Consistency / Reliability (H:Win7/64 G:Ubuntu9.10/64)

[ipig]

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Host: Win7 64bit Pro / Fairly fresh install / < 2w old
Guest: Ubuntu 9.10 64bit (ubuntu-9.10-desktop-amd64.iso)
CPU: Intel Q9550
RAM: 4GB
System: Dell Vostro 420
Vid: ATI Radeon HD 3450

Re: 3.1.4_BETA2 r57282 & 3.1.2

I hacked away yesterday using 3.1.2 for several hours trying to get consistent behavior when setting > 1 CPU

No matter what all i got was (often notable) sluggish performance. (& high host CPU usage)

Later on i noticed the sluggish performance was consist even upon creating entirely new profile(s) & booting the installs of: 64bit (9.10), 32bit (9.10) & even 64bit (8.04) (Ubuntu) (via ISO) - This lead me to target VBox itself.

I then went and installed 3.1.4_BETA2 r57282 / & bam @ 2 or 4 cpu's (ie > 1) worked like a charm. Was running great. "Finally"

Well ~12 hours (overnight ZzZ) a host/re-boot or two & a couple Vbox restarts later.. back to square one. wtf??? *bangs head*

On both (Vbox) versions i've tried shutting off: Sound, USB, 3d.
Also changing allocation of Sys & Vid RAM. etc. think i've tried everything.

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[ipig]

Ok, mostly good news.

Long story short: Disabling ACPI in the downgraded 3.0.12 r54655 appears to have fixed my problem.

Long story: I downgraded & initially the sluggish issue > 1 cpu was the same. Including when booting up a fresh 9.10/64 ISO install.

(side note: - when the sluggish problem is happening it's obvious right away, on an install or boot up of an existing installation.)

I disabled ACPI on a 9.10/64 ISO install & noticed it ran quicker so I then disabled ACPI on my (still/prior) existing 9.10/64 installation.

Set it to 2 CPUs. Ran well.

I then set it to 3 CPUs.. it wasn't of the sluggish performance that its been having but this version of vbox might not be a huge fan of the 3 cpu setting.

- I had an odd IO APIC panic crash/msg from Ubuntu (only one time) when initially setting 4 cpu.

I've re-booted the Host OS (Win7) several times and flipped between 2-4 cpu (settings) & decent performance appears consistent. Also consistent is the sluggish performance every time i re-enable ACPI. (went back & forth several times)

I think i'm going to do another re-install of 9.10/64 because this particular one has taken quite a beating.