Slow Ubuntu guest ... videocard ???

[Arno]

Hi VirtualBox Users,

I tried VirtualBox on several configuration and OSes but I have a problem with this one
Host: Vista 64
Processor : i7 920
RAM: 6Go
HD: 500 Go (50% used)
Videocard: ATI HD 4850 (1Go memory)

Virtual Machine
Ubuntu 9.04
RAM: 1Go
Video memory: 128Mo
3D acceleration : Activated

Installation was normal (no errors)
Guest addition installed
Behaviour seems normal (maybe a little slow) until I choose to change visual effects settings.
When set to "Normal", Ubuntu slow down. Applications start with a large lag and run slowly. Menus sometimes get stucked ...
It seems to be a videocard compatibility problem but ... how to deal with that ?

[Perryg]

Try with 64 Meg of Vram. I have seen that this helps.

[Arno]

Thanks for the answer.
I will try and keep you informed ...

Edit: Changing virtual video memory size does not solve my problem ... another suggestion ?

[Arno]

Do you think that installation of ATI driver in my Ubuntu guest could change anything ?

[dmcgraw]

Do you think that installation of ATI driver in my Ubuntu guest could change anything ?

No, since it won't work.

[Arno]

So I have to consider that my problem come from a problem between virtualbox and the videocard !
Virtualbox does not seem to consider 3D capabilities of the videocard correctly ... or ... I miss something (an option maybe) that could enhanced the correct use if the videocard.

Any suggestion ?

Am I the only one using a ATI 4850 and Virtualbox ?

[Perryg]

Did you install the guest additions in safe mode?
Plus the Vram in VBox does not use the video card memory it uses RAM and you can get 3D Effects with as little as 12 Meg
The 3D effect function is still relatively new so it more than likely will not be as good as native, in fact I can promise it will not.

[Arno]

Hi Perryg,

No, I did not install the guest addition in safe mode ! Why did I have to do so ?

I tried several size of Vram without any improvement.

I do not need it to be as fast as native. I just need it to be usable.

[Perryg]

If you are using the newer versions of VBox (version 3.x.x) and want to get the benefits of 3D you must install that part in safe mode. It replaces a few files that Windows considers non-replaceable and will revert back the moment that you reboot if not installed in safe mode. It is in the VBox Users Manual if you want to read about it.

[Arno]

Oops, I missed this line ... I will read about that.
But ... you are talking about installing guest addition in my Ubuntu guest ?
Installation is done in the virtual machine isn't it ?
Do windows (the host) delete files in the virtual machine ? It seems strange ...
But anyway, I will read the Users manual and will come back later !
Thanks for the advises !

[Perryg]

Well your profile says that you are using win as guest. That is what I was going by. If you have these backwards then that will be a different animal.

[Arno]

Ok, I red the documentation.
In fact the point you describe in your previous post was for windows guest not for windows host.
I understand from the user manual that 3D acceleration may not be already tested and working for Ubuntu 9.04. Moreover, the fact that the host OS is Vista 64 should not help !

So finally, my solution for the moment seems to not use the 3D visual effects.

[Arno]

Ok ... I see ...
In fact that not my system I was talking about, but the description of the system is in my first post.

Maybe it will give you other ideas to solve my problem