HOWTO: Jaunty Intel Graphics Performance Guide

[rikxik]

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

Base install of Jaunty with Compiz enabled had lots of lag/sluggishness. The mtrr fix (see first post) + adding below lines to /etc/X11/xorg.conf has improved the performance a lot:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "Configured Video Device"
        Option          "EXAOptimizeMigration"          "true"
        Option          "MigrationHeuristic"            "greedy"
EndSection

I removed the tiling option since it caused slowness. No kernel changes or downgrading of Intel drivers was done. Hope this is useful to anyone with similar graphics.

[Arup]

I formatted and installed 8.10. Game's working again. Sad that Jaunty was released and crippled intel's already poor 3d graphics. I tried both rc2 and rc3 kernels. And a few different "fixes" from this thread. I've installed the latest version of Ubuntu each time they release one since 6.04.

Actually its my observation that on Intel cards, Hardy runs best.

[jbernardo]

On a Acer Aspire One, running jaunty with kernel 2.6.28sickboy-kuki (have yet to try with 2.6.30rc, as recommended here) I get 31FPS in glblur with EXA and 14 with UXA, even with xorg-edgers ppa drivers.

/usr/lib/xscreensaver/glblur -window -fps

For now things are good enough with exa.

ppracer gave me 7-12 fps with exa, 3-5 with uxa. Time to download and test kernel 2.6.30 with sickboy config.

[kennyschiff]

I'm a noob. I'm reluctant to upgrade the kernel and would like to use 2.6.28-11 first but with latest intel video drivers. I updated my PPA list, imported the PGP key, but can't seem to figure out how to install the driver. If someone could nudge me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

[pappfer]

I'm a noob. I'm reluctant to upgrade the kernel and would like to use 2.6.28-11 first but with latest intel video drivers. I updated my PPA list, imported the PGP key, but can't seem to figure out how to install the driver. If someone could nudge me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

Just go to System -> Administration -> Updates and refresh it.
The system will show you the newest Intel video driver in case if you've added the PPA properly.
It didn't make any difference to me using the new (2.7) video driver with the default kernel in Jaunty, though.


PS: Like Mr_bleu I've always installed the latest version of Ubuntu each time they released one, but now I'm really thinking about going back to Intrepid or Hardy.

[gus.ke]

Alright, so I tried this, but it screwed up my wifi drivers so I reverted. But now, i see a bunch of text every time I boot up telling me what the computer is doing. How do I turn this back off???

[glaze]

Just reporting that using xserver-xorg-video-intel 2.7 and kernel 2.6.30-rc3 seems to have fixed my vsync and occasional pixel distortion problems on G45 (X4500HD, EXA, 64-bit Kubuntu)

[pappfer]

Just reporting that using xserver-xorg-video-intel 2.7 and kernel 2.6.30-rc3 seems to have fixed my vsync and occasional pixel distortion problems on G45 (X4500HD, EXA, 64-bit Kubuntu)

Great! Does updating kernel have any disadventages? Do Ubuntu use some patches in their kernel which I'll miss when updating it? If so, what are they?

[psyke83]

Great! Does updating kernel have any disadventages? Do Ubuntu use some patches in their kernel which I'll miss when updating it? If so, what are they?

Yes. The kernel is a bleeding-edge release candidate, and it's not supported at all. Don't bother filing any bugs on Launchpad with this kernel (and drivers from the PPA), don't expect usplash to work, don't be surprised if some restricted/wifi drivers don't work, etc.

The guide has downgrade instructions to restore your system to normal for a reason.

[psyke83]

Just reporting that using xserver-xorg-video-intel 2.7 and kernel 2.6.30-rc3 seems to have fixed my vsync and occasional pixel distortion problems on G45 (X4500HD, EXA, 64-bit Kubuntu)

2.6.30-rc3 has a performance regression compared to 2.6.30-rc2, which is why I didn't update the instructions to install the newer kernel.