Compiz high cpu usage

[Ahmed Toulan]

Compiz has very high cpu usage and caused my machine to heat up.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: compiz 1:0.9.8.4-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-17.27-generic 3.5.5
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,decor,compiztoolbox,place,snap,grid,vpswitch,resize,gnomecompat,regex,move,imgpng,mousepoll,unitymtgrabhandles,session,wall,animation,workarounds,fade,expo,scale,ezoom,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Tue Oct 9 16:19:20 2012
DistUpgraded: 2012-10-08 20:57:17,008 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: quantal
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 fglrx, 9.000, 3.2.0-31-generic, x86_64: installedError! Could not locate dkms.conf file.
 File: does not exist.

 fglrx, 9.000, 3.5.0-17-generic, x86_64: installed
GraphicsCard:
 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI Manhattan [Mobility Radeon HD 5400 Series] [1002:68e0] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0447]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100429)
JockeyStatus:
 kmod:wl - Broadcom STA wireless driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use) [auto-install]
 kmod:fglrx - ATI Fire GL (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
 kmod:fglrx_updates - Video driver for the AMD graphics accelerators (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron N5010
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-17-generic root=UUID=ae45dde5-b292-4266-9ad9-1beac0137139 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: compiz
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to quantal on 2012-10-08 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 04/21/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A13
dmi.board.name: 03C6YH
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A13
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: A13
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA13:bd04/21/2011:svnDellInc.:pnInspironN5010:pvrA13:rvnDellInc.:rn03C6YH:rvrA13:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrA13:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron N5010
dmi.product.version: A13
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.8.4-0ubuntu1
version.fglrx-installer: fglrx-installer N/A
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.39-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.0~git20121004.b2048c5e-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.0~git20121004.b2048c5e-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.3-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.20.9-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.2-0ubuntu3

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Please download the attached script to your home directory. Now while compiz is using high CPU, please run this command several times:
  sh dstack compiz >> stacks.txt

And then attach the file "stacks.txt" to this bug.

[Ahmed Toulan (thelinuxer)]

Please find stacks file attached.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thanks. Though there's only one usable stack in that lot. Could you please run the command many times so we can get more data?

Also,
  1. Do you have panel transparency enabled? If so, then the problem could be bug 1064834.
  2. Do you have any non-standard indicators that might redraw frequently? Is your clock set to show seconds?

[Ahmed Toulan (thelinuxer)]

Please find attached a new stacks file.

1. Panel opacity is set to 0.6600. The left side launcher opacity is set to 0.3600 and I confirm the CPU jump up when dash interface is opened. (I got these values from ccsm -> Ubuntu unity plugin)
2. I have two non-standard indicators, indicator-multiload and indicator-prayer-times. My clock doesn't show seconds.

Thanks.

[Ahmed Toulan (thelinuxer)]

I have to add that indicator-parayer-times doesn't refresh at all, it's just a simple icon to access the applications menu.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

OK, it's probably bug 1064834. You might be able to work around it by setting your panel opacity to 1.0

Even if the non-standard indicators are not changing visually, they may contain bugs which trigger redraws too often.

To confirm all of this, please try:
  1. Log out. And make sure no one else is left logged in either.
  2. Log in to a Guest session.
  3. Is the bug present in the guest session?

[Ahmed Toulan (thelinuxer)]

Since I don't have a guest session, I created a new user. Then ran htop in the new session and compiz almost had 0% CPU usage.

[Ahmed Toulan (thelinuxer)]

Please find a new stacks file attached.

This time I removed the non-standard indicators I told you about before, and the laptop was locked. When I unlocked it I found compiz taking 40% CPU and the laptop temperature was above 80 degrees.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Oh... your screen was locked and you're using fglrx. That's bug 969860 then.