Performance problems with Linux

AscoMania · 08-16-2007, 01:02 PM

Hello,

at first, i want to excuse for my bad english.

My system: Acer Extensa 4014 Notebook
AMD Sempron 3500+
512 MB ram
ATI Xpress 1100 with 64 MB shared ram
Ubuntu 7.04

I have with Regnum Online under Linux large performance problems, when playing under Ubuntu I have only between 3 and 7 fps.

I know, my system isn't very well for playing games.
But I installed Regnum for testing on Windows XP and there I have between 15 and 50 fps. (Sometimes it's lower, but then always the harddrive led is blinking, so it's because of my low memory)

Fglrx (ATI Driver-Version 8.39.4) is running well.
glxgears so 1550 fps.

What could be cause of this problem?

Also I have with both Systems between 95 and 99 percent cpu usage (I think, with Windows it's a little bit better), but this seems to be normal?!?

Edit: I had used the safe mode with both systems.

Athens101 · 08-16-2007, 04:13 PM

Ram ram ram is all I can say. Having a laptop is a double whammy since it shares systems memory for the video card as you know.

The only thing I would suggest to do is install a lighter Linux distro like Vector Linux.

Froste · 08-16-2007, 06:54 PM

glxgears is not a benchmark, your graphic card sucks for linux gaming

AscoMania · 08-16-2007, 07:31 PM

@Athens101: I know, next time put more ram in the Notebook, but with windows it's better. So the ram can't be the cause of the low fps.

@Froste: So, do you think, that's a problem with the bad ATI-fglrx driver under linux?!?
I knwo, that the onboard chip isn't realy fast, but I wonder about the differences between the speed of Windows and Linux.
Other games are running with Linux as well as Windows.

Froste · 08-16-2007, 10:55 PM

yes, garbage driver

Athens101 · 08-17-2007, 12:53 AM

The only option you have is to free up your physical memory and stop the system from hitting the swap partition under Linux. It does not matter how many frames your card can render if the data is spending it's time crawling around on your HD.

Just for fun open a console and run top and see how much physical ram you have while the game is running then compare that to Windows.

DuoMaxwell · 08-17-2007, 06:16 AM

I dunno what to tell yah, it's ATI, they couldn't write drivers for ANY OS to save their grandmas.

I can only ever recommend ATI graphics to someone buying a Mac with it built in or as a BTO option from Apple, anything after market from ATI should be avoided like the plague till they either learn to write divers or let the community do it for them by sourcing what the have and releasing the documentation. Preferably the latter. If I remember right Apple writes the drivers for the cards that they install, anything you pick up that doesn't have apple made drivers from ATI is going to suck just as bad on OS X as it does on Linux and even Windows. If you own a Mac or know someone that does that wants to install a new card but can't get ahold of someone with the connections to get them a card direct from Apple they may be better off buying a flashed card of risking flashing the bios on a windows only version of the cards from ATI or Nvidia, but note that it only works with the cards that are of the exact same core revision as the one Apple used. Careful tho, if you fail you could brick the card.

Sorry if I'm ranting, I haven't slept in a long time.

AscoMania · 08-17-2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athens101

Just for fun open a console and run top and see how much physical ram you have while the game is running then compare that to Windows.

Can you tell me the commands for this pease, i'm not a computer-crack and i'm a Linux-Noob.

So, the result is, that Linux, ATI and Regnum isn't a good combination.

Ok, I will play Regnum with Windows

and must try again with Linux, when I have bought more memory.

DuoMaxwell · 08-17-2007, 07:44 AM

adding more system ram wont help too much, not with the gimped card for linux. Try using the top command in a terminal or if it's eaisier for yah pull up the system monitor, it's under system > administration > system monitor in Ubuntu. You'll have to select system monitor to show virtual memory used in the prefrences, it's just a check box.

AscoMania · 08-17-2007, 08:43 AM

Thank you DuoMaxwell and Athens101.
Reading Athens101 post again, I have seen that "top" is the command.

So I have two ways to watch the ram usage.

This weekend I want to try the latest ATI-driver Version (8.40.4), maybe it's getting better (but I don't think so).

08-16-2007, 01:02 PM	#1
AscoMania Pledge Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 12	Performance problems with Linux Hello, at first, i want to excuse for my bad english. My system: Acer Extensa 4014 Notebook AMD Sempron 3500+ 512 MB ram ATI Xpress 1100 with 64 MB shared ram Ubuntu 7.04 I have with Regnum Online under Linux large performance problems, when playing under Ubuntu I have only between 3 and 7 fps. I know, my system isn't very well for playing games. But I installed Regnum for testing on Windows XP and there I have between 15 and 50 fps. (Sometimes it's lower, but then always the harddrive led is blinking, so it's because of my low memory) Fglrx (ATI Driver-Version 8.39.4) is running well. glxgears so 1550 fps. What could be cause of this problem? Also I have with both Systems between 95 and 99 percent cpu usage (I think, with Windows it's a little bit better), but this seems to be normal?!? Edit: I had used the safe mode with both systems.

08-16-2007, 06:54 PM	#3
Froste Baron Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Svea Rike Posts: 814	glxgears is not a benchmark, your graphic card sucks for linux gaming __________________ *Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines...*

08-16-2007, 10:55 PM	#5
Froste Baron Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Svea Rike Posts: 814	yes, garbage driver __________________ *Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines...*

08-17-2007, 06:16 AM	#7
DuoMaxwell Master Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: A place worse then hell Posts: 332	I dunno what to tell yah, it's ATI, they couldn't write drivers for ANY OS to save their grandmas. I can only ever recommend ATI graphics to someone buying a Mac with it built in or as a BTO option from Apple, anything after market from ATI should be avoided like the plague till they either learn to write divers or let the community do it for them by sourcing what the have and releasing the documentation. Preferably the latter. If I remember right Apple writes the drivers for the cards that they install, anything you pick up that doesn't have apple made drivers from ATI is going to suck just as bad on OS X as it does on Linux and even Windows. If you own a Mac or know someone that does that wants to install a new card but can't get ahold of someone with the connections to get them a card direct from Apple they may be better off buying a flashed card of risking flashing the bios on a windows only version of the cards from ATI or Nvidia, but note that it only works with the cards that are of the exact same core revision as the one Apple used. Careful tho, if you fail you could brick the card. Sorry if I'm ranting, I haven't slept in a long time. __________________ My Chars: Duo Maxwell, Knight, Ignis. Yo Momma, Conjurer, Ignis. Izana, Hunter, Ignis Bank Of Duo, Warrior, used as gear storage only cause we have no banks... Last edited by DuoMaxwell; 08-17-2007 at 06:46 AM.

08-17-2007, 07:44 AM	#9
DuoMaxwell Master Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: A place worse then hell Posts: 332	adding more system ram wont help too much, not with the gimped card for linux. Try using the top command in a terminal or if it's eaisier for yah pull up the system monitor, it's under system > administration > system monitor in Ubuntu. You'll have to select system monitor to show virtual memory used in the prefrences, it's just a check box. __________________ My Chars: Duo Maxwell, Knight, Ignis. Yo Momma, Conjurer, Ignis. Izana, Hunter, Ignis Bank Of Duo, Warrior, used as gear storage only cause we have no banks...

08-16-2007, 04:13 PM	#2
Athens101 Pledge Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 49	Ram ram ram is all I can say. Having a laptop is a double whammy since it shares systems memory for the video card as you know. The only thing I would suggest to do is install a lighter Linux distro like Vector Linux.

08-16-2007, 07:31 PM	#4
AscoMania Pledge Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 12	@Athens101: I know, next time put more ram in the Notebook, but with windows it's better. So the ram can't be the cause of the low fps. @Froste: So, do you think, that's a problem with the bad ATI-fglrx driver under linux?!? I knwo, that the onboard chip isn't realy fast, but I wonder about the differences between the speed of Windows and Linux. Other games are running with Linux as well as Windows.

08-17-2007, 12:53 AM	#6
Athens101 Pledge Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 49	The only option you have is to free up your physical memory and stop the system from hitting the swap partition under Linux. It does not matter how many frames your card can render if the data is spending it's time crawling around on your HD. Just for fun open a console and run top and see how much physical ram you have while the game is running then compare that to Windows.

08-17-2007, 08:43 AM	#10
AscoMania Pledge Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 12	Thank you DuoMaxwell and Athens101. Reading Athens101 post again, I have seen that "top" is the command. So I have two ways to watch the ram usage. This weekend I want to try the latest ATI-driver Version (8.40.4), maybe it's getting better (but I don't think so).