Slow Unity 3D performance in 12.10 Quantal Quetzal

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

+1 exact same symtoms, different hardware (intel celeron based PC & laptop)

I also has the same problem on my Gigabyte laptop. Unity 3D is considerably slower in 12.10 than 12.04.

Also, it consumes a lot of RAM, so I need to consider alternative desktops like xfce or Gnome 2.

Well, did a little experimentation. Lubuntu, naturally, runs fine, and Ubuntu runs considerably faster with the resolution set to 1024x768 rather than 1400x1050, but Unity still lags badly. At times, it will even crash. GNOME Shell performance is also vastly superior to Unity on my T43.

I tried forcing the low graphics mode of Unity, to little effect. It's just the Dash Home pane that lags... I should try to capture some video...

I also have an HP Pavilion a6400f and an HP Compaq DC5100, both running Unity in 12.10 quite smoothly (the DC5100 less so than the a6400f, however).

I have the same problem on a Dell M301z running Ubuntu 12.10. Forcing the low graphics mode for Unity helped a bit, but is still slower than on other Laptops (don't know the models) I've seen of friends of mine running the standard configuration of Unity.
Also the low graphics mode is not an option for me since I'd like to save space on my Laptop screen and have the Launcher to auto-hide, but this is unfortunatley not working in low-graphics mode similar or equal to Bug #1078075.

Christof, Can you paste the result of /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p

Austin,

Could you please try reverting to the old rendering method that was used in 12.04 to see if that improves things in 12.10? To test it, please...
  1. sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
  2. ccsm
  3. CCSM > OpenGL >
        Framebuffer object = OFF
        Vertext buffer object = OFF
        Always use buffer swapping = OFF

Sometimes you may have to log out and in again for it to fully take effect (which is a bug).

I'm not sure if this is a problem or not. I believe it may just be the delay while it is getting content and links from the internet. I toggle off the search online and then it's fine. Not quite as quick as Precise Pangolin but it doesn't have the crazy long delay... I like the online results though, so I re-enabled and am going to deal with it.

Tried it, no effect whatsoever. If it helps, the reflection/glare on the Unity dash pane seems to be distorted/cut off in places and flickers occasionally. I've moved to 13.04 dev, where the problem still exists. I notice 12.04 did not have this reflection/glare...

Ok, thanks. I'm not sure what to check next...

Everyone else - please remember to log your own bugs for performance issues, because they're always very subjective.

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

I have just installed and updated 12.10 on Optiplex 380.
Very similar symptoms.
Very high processor use.
I'm apprehensive of using the compiz configuration utility.
Last time I tried it on an installation on this machine I was left with an unusable machine, and had to reinstall.

I enclose test results requested above.
I will file a bug, and try to mark it linked to this one.

frank@frank-OptiPlex-380:~$ /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
OpenGL vendor string: VMware, Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 0x301)
OpenGL version string: 2.1 Mesa 9.0

Not software rendered: no
Not blacklisted: yes
GLX fbconfig: yes
GLX texture from pixmap: yes
GL npot or rect textures: yes
GL vertex program: yes
GL fragment program: yes
GL vertex buffer object: yes
GL framebuffer object: yes
GL version is 1.4+: yes

Unity 3D supported: no
frank@frank-OptiPlex-380:~$

I have now followed recommendations in "Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt) wrote on 2013-01-22: " above. Responsiveness is better, but still annoying. Will restart.

I've just run through the "submit-bug unity" steps and connected it to this bug.
I don't know if all the logs are lost. I will leave it now, and install mint to see if that runs more quickly.
I look forward to receiving bug updates. thanks for everyone's work on Ubuntu. Frank

fcolcord - I notice that you are using the LLVMpipe fallback graphics driver as a result of using VMware. The OpenGL performance of the LLVMpipe driver is generally a lot faster in Mesa 9.2-devel. Mesa 9.2 final is scheduled for release this month and will probably be included in Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander". You can monitor this at https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mesa

Wow. Thanks for letting me know.

Mint has been OK but not remarkable.

Yours

Frank

<email address hidden>, <email address hidden>, 07763116793
On 17 Aug 2013 20:10, "madbiologist" <email address hidden> wrote:

> fcolcord - I notice that you are using the LLVMpipe fallback graphics
> driver as a result of using VMware. The OpenGL performance of the
> LLVMpipe driver is generally a lot faster in Mesa 9.2-devel. Mesa 9.2
> final is scheduled for release this month and will probably be included
> in Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander". You can monitor this at
> https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mesa
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1075792
>
> Title:
> Slow Unity 3D performance in 12.10 Quantal Quetzal
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/unity/+bug/1075792/+subscriptions
>

I have recorded a small video to show the performance with the live beta (also updating an existing installation).
Performance in 13.04 are not exiting because of my hardware, but it works great.
Now is really inusable.
You can see the video here http://youtu.be/8PorBPl1FgY

I'm open for more details/tests.

I didn't noticed the bug was opened for Ubuntu 12.10, but the problem also appear in the Beta 2 of Ubuntu 13.10.

@micheleolivo
The video is marked as private

Official support for Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal", Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" and Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" has ended. If this bug is still occurring in Ubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" please run ubuntu-bug to file a new bug report so that we can get a fresh set of log files and system info.

Sorry folks, as part of the bug clean up effort before 16.04 I'm marking this as invalid again as the bug title concerns 12.10 which is out of support. If you can still reproduce this on a supported release please open a new bug.