Performance issue(Host: Windows 8.1, guest Ubuntu 14.04)

[kozeljko]

Hi everyone!

I recently found out that I need Ubuntu for my classes in University, so I tried setting up a virtual box on my school laptop.

The installation seems to be fine, but the performance is downright horrible. I'm not sure if it's the settings, a bug or just my computer being too weak.

I have an i7 4510U CPU(2 cores; 4 threads), with 4GBs of RAM and a 64bit Windows 8.1 OS.

If I launch the System monitor(inside of Ubuntu) and look at the resources, the CPU usage goes to 100% every time I launch an application or use search on the Ubuntu Home button.
Tried adding 2 threads to the VirtualMachine, same issue. I dedicated about 1,5GB of RAM to the VirtualMachine, but it never goes over 50% usage, so I don't think that's the problem.

I have installed Guest Additions, VT-x is enabled in both the Motherboard and VirtualBox settings. Tried it with and without Nested Paging, same issue.
Installed both 32-bit and 64-bit Ubuntu OSes in VB, same.

Is there any other possible fix, someone may suggest? If it's the hardware, I guess I'll have to install Ubuntu as dual boot, but that's far from optimal to me.

Thanks for taking your time and reading through

[Perryg]

Make sure that you have installed the guest additions ( in the guest ) or it will be really slow because of the software rendering of graphics including the higher than normal CPU use due to the same issue.

[kozeljko]

Make sure that you have installed the guest additions ( in the guest ) or it will be really slow because of the software rendering of graphics including the higher than normal CPU use due to the same issue.

Pretty sure I did, but just in case, is there any way of checking this?

[socratis]

Do a listing for the guest additions:

ls -dl /opt/VBox*
drwxr-xr-x 9 root root 4096 Mar  17 03:26 /opt/VBoxGuestAdditions-4.3.26

But the most important part is whether they installed correctly. Follow the instructions from Ch. 4.2.2. Guest Additions for Linux and install them again. No harm can be done from re-installing them.

[kozeljko]

Do a listing for the guest additions:

ls -dl /opt/VBox*
drwxr-xr-x 9 root root 4096 Mar  17 03:26 /opt/VBoxGuestAdditions-4.3.26

But the most important part is whether they installed correctly. Follow the instructions from Ch. 4.2.2. Guest Additions for Linux and install them again. No harm can be done from re-installing them.

Did it, same issue.

Make sure that you have installed the guest additions ( in the guest ) or it will be really slow because of the software rendering of graphics including the higher than normal CPU use due to the same issue.

Still got the issue, but I believe the problem really lies with the graphics. Looking at the process, a process called "compiz" is causing the issue, which is the GUI handler, I believe?

Just wondering, do VBs need drivers(for Intel graphics or AMD ones)?

[socratis]

do VBs need drivers(for Intel graphics or AMD ones)?

No, because VMs do not have an Intel or AMD graphics card. They have a virtual graphics card, and the drivers (no matter if they are at their best or not) are already provided in the GAs. If it doesn't work fast enough for you, I see dual-boot in your future...

[kozeljko]

do VBs need drivers(for Intel graphics or AMD ones)?

No, because VMs do not have an Intel or AMD graphics card. They have a virtual graphics card, and the drivers (no matter if they are at their best or not) are already provided in the GAs. If it doesn't work fast enough for you, I see dual-boot in your future...

Fixed the issue with compiz, by tweaking some settings in OpenGL(after I installed compiz-settings-manager). Works decently now. Thanks for the help

[socratis]

Would you mind sharing what settings you changed so future users can benefit from you findings?

[Perryg]

If you want to verify that you are actually using 3D acceleration just run the following in the guests terminal and see if chromium is listed and not gallium.

Code: Select all

glxinfo | grep OpenGL

You do need to have mesa-utils installed for that to report properly.

[loukingjr]

I'd be curious about the settings as well. I installed Ubuntu 14.0.4 on my new Windows 8.1 box and it didn't seem particularly slow with 3D enabled. It's a little slower than it is installed on my desktop but the CPU is nearly a third as fast.

[kozeljko]

I followed a guide, but I can't link it.

Set the "Texture filter" to FAST and turned "Sync to VBlank" OFF.

Disclaimer: even in the guide people got different results. For some it was worse, some better