Slow video and desktop response

[zaen]

Hello again,

I installed Salix 32-bit on my daughter's desktop yesterday, based on my satisfaction with the OS's performance in my laptop. Installation went fine but the desktop was not as responsive as my laptop. For example,

1. Video playback "stutters." It skips frames every now and then.
2. When I drag windows, the windows "flicker." Is there a way to not show windows contents while dragging?
3. When I click on buttons, they seem to hesitate to respond (not all the time, though)

My desktop:
AMD dual core 2.6Ghz (forgot the model)
MSI Board with buit-in ATI Radeon 3200 Graphics
4Gb DDR2 memory
200GB Seagate HDD
LG DVD

I thought it needed proprietary drivers so I installed ATI 10.1 driver downloaded from the ATI website and installed as root sh ./atiXXXXXXX.run. Upon reboot, the desktop behavior has gotten worse: windows flicker even more when dragged. It was horrible.

I didn't know how to fix it so I just popped-in the Absolute Linux 13.0.9 CD in the drive and installed that instead. The desktop has no issues with Absolute. Video playback and and Flash games function without problems. When dragged across the desktop, windows move smoothly.

Is this an issue with so-called "vesa" or "xorg"? I just saw them from googling but I don't really know what they do.

I appreciate your suggestions. I really want to give Salix another go at the desktop.

[thenktor]

My friend bought a notebook with this Ati chipset. I had the same problems you described. After spending hours of trying I've decided to return the notebook and buy one with intel graphics.
I don't know which driver version Absolute uses for this chipset, but be happy if it works

[zaen]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep Absolute there for the time being. It's also Slackware-based, anyway, and works fine.

[Duncan_Idaho]

to install the AMD/ATI driver you have to have the kernel sources isntalled, then run the script as root

Code: Select all

# sh ati-xxxxxxx.run --buildpkg Slackware/All

that will create 2 packages, one for the kernel module and other for the actual driver
then after you install both packages you have to run

Code: Select all

# aticonfig --initial

that will create a minimal xorg.conf file for the driver to work
then reboot and enjoy!

[zaen]

@Duncan, thanks for the tip. I will try that next time I install Salix in the desktop.

Is there a way to not show windows contents while dragging?

Seeing as I am here, might as well answer my own question for the benefit of fellow newbs. I found out just now that it's in Settings>Window Manager, Window Manager Tweaks.

[Akuna]

to install the AMD/ATI driver you have to have the kernel sources isntalled, then run the script as root

Code: Select all

# sh ati-xxxxxxx.run --buildpkg Slackware/All

that will create 2 packages, one for the kernel module and other for the actual driver
then after you install both packages you have to run

Code: Select all

# aticonfig --initial

that will create a minimal xorg.conf file for the driver to work
then reboot and enjoy!

Very nicely presented tip Duncan, would you like to add it to the wiki?
http://www.salixos.org/wiki/index.php/C ... umentation

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep Absolute there for the time being. It's also Slackware-based, anyway, and works fine.

Absolute uses a more recent kernel than Salix/Slackware standard one.

Apart from installing ati proprietary driver (which I also use BTW ) you could also try this kernel, maybe it would give you better results?
http://thenktor.dyndns.org/packages/i48 ... p-testing/
http://thenktor.dyndns.org/packages/i48 ... p-testing/

[thenktor]

Apart from installing ati proprietary driver (which I also use BTW ) you could also try this kernel, maybe it would give you better results?
http://thenktor.dyndns.org/packages/i48 ... p-testing/
http://thenktor.dyndns.org/packages/i48 ... p-testing/

Instead of my test kernel, now it's perhaps better to try the kernel from slackware-current.

[Duncan_Idaho]

Very nicely presented tip Duncan, would you like to add it to the wiki?
http://www.salixos.org/wiki/index.php/C ... umentation

Ok I will, but is there a gideline to follow? and how do I create a wiki page?

[gapan]

Ok I will, but is there a gideline to follow?

Write what you want to write. Just check how tags are used in a couple of already existing pages in the documentation section (usually right at the end of the page) and use them the same way for categorization.

how do I create a wiki page?

Just point your browser to a non-existing page:

Code: Select all

http://www.salixos.org/wiki/index.php/This is a new page

You can use spaces or underscores in the new URL, it's the same thing.

[Duncan_Idaho]

Instruccions done
http://www.salixos.org/wiki/index.php/H ... ATI_Driver