problem with new MacBook Pro 15 with Radeon Pro 450

oaopasogfp2nxrztm4zu · February 15, 2017, 6:57am

Hi Everyone!

I recently had to upgrade my system to a new MacBook Pro (from an old MacBook Pro 2011 which had some hardware issues). I didn't check for the compatibility of the OpenGL- rendered with PTB and now when I try to use the new MacBook Pro 2016, with Screen() function I get the error message below:

---- ! PTB - ERROR: SYNCHRONIZATION FAILURE ! ----

One or more internal checks indicate that synchronization of Psychtoolbox to the vertical retrace (VBL) is not working on your setup

given that I tried the same exact code with 3 other machines (a MacBook Pro 2015, a MacBook Air 2015 and a Mac mini server 2012) without any such error, I think the problem is with the Open GL engine in the new machine which is AMD Radeon Pro 450

I also tried updating my PTB to the latest version (3.0.14) and still it didn't help...

SO I was wondering if anyone else might have had a similar problem and if they might know of a workaround for it?

Thanks very much!

mariokleiner · February 16, 2017, 9:15pm

Full output please, ideally at Screen('Preference','verbosity', 10); Also i assume you properly installed the PsychtoolboxKernelDriver as recommended.

In general the quality of OSX for vision science applications has been getting worse with almost every release. If the results on an iMac 5k with a similar AMD graphics card under OSX 10.12 are any indications for the state of AMD graphics on current Macs with current OSX, then this is game over for you under OSX if you care about precise timing:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/PSYCHTOOLBOX/conversations/messages/21321

Normally i'd just recommend upgrading to Linux, but i read that the new MacBook"Pro" 2016 hardware is also pretty incompatible with Linux. I think internal keyboard and touchpad don't work atm.

All in all, the 2016 machines are not recommended at all.
-mario

XX---In PSYCHTOOLBOX@yahoogroups.com, <mahsamalek1@...> wrote :

Hi Everyone!

I recently had to upgrade my system to a new MacBook Pro (from an old MacBook Pro 2011 which had some hardware issues). I didn't check for the compatibility of the OpenGL- rendered with PTB and now when I try to use the new MacBook Pro 2016, with Screen() function I get the error message below:

---- ! PTB - ERROR: SYNCHRONIZATION FAILURE ! ----

One or more internal checks indicate that synchronization of Psychtoolbox to the vertical retrace (VBL) is not working on your setup

given that I tried the same exact code with 3 other machines (a MacBook Pro 2015, a MacBook Air 2015 and a Mac mini server 2012) without any such error, I think the problem is with the Open GL engine in the new machine which is AMD Radeon Pro 450

I also tried updating my PTB to the latest version (3.0.14) and still it didn't help...

SO I was wondering if anyone else might have had a similar problem and if they might know of a workaround for it?

Thanks very much!

oaopasogfp2nxrztm4zu · February 16, 2017, 9:41pm

Hi Mario!

If I want to buy a new macbook, what version (with which graphics) would you recommed to ensure accurate timing?

Thanks for you response! yes I have the kerneldriver installed,

here is what I get when I enter:

Screen(screen_id, 'OpenWindow');

and the screen_id is defined as:

screen_id = max(Screen('Screens'));

(to capture the external monitor)

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 0 : w x h = 1920 x 1080, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 1 : w x h = 1280 x 1024, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 2 : w x h = 1024 x 768, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 3 : w x h = 1024 x 768, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 4 : w x h = 800 x 600, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 5 : w x h = 800 x 600, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 6 : w x h = 640 x 480, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 7 : w x h = 640 x 480, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 8 : w x h = 1152 x 864, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 9 : w x h = 1280 x 1024, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 10 : w x h = 1600 x 900, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 11 : w x h = 1920 x 1080, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 12 : w x h = 848 x 480, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 13 : w x h = 848 x 480, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 14 : w x h = 1024 x 576, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 15 : w x h = 1024 x 576, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 16 : w x h = 1280 x 960, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 17 : w x h = 1280 x 960, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 18 : w x h = 1280 x 720, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 19 : w x h = 1280 x 720, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 20 : w x h = 1360 x 768, fps = 60.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 21 : w x h = 1360 x 768, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-DEBUG: PsychGetScreenDepths(): mode 22 : w x h = 1600 x 900, fps = 75.000000, depth = 24

PTB-INFO: This is Psychtoolbox-3 for Apple OS X, under Matlab 64-Bit (Version 3.0.14 - Build date: Dec 22 2016).

PTB-INFO: Support status on this operating system release: OSX 10.12 minimally supported and tested.

PTB-INFO: Type 'PsychtoolboxVersion' for more detailed version information.

PTB-INFO: Most parts of the Psychtoolbox distribution are licensed to you under terms of the MIT License, with

PTB-INFO: some restrictions. See file 'License.txt' in the Psychtoolbox root folder for the exact licensing conditions.

PTB-INFO: Always using Cocoa for fullscreen windows to work around graphics driver bugs in OSX.

PTB-INFO: Presentation timing precision is not yet known for this configuration on most machines. Check your results.

PTB-INFO: Using GLEW version 2.0.0 for automatic detection of OpenGL extensions...

OpenGL-Vendor / renderer / version are: ATI Technologies Inc. - AMD Radeon Pro 450 OpenGL Engine - 2.1 ATI-1.48.21

OpenGL-Extensions are: GL_ARB_color_buffer_float GL_ARB_depth_buffer_float GL_ARB_depth_clamp GL_ARB_depth_texture GL_ARB_draw_buffers GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex GL_ARB_draw_instanced GL_ARB_fragment_program GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow GL_ARB_fragment_shader GL_ARB_framebuffer_object GL_ARB_framebuffer_sRGB GL_ARB_half_float_pixel GL_ARB_half_float_vertex GL_ARB_imaging GL_ARB_instanced_arrays GL_ARB_multisample GL_ARB_multitexture GL_ARB_occlusion_query GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object GL_ARB_point_parameters GL_ARB_point_sprite GL_ARB_provoking_vertex GL_ARB_seamless_cube_map GL_ARB_shader_objects GL_ARB_shader_texture_lod GL_ARB_shading_language_100 GL_ARB_shadow GL_ARB_shadow_ambient GL_ARB_sync GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp GL_ARB_texture_compression GL_ARB_texture_compression_rgtc GL_ARB_texture_cube_map GL_ARB_texture_env_add GL_ARB_texture_env_combine GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3 GL_ARB_texture_float GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two GL_ARB_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_texture_rg GL_ARB_transpose_matrix GL_ARB_vertex_array_bgra GL_ARB_vertex_blend GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object GL_ARB_vertex_program GL_ARB_vertex_shader GL_ARB_window_pos GL_EXT_abgr GL_EXT_bgra GL_EXT_bindable_uniform GL_EXT_blend_color GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate GL_EXT_blend_func_separate GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_blend_subtract GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint GL_EXT_debug_label GL_EXT_debug_marker GL_EXT_depth_bounds_test GL_EXT_draw_buffers2 GL_EXT_draw_range_elements GL_EXT_fog_coord GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample GL_EXT_framebuffer_object GL_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB GL_EXT_geometry_shader4 GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters GL_EXT_gpu_shader4 GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil GL_EXT_packed_float GL_EXT_provoking_vertex GL_EXT_rescale_normal GL_EXT_secondary_color GL_EXT_separate_specular_color GL_EXT_shadow_funcs GL_EXT_stencil_two_side GL_EXT_stencil_wrap GL_EXT_texture_array GL_EXT_texture_compression_dxt1 GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc GL_EXT_texture_env_add GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic GL_EXT_texture_integer GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias GL_EXT_texture_mirror_clamp GL_EXT_texture_rectangle GL_EXT_texture_shared_exponent GL_EXT_texture_sRGB GL_EXT_texture_sRGB_decode GL_EXT_timer_query GL_EXT_transform_feedback GL_EXT_vertex_array_bgra GL_APPLE_aux_depth_stencil GL_APPLE_client_storage GL_APPLE_element_array GL_APPLE_fence GL_APPLE_float_pixels GL_APPLE_flush_buffer_range GL_APPLE_flush_render GL_APPLE_object_purgeable GL_APPLE_packed_pixels GL_APPLE_pixel_buffer GL_APPLE_rgb_422 GL_APPLE_row_bytes GL_APPLE_specular_vector GL_APPLE_texture_range GL_APPLE_transform_hint GL_APPLE_vertex_array_object GL_APPLE_vertex_array_range GL_APPLE_vertex_point_size GL_APPLE_vertex_program_evaluators GL_APPLE_ycbcr_422 GL_ATI_blend_equation_separate GL_ATI_blend_weighted_minmax GL_ATI_separate_stencil GL_ATI_texture_compression_3dc GL_ATI_texture_env_combine3 GL_ATI_texture_float GL_ATI_texture_mirror_once GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip GL_NV_blend_square GL_NV_conditional_render GL_NV_depth_clamp GL_NV_fog_distance GL_NV_light_max_exponent GL_NV_texgen_reflection GL_NV_texture_barrier GL_SGI_color_matrix GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp GL_SGIS_texture_lod

PTB-DEBUG: Interrogating Low-level renderer capabilities for onscreen window with handle 10:

Indicator variables: FBO's 1, ATI_texture_float 1, ARB_texture_float 1, Vendor ATI Technologies Inc., Renderer AMD Radeon Pro 450 OpenGL Engine.

Indicator variables: maxcolorattachments = 8, maxrectangletexturesize = 16384, maxnativealuinstructions = 16384.

GPU supports UYVY - YCrCb texture formats for optimized handling of video content.

GPU supports non-power-of-two textures.

Basic framebuffer objects with rectangle texture rendertargets supported --> RGBA8 rendertargets with blending.

Framebuffer objects support fast blitting between each other.

Framebuffer objects support anti-aliasing via multisampling.

Hardware supports floating point textures of 16bpc and 32bpc float format.

Assuming ATI R300 core or later: Hardware supports basic floating point framebuffers of 16bpc and 32bpc float format.

Assuming ATI R500 or later (maxtexsize=16384): Hardware supports floating point blending on 16bpc float format.

Hardware supports full 32 bit floating point precision shading.

Assuming ATI R600 or later (Max native ALU inst. = 16384): Hardware supports floating point blending and filtering on 16bpc and 32bpc float formats.

Assuming hardware supports native OpenGL primitive smoothing (points, lines).

No compiled in support for OpenML OML_sync_control extension.

PTB-DEBUG: Interrogation done.

PTB-INFO: You are using a multi-display setup (2 active displays):

PTB-INFO: Please read 'help MultiDisplaySetups' for specific information on the Do's, Dont's,

PTB-INFO: and possible causes of trouble and how to diagnose and resolve them.PTB-INFO: Threshold Settings for successfull video refresh calibration are: maxStdDev = 0.200000 msecs, maxDeviation = 10.000000 %, minSamples = 50, maxDuration = 5.000000 secs.

PTB-DEBUG: Output of all acquired samples of calibration run follows:

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 0: 0.000000

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 1: 0.008604

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 2: 0.017100

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 3: 0.016209

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 4: 0.017074

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 5: 0.017184

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 6: 0.015760

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 7: 0.017077

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 8: 0.016326

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 9: 0.017108

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 10: 0.016084

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 11: 0.017071

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 12: 0.017111

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 13: 0.015928

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 14: 0.016671

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 15: 0.016568

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 16: 0.016938

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 17: 0.017121

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 18: 0.015997

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 19: 0.016743

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 20: 0.017142

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 21: 0.016067

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 22: 0.017008

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 23: 0.017116

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 24: 0.015972

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 25: 0.017116

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 26: 0.016081

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 27: 0.017434

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 28: 0.015982

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 29: 0.017091

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 30: 0.016219

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 31: 0.017108

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 32: 0.016247

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 33: 0.016852

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 34: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 35: 0.015981

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 36: 0.016705

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 37: 0.017066

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 38: 0.017118

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 39: 0.016018

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 40: 0.016458

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 41: 0.016625

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 42: 0.017075

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 43: 0.017118

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 44: 0.015998

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 45: 0.017145

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 46: 0.016032

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 47: 0.017059

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 48: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 49: 0.016001

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 50: 0.017114

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 51: 0.016000

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 52: 0.017066

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 53: 0.017117

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 54: 0.015870

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 55: 0.016593

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 56: 0.016720

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 57: 0.017074

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 58: 0.017118

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 59: 0.015979

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 60: 0.017146

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 61: 0.016000

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 62: 0.017075

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 63: 0.016319

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 64: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 65: 0.016095

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 66: 0.016786

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 67: 0.017113

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 68: 0.016100

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 69: 0.016787

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 70: 0.017125

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 71: 0.016127

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 72: 0.017100

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 73: 0.016252

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 74: 0.017082

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 75: 0.016260

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 76: 0.017089

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 77: 0.016204

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 78: 0.016789

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 79: 0.017105

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 80: 0.016098

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 81: 0.016890

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 82: 0.017111

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 83: 0.016008

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 84: 0.017000

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 85: 0.016224

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 86: 0.016828

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 87: 0.018898

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 88: 0.004995

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 89: 0.009713

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 90: 0.017173

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 91: 0.015940

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 92: 0.017146

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 93: 0.016080

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 94: 0.016712

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 95: 0.017096

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 96: 0.017137

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 97: 0.015804

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 98: 0.016623

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 99: 0.017066

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 100: 0.016272

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 101: 0.017113

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 102: 0.016260

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 103: 0.016533

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 104: 0.016727

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 105: 0.017087

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 106: 0.017123

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 107: 0.015818

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 108: 0.016969

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 109: 0.016380

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 110: 0.017144

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 111: 0.020880

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 112: 0.011994

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 113: 0.017082

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 114: 0.017127

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 115: 0.016072

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 116: 0.016372

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 117: 0.017128

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 118: 0.016180

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 119: 0.017094

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 120: 0.017159

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 121: 0.015794

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 122: 0.017059

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 123: 0.016287

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 124: 0.017110

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 125: 0.016157

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 126: 0.017073

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 127: 0.016290

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 128: 0.017123

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 129: 0.017124

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 130: 0.016072

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 131: 0.017108

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 132: 0.015999

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 133: 0.021817

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 134: 0.012014

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 135: 0.016031

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 136: 0.016581

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 137: 0.016930

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 138: 0.017123

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 139: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 140: 0.015620

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 141: 0.017130

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 142: 0.017122

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 143: 0.016081

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 144: 0.017125

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 145: 0.015820

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 146: 0.017089

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 147: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 148: 0.016019

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 149: 0.017124

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 150: 0.015977

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 151: 0.016604

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 152: 0.016745

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 153: 0.017143

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 154: 0.017143

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 155: 0.016071

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 156: 0.016326

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 157: 0.016662

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 158: 0.016651

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 159: 0.017087

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 160: 0.017120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 161: 0.016097

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 162: 0.017147

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 163: 0.015912

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 164: 0.016720

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 165: 0.016621

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 166: 0.017116

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 167: 0.017130

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 168: 0.016077

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 169: 0.016363

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 170: 0.017116

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 171: 0.017129

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 172: 0.015752

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 173: 0.017071

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 174: 0.017139

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 175: 0.015799

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 176: 0.016598

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 177: 0.016678

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 178: 0.016678

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 179: 0.017086

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 180: 0.016286

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 181: 0.016609

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 182: 0.017149

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 183: 0.016187

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 184: 0.017079

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 185: 0.017129

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 186: 0.016093

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 187: 0.016439

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 188: 0.017113

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 189: 0.017123

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 190: 0.016075

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 191: 0.017120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 192: 0.016013

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 193: 0.017123

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 194: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 195: 0.015565

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 196: 0.016498

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 197: 0.016852

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 198: 0.017130

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 199: 0.016233

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 200: 0.016700

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 201: 0.017119

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 202: 0.016223

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 203: 0.017123

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 204: 0.016156

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 205: 0.016607

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 206: 0.017079

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 207: 0.017163

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 208: 0.016062

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 209: 0.017125

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 210: 0.015999

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 211: 0.016539

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 212: 0.017086

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 213: 0.017117

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 214: 0.015964

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 215: 0.017120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 216: 0.017120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 217: 0.016088

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 218: 0.017134

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 219: 0.016058

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 220: 0.016372

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 221: 0.017073

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 222: 0.016324

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 223: 0.016710

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 224: 0.017130

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 225: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 226: 0.015674

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 227: 0.017120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 228: 0.017120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 229: 0.016088

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 230: 0.017133

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 231: 0.016010

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 232: 0.017121

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 233: 0.017128

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 234: 0.015599

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 235: 0.017116

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 236: 0.016143

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 237: 0.017084

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 238: 0.017108

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 239: 0.016024

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 240: 0.017118

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 241: 0.017139

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 242: 0.016120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 243: 0.017131

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 244: 0.016162

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 245: 0.016059

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 246: 0.017089

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 247: 0.016379

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 248: 0.017119

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 249: 0.017131

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 250: 0.016085

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 251: 0.017116

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 252: 0.016031

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 253: 0.017130

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 254: 0.016029

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 255: 0.016637

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 256: 0.016973

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 257: 0.016388

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 258: 0.017015

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 259: 0.016350

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 260: 0.017350

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 261: 0.016018

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 262: 0.017191

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 263: 0.016100

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 264: 0.017156

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 265: 0.017120

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 266: 0.016072

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 267: 0.017114

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 268: 0.015825

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 269: 0.017085

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 270: 0.017205

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 271: 0.016096

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 272: 0.017062

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 273: 0.015856

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 274: 0.017107

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 275: 0.017114

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 276: 0.015862

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 277: 0.017136

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 278: 0.017132

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 279: 0.016081

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 280: 0.017116

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 281: 0.016027

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 282: 0.016472

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 283: 0.017085

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 284: 0.016245

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 285: 0.017142

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 286: 0.017136

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 287: 0.016083

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 288: 0.017011

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 289: 0.015937

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 290: 0.017115

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 291: 0.016298

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 292: 0.016596

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 293: 0.017079

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 294: 0.017114

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 295: 0.015988

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 296: 0.016560

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 297: 0.017121

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 298: 0.016124

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 299: 0.016703

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 300: 0.017083

PTB-DEBUG: Sample 301: 0.016298

PTB-DEBUG: 0 out of 302 samples confirm use of GPU pageflipping for the swap.

PTB-DEBUG: End of calibration data for this run...

PTB-INFO: OpenGL-Renderer is ATI Technologies Inc. :: AMD Radeon Pro 450 OpenGL Engine :: 2.1 ATI-1.48.21

PTB-INFO: Renderer has 2048 MB of VRAM and a maximum 1912 MB of texture memory.

PTB-INFO: VBL startline = 1080 , VBL Endline = 1123

PTB-INFO: Measured monitor refresh interval from beamposition = 16.666420 ms [60.000887 Hz].

PTB-INFO: Will use beamposition query for accurate Flip time stamping.

PTB-INFO: Measured monitor refresh interval from VBLsync = 16.673334 ms [59.976007 Hz]. (294 valid samples taken, stddev=0.508322 ms.)

PTB-INFO: Reported monitor refresh interval from operating system = 16.666667 ms [60.000000 Hz].

PTB-INFO: Small deviations between reported values are normal and no reason to worry.

WARNING: Couldn't compute a reliable estimate of monitor refresh interval! Trouble with VBL syncing?!?

----- ! PTB - ERROR: SYNCHRONIZATION FAILURE ! ----

One or more internal checks (see Warnings above) indicate that synchronization

of Psychtoolbox to the vertical retrace (VBL) is not working on your setup.

This will seriously impair proper stimulus presentation and stimulus presentation timing!

Please read 'help SyncTrouble' for information about how to solve or work-around the problem.

You can force Psychtoolbox to continue, despite the severe problems, by adding the command

Screen('Preference', 'SkipSyncTests', 1); at the top of your script, if you really know what you are doing.

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 355

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowOwnerName: Spotlight

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: DisplaysExtra

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: AirPortExtra

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: BatteryExtra

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: AppleClockExtra

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 355

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: Item-0

WindowOwnerName: Spotlight

OwnerPID: 308

WindowLevel: 25 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: NotificationCenter

WindowOwnerName: SystemUIServer

OwnerPID: 152

WindowLevel: 24 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: Menubar

WindowOwnerName: Window Server

OwnerPID: 152

WindowLevel: 24 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: Menubar

WindowOwnerName: Window Server

OwnerPID: 306

WindowLevel: 20 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: Dock

WindowOwnerName: Dock

OwnerPID: 466

WindowLevel: 0 (ShieldingWindow 2147483629)

WindowName: MATLAB R2015a

WindowOwnerName: MATLAB

TARGETWINDOWNAME: 'MATLAB R2015a' with pid 466.

Error using Screen

See error message printed above.

mariokleiner · February 21, 2017, 2:19am

Btw. it would be interesting to me if you could also rerun the test with a Screen('Preference','Verbosity', 11) level and Screen('Preference','SkipSyncTests',1) and get the output if you force PTB to continue despite the timing problems. The debug output will allow to get a better idea of the exact way it fails. Also additionally on the internal panel (screen 0)

-mario

---In PSYCHTOOLBOX@yahoogroups.com, <mario.kleiner@...> wrote :

XX---In PSYCHTOOLBOX@yahoogroups.com, <mahsamalek1@...> wrote :

Hi Mario!

-> So the timing on this machine looks horrible. And this line...

PTB-DEBUG: 0 out of 302 samples confirm use of GPU pageflipping for the swap.

... means game over for precise and trustworthy timing, at least if it needs to be frame-accurate, with precise timestamps.
Does this also happen when running on the internal Laptop panel?

This is essentially the same result as on the iMac 5k's in that other post i referenced, so potentially all modern AMD gpu's are broken wrt. visual stimulation timing on OSX 10.12. You could go through the recommendations of that post and see if any of the settings i recommended there helps - the likelyhood is almost zero, but those are the only options.

If I want to buy a new macbook, what version (with which graphics) would you recommed to ensure accurate timing?

-> If you want to run it on OSX, probably none, as OSX seems to be in even a worse shape than i thought so far. Machines with Intel graphics chips may work, at least the old macMini 2012 currently still sort of does with 10.12, but the PsychtoolboxKernelDriver no longer works with Intel graphics, and without it, PTB can not do high precision visual stimulus onset timestamping, and can't detect many of the failure cases/problems, and can not work around any timing problems even in the cases it can detect them. So it's a matter of luck. Machines with NVidia graphics: Most seem to be severely broken wrt. visual stimulation, at least on all the old cards i could test. Who knows, maybe some models work? Ones with AMD graphics would have been my recommendation until your post and Keith's results with his iMac 5k, but apparently at least the modern AMD cards are broken as well. You said your MacBookPro 2015 "worked", but it has Intel graphics. If OSXCompositorIdiocyTest and PerceptualVBLSyncTest and VBLSyncTest pass with proper results, and PTB doesn't give any warnings and errors then it could be ok if you are lucky, but as PTB can't really test that reliably you'd need to use external measurement equipment (Datapixx or similar devices + test procedures like in VBLSyncTest or FlipTiming... test, or Photodiodes) to validate.

-> If you wanted to run Linux for better reliability and precision you'd need to find out which MacBooks work well with it. I know from my own testing that it works splendid on the MacbookPro late 2006 and mid 2010, some 2009 MacBook models, the MacBookAir 2013, but those are the only MacBook(Pro)s i could test on and they are all quite old by now. Everything else i don't have first hand experience.

-mario

Thanks for you response! yes I have the kerneldriver installed,

here is what I get when I enter:

Screen(screen_id, 'OpenWindow');

and the screen_id is defined as:

screen_id = max(Screen('Screens'));