xorg intel driver returns less than 3fps in glxspheres test

[RichardHDF]

After a fresh install of ubuntu 12.04 beta 1, I upgraded all my packages and proceeded to install bumblebee as I have an Nvidia Optimus equipped laptop. After installing bumblebee, I ran through the test to see if it works, and came upon this problem: for my intel graphics card the frame rate never exceeds 2.9 frames per second. The performance of glxspheres is extremely sluggish and Unity struggles when I have flash playing in the internet browser and I try to switch between windows. This is not normal, as my laptop is quite powerful (Intel Core i7 with 4GB of ram and the intel graphics card is an HD 3000 if I'm not mistaken). I was wondering if this might have anything to do with the RC6 that was enabled by default in the kernel included with beta 1.

I have subsequently removed bumblebee on my machine and ran glxspheres again. The problem still persists.

To reproduce this error on my system:

1. open terminal
2. run glxspheres for a few iterations

Unfortunately I did not test glxspheres before installing bumblebee the first time around, so I do not know if bumblebee maybe messed up an Intel graphics driver related setting in the installation process.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.17.0-1ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-18.28-generic 3.2.9
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-18-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 295.20 Mon Feb 6 21:07:30 PST 2012
 GCC version: gcc version 4.6.3 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.3-1ubuntu2)
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 1.94-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,vpswitch,snap,mousepoll,resize,place,move,wall,grid,regex,imgpng,session,gnomecompat,animation,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,workarounds,scale,expo,ezoom,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Tue Mar 6 19:11:13 2012
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: precise
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 bbswitch, 0.4.1, 3.2.0-18-generic, x86_64: installed
 nvidia-current, 295.20, 3.2.0-18-generic, x86_64: installed
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0116] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:5140]
 NVIDIA Corporation GF108 [GeForce GT 540M] [10de:0df4] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:5140]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120301)
MachineType: Mustek6376MST6376 W150HNM/W170HN
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_ZA:en
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_ZA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-18-generic root=UUID=977ae173-c481-499d-91f8-d55911b9f98a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-intel
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 02/11/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
dmi.bios.version: HR_2.1.0.128 X64
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: W150HNM/W170HN
dmi.board.vendor: Mustek6376MST6376
dmi.board.version: D03
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: Mustek6376MST6376
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLtd.:bvrHR_2.1.0.128X64:bd02/11/2011:svnMustek6376MST6376:pnW150HNM/W170HN:pvr0.1:rvnMustek6376MST6376:rnW150HNM/W170HN:rvrD03:cvnMustek6376MST6376:ct9:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: W150HNM/W170HN
dmi.product.version: 0.1
dmi.sys.vendor: Mustek6376MST6376
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.7.0~bzr2995-0ubuntu5
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.30-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 8.0.1-0ubuntu2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 8.0.1-0ubuntu2
version.nvidia-graphics-drivers: nvidia-graphics-drivers N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.11.4-0ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.99.901+git20120126-0ubuntu2
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 2:2.17.0-1ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20111201+b5534a1-1build2

[RichardHDF (richardhdf)]

In retrospect I think it might be a problem with glxspheres. I installed a opengl based game to see if the bad performance extends to that (Billard-GL), but the game performs fine.

Is there any way I can run some tests to see what the source of the problem is before I file the corrected bug report?

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi Richard,

Unfortunately we don't yet support bumblebee or hybrid gfx switching at all in Ubuntu.

If you can reproduce the issue with just -intel (i.e. turn off the nvidia card in BIOS) loaded, feel free to reopen. Otherwise, I'd suggest raising this with the bumblebee folks.

[RichardHDF (richardhdf)]

Hi Bryce,

I do not think this has anything to do with the NVidia card. There is unfortunately no option to turn the card off in the BIOS. The reason I believe it has nothing to do with the NVidia card, is because I recently had the same hardware setup running in Arch Linux, and the intel card tested fine on glxspheres. I am not experiencing issues with bumblebee.

Please do not mark the bug as invalid before you have taken the time to try and understand the issue. I know this is crunch time for the devs, because you want to meet the deadlines before 12.04 is released, but automatically shifting the blame to bumblebee doesn't count as squashing a bug.

The glxspheres was run against my intel card after I purged the bumblebee install from my system. Glxspheres reports an inferior frame rate as opposed to results I got on Arch Linux previously. It should be capped at 30 fps; I'm getting 2.9 max fps (note with bumblebee not even installed on my pc).

I would appreciate you reconsidering the status of this bug.

[bugbot (bugbot)]

We're closing this bug since there has not been a response from the original reporter. However, the issue still exists please feel free to reopen with the requested information. If you're not the original reporter, we'd prefer you file a new bug report.

Some tips:

  * Report X.org bugs via the command: `ubuntu-bug xorg`

  * Test against the latest development Ubuntu. http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/
    Bugs marked as affecting the development version tend to get priority attention.

  * The `xdiagnose` utility has functionality for enabling debugging and
    analyzing a few common X problems.

  * Tag your bugs with the Ubuntu versions you have reproduced the issue in.

  * See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Reporting for tips on writing good bug reports.

[Rocko (rockorequin)]

This looks like a duplicate of bug #944627.

It is most definitely a problem when just running the intel driver as well as when running the nvidia driver. However, the intel driver performs at least 20 times more slowly compared to Ubuntu 11.10 (on my PC right now it is running over a hundred times more slowly) whereas the nvidia driver only runs half as fast compared with 11.10.

Should bug #944627 be reported against the intel driver instead of against compiz? It has had absolutely no attention paid to it...