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Linux guest slower than Win guest

Posted: 5. Feb 2014, 02:15
by pippopappo
Hi,
I'm a total novice about Virtual Box and Linux in general.

I have the follow Hardware/Software:
CPU = i5 4200M 2.5GHz 64bit
HD = 240GB SDD
RAM = 16GB
Host = Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit
VB = 4.3.6 r91406

Every guest machine has:
RAM = 4GB
HD = 25GB

At the beginning my first guest was Win 7 pro (with the guest additions) and it run very well, it works so good than when I switch to fullscreen I am not able to recognize if it is the host or the guest system.

After that I installed several Linux distros (all the Mint versions and the Ubuntu) but they don't run smoothly like the Win pro.
(I mean on Win a window open instantaneously, on Linux I have a small delay. Ok it is a small delay but on Win this not happen)

On the Linux-guests I installed the guest additions using this guide:
http://tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-195730 ... -mint.html
but with or without them I didn't see any differences

Now I don't know if the Windows-guest is faster than Linux and the gap on the linux-guest is normal or if the issue arise from the video driver or from the kernel or what else.
Maybe all Ubuntu (and derivated) distros to have this problem.

What do you think?
Is it ok?
Do I have to try another linux version or fix something?

Re: Linux guest slower than Win guest

Posted: 5. Feb 2014, 04:12
by Perryg
Run the following in the Linux guests terminal and post the results:

Code: Select all

glxinfo | grep OpenGL
Note: you may need to install mesa-utils.

Re: Linux guest slower than Win guest

Posted: 6. Feb 2014, 02:24
by pippopappo
Hi Perryg,
I have run that command on my linux machine and the result looks like some data are not present in the mesa table.

I have tried to install again the mesa-utils but they are already updated.

Re: Linux guest slower than Win guest

Posted: 6. Feb 2014, 03:05
by Perryg
That's fine. It tells me that you have the guest additions installed properly and are running on the accelerated guest additions drivers.

Now for the slight delay when opening apps. This more than likely is due to the window decorations used by compiz or what ever the Linux distro is using.
You can turn this off and the app will more than likely open instantaneously. Each distro has a different way of disabling the window decoration so I can tell you specifically where it is. This is what they call eye candy and it does have its drawbacks.

Note: in mint you can find this in the system settings => appearance -> effects. Ubuntu would be similar.