Does desktop effects use more or less CPU/power?

[askvictor]

By my understanding, desktop effects shifts the rendering of the GUI onto the GPU, which can handle it more efficiently. Nonetheless, many places seem to describe desktop effects as power intensive. Does enabling basic desktop effects use more or less CPU and power than switching them off altogether?

I'm running a laptop (with intel graphics), so everywhere I can save power is important.

[binbash]

If power save is important for you, disable desktop effects.For example when you use expo, cpu goes from %1 to %10 (compiz process)

[balboost]

hi,

i guess more. i have an intel graphics and i switched to metacity + xcompgr + gnome-do. runs faster and is more stable. and uses less power i think, as the cpu works less.

[novio8]

hi,

i guess more. i have an intel graphics and i switched to metacity + xcompgr + gnome-do. runs faster and is more stable. and uses less power i think, as the cpu works less.

How and why did you switch to metacity + xcompgr + gnome-do

Mario