Compiz not silky smooth

[oliwally]

I've just converted from Beryl (was running very well) to Compiz Fusion. It's running well and most things work, but I've noticed that on some effects it's not quite as silky smooth as Beryl. Wobbly windows looks good but when rotating the cube, the framerate drops down to about 15fps. Usually the framerate hovers in the 70s or higher. The burn effect on closing windows is also quite hesitant. I'm hoping that it's just setting somewhere or perhaps the installation method (used this how-to: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=481615&highlight=compiz+kubuntu ). I'm working on a Centrino Duo with an Nvidia card - Quadro NVS 110M with driver 1.0-9755

I have already turned off 'Detect Refresh Rate' and 'Sync to VBlank' and set the Refresh Rate to 200. But still, a bit sluggish.

Is it likely to work better if I install Compiz Fusion in a different way? Compile from source?

Also, I've installed Emerald (using Synaptic) but changing the theme makes no difference. What am I missing?

[RYX]

hi oliwally!

You make sure to start compiz like this: __GL_YIELD="NOTHING" compiz --replace --loose-binding gconf
It is quite essential for nvidia-cards to use this startup-line because otherwise the system gets slightly unresponsive under higher CPU load ...

:)

[oliwally]

Thanks for helping out RYX

I have tried your suggestion by running the command in a terminal. It would not run through the Run Command.

However, Compiz does not work properly when I run the line you've suggested. I get the following return:

Window manager warning: Failed to load theme "Clearlooks": Failed to find a valid file for theme Clearlooks

(gtk-window-decorator:12152): Wnck-WARNING **: Unhandled action type (nil)


Then when I close the terminal Compiz starts to work, but performance is even poorer than before and effects such as wobbly windows don't work, even though it's all switched on in the compiz settings.

Running Compiz the normal way seem to be a lot better, using: compiz --replace.

So, something doesn't seem to be configured correctly. But what? Please help.

[oliwally]

Hey folks, still looking for some help please :)

[RYX]

You could try to manually kill all instances of compiz* through the session-manager (System/Settings/Sessions) and then run the line I posted above. I guess you had two instances of compiz running that's why it was very slow (somehow possible through the startup-script, I don't exactly know why but it happens sometimes).

:)

[euskal]

hi oliwally..
Window manager warning: Failed to load theme "Clearlooks": Failed to find a valid file for theme Clearlooks

I happened to gone through the same error several times, the problem is that compiz cannot find the clearlooks
gtk-engine, you could try going replacing this 2 keys at gconf-editor

/desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_key_theme
/desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme

just change Clearlooks by Default.

Or the other way is install switch2, a little program that switchs GTK2 themes on the fly, run it and select other valid engine.

[oliwally]

Thanks again for helping out folks.

euskal - I'm not sure how to change the default you're talking about. I'm using KDE by the way, with Gnome not installed!

RYX - I killed all instances of Compiz and ran the command (still can only be done from terminal) but Compiz just doesn't run with that command. compiz --replace is the only one that works for me at present. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.

Any other suggestions perhaps?......please :)

[euskal]

euskal - I'm not sure how to change the default you're talking about. I'm using KDE by the way, with Gnome not installed!

hi oliwally, either way using kde, gnome or xfce.. or whatever compiz still uses gconf-editor

you can start it with ALT+F2 " gconf-editor " , here is a quick intro.

http://www.compiz.org/Gconf-Editor

remember to change this keys

/desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_key_theme
/desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme

or copy these into the terminal

gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_key_theme "[Default]" -t list --list-type=string &&
gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme "Default" -t string

be sure to have the default plugins enable; use this command

gconftool-2 -s /apps/compiz/general/allscreens/options/active_plugins "[gconf,decoration,wobbly,fade,minimize,cube,switche r,move,resize,place,rotate,zoom,scale]" -t list --list-type=string

[oliwally]

thanks euskal,

Unfortunately none of that works for me (although I did manage to get gconf-editor to run).

After making your suggested changes (did it through a terminal as you suggested) I then ran __GL_YIELD="NOTHING" compiz --replace --loose-binding gconfagain but with no positive results. Borders were missing on windows.

As before, the only good results I get is when I run compiz --replace -c emerald &

[SkiesOfAzel]

You can try this :
Open Gedit , paste this __GL_YIELD="NOTHING" compiz --replace --loose-binding -c emerald & and save it in your home dir as compiz.sh. Goto system -> preferences -> sessions and create a new session named compiz and set this command : bash compiz.sh. Logout and relogin.

[MountainX]

You can try this :
Open Gedit , paste this __GL_YIELD="NOTHING" compiz --replace --loose-binding -c emerald & and save it in your home dir as compiz.sh. Goto system -> preferences -> sessions and create a new session named compiz and set this command : bash compiz.sh. Logout and relogin.

Just to let people know, I tried this and it didn't help at all with my issue, which is described here:
http://forum.compiz-fusion.org/showthread.php?t=6687
[Unsolved] Weird! Bug? Dual-monitors, nVidia, Compiz-Fusion, Ubuntu 7.10