 'opengl info'), but the way it solves the problem is to automatically switch to software openGL, which uses a HUGE amount of memory (~6GB for a relatively large figure), so the system dies when I render a figure that used to work fine on R2013b. (plus, when matlab runs out of memory, instead of matlab itself crashing the entire system will freeze and die: is this normal behavior of matlab?)

I also updated my graphics card driver (Intel HD Graphics 3000) and the problem still remains. So I'm now wondering if there's a way to force matlab to use hardware openGL (it'll automatically switch to software openGL even if I set 'opengl hardware'), or is there some other way to solve the issue? Thanks a lot!

Niko

Answer 1

[Viktor]

Same problem Here's what opengl('info') gives me:

                          Version: '3.1.0 - Build 9.17.10.3517'
                           Vendor: 'Intel'
                         Renderer: 'Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000'
                   MaxTextureSize: 8192
                           Visual: 'Visual 0x06, (RGBA 32 bits (8 8 8 8), Z depth 24 bits, Hardware acceleration, Double buffer, ...'
                         Software: 'false (known graphics driver issues)'
        SupportsGraphicsSmoothing: 1
    SupportsDepthPeelTransparency: 1
       SupportsAlignVertexCenters: 0
                       Extensions: {129x1 cell}
               MaxFrameBufferSize: 4096

I have updated my drivers to the latest (through Intel Update tool, so it is now the latest). There is no intelligible explanation by MATLAB as to what is the problem on the first place. Pretty frustrating. If it is a known problem with the driver, then say it explicitly that the x.x.x.x driver version is unsupported.

Strangely enough, WHILE I was typing my 'rant' about all above the problem "magically" resolved itself and now opengl('info') gives me this:

                          Version: '3.1.0 - Build 9.17.10.3517'
                           Vendor: 'Intel'
                         Renderer: 'Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000'
                   MaxTextureSize: 8192
                           Visual: 'Visual 0x06, (RGBA 32 bits (8 8 8 8), Z depth 24 bits, Hardware acceleration, Double buffer, An...'
                         Software: 'false'
        SupportsGraphicsSmoothing: 1
    SupportsDepthPeelTransparency: 1
       SupportsAlignVertexCenters: 0
                       Extensions: {129x1 cell}
               MaxFrameBufferSize: 4096

Exactly the same except for the 'known graphics driver issues' in the Software field. The computer WAS restarted after installing the driver before issuing the first opengl('info'). But MATLAB has not been restarted between the two opengl('info') commands. I just run a plotting script that does not use opengl explicitly... Weird.

So there might be an issue with the driver query. Maybe Niko had the same observation.

I know it is not helpful, I don't know what I did wrong at first or right for the second time. But it is indicative of some "conspiracy" in the background, maybe a Matlab engineer could have a look at it.

Say, start with an old driver, and install a new one. It would be helpful to add some relevant workaround or at least the observation to the help file. I would find it also helpful (and appropriate) to have an open database at the Mathworks Website where one could check the status of his GPU with working version and the known issues.

Regards,

Viktor