Arch Linux

iggyst00ge

Member

Registered: 2008-01-24

Posts: 50

Why use OpenBox with KDE?

I saw that Openbox can be used as the WM with KDE.  I use both Openbox and KDE separately, but was wondering what the advantage was for using them together?  Is it speedier?

Thanks, 
-C

moljac024

Member

From: Serbia

Registered: 2008-01-29

Posts: 2,676

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

Yes, it should be speedier. And Openbox is much prettier than KWin in my opinion

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Acecero

Member

Registered: 2008-06-21

Posts: 1,373

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

Openbox takes a lighter load then KWin does, so it obviously goes faster. Give it a shot and see how it works for you.

heleos

Member

From: Maine, USA

Registered: 2007-04-24

Posts: 678

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

I used kde/openbox for a short time. It was much faster than kwin! Also, I like the openbox rightclick menu, so that was a plus as well

kiLLroy_ow

Member

From: ger

Registered: 2008-08-20

Posts: 10

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

Hello everyone.

You find a lot of posts when searching for "kwin load" or similar but maybe this is the right to post a question about the kwin load (which is certainly solved anywhere).
Kwin does a lot of load on my Archi686 with kdemod4.1. It takes 17% tlll 83% CPU time, I used my personal monitoring system called "eye" to figure it out (with 'top') I can observe 40% - 50% is the most and I guess this may be the average, also. I'am using many Desktop effects but this load is there when I do nothing, just looking at my 'konsole' with 'top' running and a few windows elsewhere.

My Hardware:
Amd Athlon 64 3500+ (yes i don't use Archx64)
Sockel393 MB
1GB DDR Ram
Nvidia 6600GT (with the nv driver, the proprietary one)

I don't know which informations to post, too. There is a lot what might help so just ask if you need more.

So finally, my question
Is it normal that kwin takes such a load? Would it be less when using OpenBox and is it positible to integrate it into kdemod4.1 without any problems?

Last edited by kiLLroy_ow (2008-08-20 22:45:46)

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carlocci

Member

From: Padova - Italy

Registered: 2008-02-12

Posts: 368

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

hi, the real resource hog in my kdemod4 installation is plasma (8-10%), kwin is 1-2% idling
Athlon XP 2400+

Did you try disabling the special effects? kde4 still has some problems with nvidia cards AFAIK.

attila

Member

Registered: 2006-11-14

Posts: 293

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

So finally, my question
Is it normal that kwin takes such a load?

You can try the new beta drivers which should be better (http://vizzzion.org/?blogentry=829) and for the actual driver you can use this hints http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=118088. But for me with a 7500 i must say that the best hint is to disable vsync which is from the forum here. After doing this htop shows me 0% if i do nothing and not 30-40% as before.

Would it be less when using OpenBox and is it positible to integrate it into kdemod4.1 without any problems?

There is a setting for choosing the window manager somewhere in the control center (sorry, i wrote this under kde 3.5.x). I think you should install openbox and look in the control center for it but i don't know how it works.

And i have a question too: If i use openbox instead of kwin does this mean that this is kde4 without plasma?

sand_man

Member

From: Australia

Registered: 2008-06-10

Posts: 2,164

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

I don't use KDE but I tried that new beta file and I found it slowed things down particularly Firefox

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attila

Member

Registered: 2006-11-14

Posts: 293

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

@sand_man That is said in the blog entry too and from my view this new beta driver is only interesting if you use kde4. Everyone else can wait for the official version.

kiLLroy_ow

Member

From: ger

Registered: 2008-08-20

Posts: 10

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

But for me with a 7500 i must say that the best hint is to disable vsync which is from the forum here. After doing this htop shows me 0% if i do nothing and not 30-40% as before.

Oh yeah, this solution works great for me, too After disable Vsync kwin takes less than 1% load in idle time.

Because of this easy solution I will use kwin furthermore and not changing to Openbox. It's just... I'm too afraid what might happen to my kdemod4.1

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Rasi

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2007-08-14

Posts: 1,914

Website

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

And i have a question too: If i use openbox instead of kwin does this mean that this is kde4 without plasma?

No.. everything works as one would expect it, except for the 3d effects, obviously

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Roberth

Member

From: The Pale Blue Dot

Registered: 2007-01-12

Posts: 894

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

Openbox is great in KDE 4 for ATI users, since theres a bug that makes kwin damn slow for ATI users.

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arch0r

Member

From: From the Chron-o-John

Registered: 2008-05-13

Posts: 597

Re: Why use OpenBox with KDE?

using kde4 and openbox is a good solution because kde4 is atm quite unstable (desktop/plasma/desktop effects, you know what i mean )