[SRU regression] Slight UI lag after updating to Unity 5.16

[Newfie]

I've been using Unity 5.14. Today, I saw that Unity 5.16 was available in the -proposed repository. It greatly improved my 3d, but I noticed that things such as typing, dragging windows, using scrollbars, etc, have a slight and noticeable delay. I've rebooted to rule out any version clash issues.

Reproduce:

1) Enable -proposed
2) Install the new Unity update (5.16)
3) Restart lightdm (sudo service lightdm restart) and log into a Unity session
4) Drag any window/scrollbar, highlight text, input text into a field, etc.
5) Notice that there's a delay between when you perform the action to when the action takes place (you can see the window/scrollbar trying to catch up to your cursor, for example)

Definitely related to the new Unity version, since I didn't have this issue until I applied this update. I haven't made any changes to anything graphics-related that would cause this to happen.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: unity 5.16.0-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-30.48-generic 3.2.27
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-30-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
.proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
.proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
.proc.driver.nvidia.version:
 NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86_64 Kernel Module 304.43 Sun Aug 19 20:14:03 PDT 2012
 GCC version: gcc version 4.6.3 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.3-1ubuntu5)
.proc.driver.nvidia.warnings.fbdev:
 Your system is not currently configured to drive a VGA console
 on the primary VGA device. The NVIDIA Linux graphics driver
 requires the use of a text-mode VGA console. Use of other console
 drivers including, but not limited to, vesafb, may result in
 corruption and stability problems, and is not supported.
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu13
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,decor,grid,regex,place,mousepoll,vpswitch,move,compiztoolbox,imgpng,resize,session,gnomecompat,animation,wall,unitymtgrabhandles,expo,workarounds,ezoom,fade,scale,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
CrashDB: unity
Date: Thu Sep 13 23:19:43 2012
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 NVIDIA Corporation GF116 [GeForce GTS 450] [10de:1245] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology Device [1458:3523]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
JockeyStatus:
 xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Disabled, In use)
 xorg:nvidia_current_updates - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard p7-1038
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-30-generic root=UUID=b615a0a8-be18-43c5-8395-6bc4c55719d3 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
XorgConf:
 Section "Device"
  Identifier "Default Device"
  Option "NoLogo" "True"
 EndSection
dmi.bios.date: 03/22/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 6.06
dmi.board.name: 2AB1
dmi.board.vendor: FOXCONN
dmi.board.version: 1.00
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: MXU12106NH
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr6.06:bd03/22/2011:svnHewlett-Packard:pnp7-1038:pvr:rvnFOXCONN:rn2AB1:rvr1.00:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct3:cvr:
dmi.product.name: p7-1038
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.8-0ubuntu1.4
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu36
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.32-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.3+8.0.2-0ubuntu3.2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.3+8.0.2-0ubuntu3.2
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu10.7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.0-0ubuntu1.2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20111219.aacbd629-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.19.0-0ubuntu1~xup1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build2

[Omer Akram (om26er)]

It could be you had a few configs changed in CCSM and the SRU pkg may not be that comfortable with those. You should make sure to run 'unity --reset' then see how things turn out to be after that.

[Newfie (mn-newfie)]

I've already attempted to restore defaults to make sure that it isn't something on my end (unity --reset, etc). Fixed nothing. I use a nearly stock Compiz configuration, so that also wasn't likely a problem.

Sadly, I don't have Precise installed on any other PCs at the moment; can't verify whether or not it's a hardware-specific issue.

[Bilal Akhtar (bilalakhtar)]

Bug #1052090 also reports performance regressions in Unity 5.16.0, so there is a chance that this issue is widespread.

[Newfie (mn-newfie)]

I don't think that these bugs are related at all. Plus, the person reporting Bug #1052090 is using Fglrx... that driver is known for weird graphical issues on some setups.

My issue is simply that there's a small delay as UI elements try to catch up with my cursor.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Eduardox123 (ebeduardox06-deactivatedaccount)]

This affect to me too

[Eduardox123 (ebeduardox06-deactivatedaccount)]

I have an ATI Radeon 4200 with free drivers, with the same problem when I upgraded to Unity 5.16

[Eduardox123 (ebeduardox06-deactivatedaccount)]

Y U NO WILL REPAIR THIS!

[Newfie (mn-newfie)]

Things like this tend to take a little time to resolve due to the release schedules. Keep an eye on the proposed repository for Unity 5.18 to come out. Hopefully by then things will work out :-)

In the meantime you can try using a different desktop environment. Not optimal, but Unity 2d, GNOME Shell, or GNOME Classic (No effects) aren't affected by this issue.

[Eduardox123 (ebeduardox06-deactivatedaccount)]

I don't know why the more important bugs like this never gets the attention of the developers

[Christopher Townsend (townsend)]

Removing this from the 7.3.3 milestone as it seems this only affects Unity on 12.04. Even that, I'm not sure if 12.04 is still affected, but will keep that task open for now.