Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-nouveau package

Slow performance on new 11.04 install

Asked by John Detwiler

I'm asking for suggestions on 'performance' troubleshooting.

I recently installed Ubuntu 11.04, replacing an old Fedora installation. Performance is unacceptably slow: it takes (sometimes) 20-30 seconds for an application to launch; the pointer 'stutters' to keep up with mouse movements.

I realize that 'performance' is a huge, amorphous set of issues; but the contrast between 11.04 and my old Fedora install is staggering. (I've been running large multimedia [Cinelerra] renderings on the old Fedora OS.)

Here are some further details of my system and its symptoms:

Hdwr: dual CPU (Pentium 4) 2.8GHz; 2GB RAM, 130GB available disk space. Dual-head LCD monitors.
Sfwr: Ubuntu 11.04, Gnome 2.32.1

Symptoms: While waiting for an application (say, Firefox) to launch: the 2 CPUs 'take turns' hitting 100%, no other application using significant CPU. No swap space being used; memory usage never exceeds 25%. No significant network traffic. 'df' shows plenty of available disk (only 7% used, 130GB available).

I also notice, when swapping windows (i.e., ALT-TAB) that the 'wireframe' of a window may continue to be seen even after I 'tab' past that window to another.

Any thoughts on where to start looking???
Thanks!

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Best Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#1

You've forgotten the most important:
sudo lshw -C video

There're some known issues with multiple monitor setups, try websearch with specifics.

Turn off hardware acceleration support in FF preferences.
Test if FF running in safe-mode triggers high CPU.
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe%20Mode

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John Detwiler (jdetwile) said : 		#2

Thanks for quick response.
1. Firefox isn't the (only) problem, merely an example of a slow application launch. But, FWIW, I disabled hdwr acceleration and tried 'safe mode' - no significant change.
2. As to the video hardware: the machine is a used, high-end-for-its-time IBM workstation. I have no monitor on its on-board video output, but I use two monitors on an Nvidia GeForce 8400 card (one monitor thru a DVI-VGA adaptor).
3. The output of `sudo lshw -C video` is as follows:
  *-display
       description: Display controller
       product: 82865G Integrated Graphics Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 02
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:16 memory:c0000000-c7ffffff memory:b0080000-b00fffff ioport:1890(size=8)
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: G98 [GeForce 8400 GS]
       vendor: nVidia Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
       version: a1
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=nouveau latency=0
       resources: irq:21 memory:b2000000-b2ffffff memory:e0000000-efffffff memory:b4000000-b5ffffff ioport:3000(size=128) memory:f0000000-f001ffff

4. Finally, it seemed to me that the vast difference between the Fedora and the Ubuntu performance might be a 'clue', since the hardware configuration (including the dual-monitor cabling) is unchanged.

Thanks again -- I continue to research 'dual monitor' issues against Ubuntu 11.04.

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Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#3

And Fedora also used nouveau? If there was an xorg.conf maybe it's worth to compare them.
This Bug #790337 regards nvidia package but user mentioned long delay on app exec.

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John Detwiler (jdetwile) said : 		#4

Switching to 'Classic' has solved my 'performance' problem - as well as giving me a more familiar user experience.

Your advice was just what I needed in order to start down the right path.

I needed to learn some basic awareness of Unity and 'Classic' (and where to find the option!), and of nouveau -- all of which was new info to me. (BTW: I no longer have easy access to the former Fedora system - which was formerly on this hardware - so I can't answer about Fedora's use - or not - of nouveau.)

Thanks!

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John Detwiler (jdetwile) said : 		#5

Thanks Sam_, that solved my question.

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Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#6

Great you've got it working. Knock on my head, of course Fedora doesn't run Unity.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DemystifyingUnityGraphicsHardwareRequirements

If you like Unity maybe install unity-2d, gnome-classic will vanish anyway in Oneiric.
http://bfiller.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/unity-2d/
http://askubuntu.com/questions/tagged/unity-2d