Arch Linux

ddavis

Member

Registered: 2016-07-13

Posts: 2

Skype slow on laptop display, fine on external display

When running skype with just my laptop, it's incredibly laggy, (while typing, the text takes over ~1/2 second after my key strokes to appear on screen).
When I move my skype window to an external display (plugged in via mini-display and VGA are the ports I've tested), skype works fine!
I'm running Arch Linux on a ThinkPad T450s, with xf86-video-intel installed.
Any possible fixes for this?

JohnBobSmith

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2014-11-29

Posts: 804

Re: Skype slow on laptop display, fine on external display

We need some hardware information. Can you post the output of inxi -SCG here? Next, try disabling any sort of compositor (xcompmgr for example) to see if that helps. Finally, we need to check what your video rendering settings are. Can you post the output of  glxinfo | grep -i "direct rendering" here as well? We can then hopefully work towards a solution. Remember to use code tags!

Welcome to the penguin house...

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I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder. As it turns out, what I thought was my greatest weakness is now my greatest strength.

Everyday, I make a conscious choice to overcome my challenges and my problems. It's not easy, but its better than the alternative...

ddavis

Member

Registered: 2016-07-13

Posts: 2

Re: Skype slow on laptop display, fine on external display

$ inxi -SCG
System:    Host: lepton Kernel: 4.6.3-1-ARCH x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: i3 4.12 Distro: Arch Linux
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5-5300U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB 
           clock speeds: max: 2900 MHz 1: 2297 MHz 2: 2321 MHz 3: 1450 MHz 4: 2301 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Broadwell-U Integrated Graphics
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.3 driver: N/A Resolution: 1920x1080@60.05hz, 1280x1024@60.02hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Broadwell GT2) GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.2

$ glxinfo | grep -i "direct rendering"
direct rendering: Yes

Thanks!
PS skype is now slow on the external display as well.

JohnBobSmith

Member

From: Canada

Registered: 2014-11-29

Posts: 804

Re: Skype slow on laptop display, fine on external display

Well this is odd. You have hardware acceleration, and you don't appear to be running a discrete graphics card... However, the following line:

Display Server: X.Org 1.18.3 driver: N/A Resolution: 1920x1080@60.05hz, 1280x1024@60.02hz

Is the most likely cause of your issues. I'm beginning to think that xf86-vide-intel is not going to cut it. First things first though: Always ensure that you have correct intel microcode for your system. This is something I have *no* experience with, because I am on AMD. However, the wiki is by far the most excellent source of information available. Next, we need to do a couple of things. First up: Ensuring skype has all of its dependencies, including optional ones as needed. Please paste the output of pacman -Qi skype here. Next, we need to track down which/what driver you need. According to the wiki page on intel graphics, you should only need the xf86-video-intel. However, under the loading section, you may want to ensure that your kernel parameters and modprobe settings are correct.

Good luck!

---

I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder. As it turns out, what I thought was my greatest weakness is now my greatest strength.

Everyday, I make a conscious choice to overcome my challenges and my problems. It's not easy, but its better than the alternative...