Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

SaThaRiel · 2008-12-03 14:33:16

Since the upgrade to 7.4 openbox is slow when i switch to a desktop with a window on it and when i resize a window. Those actions take over 2 seconds - i would say up to 5 (havent measured it).
When i disable the composite extension in Xorg, everything works as expected. Desktop switches normal and i can resize a window with no interuption.
I also tested this behaviour in fluxbox. There everything seems to work fine. But i really would like to have composite because of the real transparancy.

3D applications/games run fine, also with composite enabled.

Im using the ATI/AMD official catalyst driver, not the Arch one (causes segmentation faults on my system).

Here is my xorg.conf:

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "aticonfig Layout"
    Screen      0  "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
    Option        "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
    Option        "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
    Option        "DPMS" "false"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
    Driver      "fglrx"
    BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
    Device     "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
    Monitor    "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
    DefaultDepth     24
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option     "AIGLX"     "off"
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
    Option "Composite" "off"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Group        "video"
        Mode         0660
EndSection

I already tried it without DRI, AIGLX is set to off because there are error in the Xorg.0.log file (sadly the disablement of AIGLX doesnt help to get rid of those messages). In the logfile there are NO errors when running with the composite extension, just warnings

    (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(WW) Falling back to old probe method for fglrx
(WW) This ATI Proprietary Linux Driver does not guarantee support of video driver ABI higher than 2.0
(WW) Video driver ABI version of the X server is 4.1
(WW) fglrx(0): board is an unknown third party board, chipset is supported
(WW) fglrx(0): Unknown vendor-specific block f
(WW) fglrx(0): Only one display is connnected,so single mode is enabled
(WW) fglrx(0): Option "VendorName" is not used
(WW) fglrx(0): Option "ModelName" is not used
(WW) AIGLX: 3D driver claims to not support visual 0x23
(WW) AIGLX: 3D driver claims to not support visual 0x24
(WW) AIGLX: 3D driver claims to not support visual 0x25
...

There are more of the stupid AIGLX errors.

fglrxinfo shows

display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
OpenGL version string: 2.1.8201 Release

Has someone an idea? Or maybe someone noticed this behaviour too?

handy · 2008-12-04 05:59:34

I can't help you, but I am also having a slow down on my machine since I did an -Syu.

I don't use Compiz or the like, & am running Xfce with a black background (no pictures to add to the graphic lag) when I change workspace it takes at least 2 seconds, & if there is an app' open on the workspace it takes longer than if it is clear.

It would seem that the new xserver & Catalyst drivers have got an incompatibility.

I too hope they present us with a solution fast.

ledet · 2008-12-04 08:13:33

I have the same problem in GNOME - very slow desktop switch and window resizing.
Catalyst here as well.

Edit: I've stripped my xorg.conf to this, but it's still not working.

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "X.org Configured"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Files"
    ModulePath   "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "glx"
    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "xtrap"
    Load  "dbe"
    Load  "dri"
    Load  "freetype"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Card0"
    Driver      "fglrx"
    VendorName  "ATI Technologies Inc"
    BoardName   "Radeon Mobility X1400"
    BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth     24
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Mode         0666
EndSection

Last edited by ledet (2008-12-04 09:11:39)

Black Mage · 2008-12-05 11:11:13

I have the exact same problem with the latest xserver and catalyst, i use openbox, with and without xcompmgr on i get this freezes
(composite is always enabled in xorg.conf), this doesnt happen with radeonhd.

someone should file a bug report , i wanted to but im too lasy to swich back to catalyst and pull the created logs.

Rydgel · 2008-12-05 12:44:50

Same here with openbox and catalyst.

SaThaRiel · 2008-12-05 15:01:57

Im using a x1400 Graphics card. Someone else too?

Black Mage · 2008-12-05 21:48:08

forgot to note mine is 3650 so i assume it affects al ati cards

thayer · 2008-12-06 05:59:41

I'm not one for 'me too' posts, but I figured it's worth mentioning this is likely a catalyst bug, which means we can't do a thing about it.

My own experience with the latest catalyst/xorg combo has been that normal applications resize just fine (with and without AIGLX/composite), however my terminal windows are unbearably slow if, and only if I have depth set to 32 (for transparency).

SaThaRiel · 2008-12-06 14:39:15

As i said before - i hadnt this problem in fluxbox. Is there some different way of resizing/desktop switching in other WMs than in fluxbox? Not sure if its really a fglrx bug? Cant catch it atm...

toofishes · 2008-12-06 19:01:07

Ugh, this sucks. I'm seeing it too so I'm right with you, Thayer (and everyone else).

xlukas · 2008-12-06 21:31:41

I can't even start my openbox, other wm are also slowed down after upgrade

SaThaRiel · 2008-12-10 21:18:19

Ok, installed the newest ATI driver 8.12 - still no change. I really want to find out where the problem is - sadly i have no idea where to start debugging.
Some ideas? Did it change for someone with catalyst 8.12?

handy · 2008-12-11 07:35:26

I am just going to wait it out for the fixes to come downstream from both X.org & AMD.

RobbeR49 · 2008-12-11 22:23:37

thayer wrote:

My own experience with the latest catalyst/xorg combo has been that normal applications resize just fine (with and without AIGLX/composite), however my terminal windows are unbearably slow if, and only if I have depth set to 32 (for transparency).

I just checked after seeing your post, I thought it was just a general slowdown but the terminal windows I had in the background do seem to have been the main culprit. Nuking them seemed to speed things back up again.

handy · 2008-12-11 22:33:58

RobbeR49 wrote:

thayer wrote:
My own experience with the latest catalyst/xorg combo has been that normal applications resize just fine (with and without AIGLX/composite), however my terminal windows are unbearably slow if, and only if I have depth set to 32 (for transparency).
I just checked after seeing your post, I thought it was just a general slowdown but the terminal windows I had in the background do seem to have been the main culprit. Nuking them seemed to speed things back up again.

lol, I always have terminal windows open in the background.

I had missed that which RobbeR49 had said (quoted above).

After closing the terminals, my screen refresh speed seems to be back to normal.

Well done.

Black Mage · 2008-12-14 12:29:35

nope i ditched the terminals and the problem is still there.

phenom · 2008-12-14 18:01:41

hi, all!
you can make this --
rm /etc/ati/amdpcsdb;
aticonfig --initial --input=/etc/X11/xorg.conf -f;

and dont try using options --
textured2d
texturedxrender

Last edited by phenom (2008-12-14 18:01:55)

pointone · 2008-12-14 19:04:51

phenom wrote:

hi, all!
you can make this --
rm /etc/ati/amdpcsdb;
aticonfig --initial --input=/etc/X11/xorg.conf -f;
and dont try using options --
textured2d
texturedxrender

No dice.

Same problem here with Mobility Radeon X1400 + Catalyst + KDEmod (KDE4).

SaThaRiel · 2008-12-14 19:58:05

Have to second that - already tried to remove the ati db, no chance...problem still exists.
Also tried different parameters in xorg.conf, without success.
I think it has something to do with the color depth (from what ive found out). Ati has only a color depth of 24, while you need 32 for compositing (like transparency). Also this might be the root of the problem, i wasnt able to find a proper workaround. Sure you can set e.g. urxvt to a color depth of 24, but than you dont have real transparence anymore...

handy · 2008-12-15 02:55:37

I found that the latest Catalyst (installed 24hrs ago) has improved the speed of changing workspaces when there are open Terminal windows in one or more of them. There may still be a little lag (hard to say for sure) but it is definitely better than it was for me.

SaThaRiel · 2008-12-15 09:27:40

handy wrote:

I found that the latest Catalyst (installed 24hrs ago) has improved the speed of changing workspaces when there are open Terminal windows in one or more of them. There may still be a little lag (hard to say for sure) but it is definitely better than it was for me.

Hm, feels a little bit faster but for me its still in an unusable state...im using openbox because it really fast and lightweight. Still have to wait for some seconds when i resize a window or switch to a workspace with windows on it.
I wish i could find out where the problem is - Xserver or fglrx or maybe openbox...i fear its again fglrx, but why do only some ppl have such a problem?

sparky · 2008-12-15 12:03:10

Just another "same problem here" to add to the list. Openbox, xcompmgr, catalyst, Macbook Pro w/ ATI X1600, and the latest and greatest packages at the time of this post.

Stopped using xcompmgr for the time being. Would really love to see a fix. Thanks to everyone making an effort at this!

unehed · 2008-12-15 16:03:40

I'm also having the same problem. However I added these lines to my xorg.conf:

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AIGLX" "false"
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "false"
EndSection

Now terminals are snappy and everything works fine. Of course you can't get any composite effects or transparancy with this "fix".
I don't know if this helps anybody but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Now let's just hope ATI fixes this asap.

SaThaRiel · 2008-12-17 12:07:09

Turn compositing off is a "bad" workaround to the problem. Sure it helps with the speed but you dont have tranparency and other effects anymore.
Got a tip a phoronix: http://www.phoronix.com/forums/showpost … stcount=15
Didnt help me but might help you. Searching for nopat in google showed up some sites where the problem was resolved after using the setting.

Last edited by SaThaRiel (2008-12-17 12:07:44)

unehed · 2008-12-17 12:48:24

Adding the nopat option to the kernel line doesn't help me either.

A thing that has been boggeling me is that everything works fine in Ubuntu Intrepid with the same computer. So that would mean that the problem is with the Catalyst driver right? Since Intrepid uses the new Xserver too. Also this problem applies to all window managers/desktop environments I've tried, not just Openbox. Right now I'm seeing it in Xfce and it's the same thing in Gnome.

Arch Linux

#1 2008-12-03 14:33:16

Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#2 2008-12-04 05:59:34

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#3 2008-12-04 08:13:33

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#4 2008-12-05 11:11:13

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#5 2008-12-05 12:44:50

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#6 2008-12-05 15:01:57

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#7 2008-12-05 21:48:08

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#8 2008-12-06 05:59:41

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#9 2008-12-06 14:39:15

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#10 2008-12-06 19:01:07

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#11 2008-12-06 21:31:41

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#12 2008-12-10 21:18:19

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#13 2008-12-11 07:35:26

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#14 2008-12-11 22:23:37

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#15 2008-12-11 22:33:58

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#16 2008-12-14 12:29:35

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#17 2008-12-14 18:01:41

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#18 2008-12-14 19:04:51

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#19 2008-12-14 19:58:05

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#20 2008-12-15 02:55:37

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#21 2008-12-15 09:27:40

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#22 2008-12-15 12:03:10

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#23 2008-12-15 16:03:40

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#24 2008-12-17 12:07:09

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

#25 2008-12-17 12:48:24

Re: Desktop switch and Window resize slow Xorg7.4/w composite and openbox

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