Slow 3D graphics

[Tenderfoot_1200]

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Hi, total Linux Noob here. A week ago I posted a question in another forum but got zero replies, so trying again here.

Installed Ubuntu 8.10 ok, and also the suggested drivers for my ATI card, but the frame rate on Second Life is very slow, about 5 fps.. the same machine runs about 15 fps under Windows XP.

Also noticed if I try to play the GNU chess in 3d I get
No Python Open GL support
No Python GTKGLExt support
I have no idea what that means.

So far these are the only 3D things I have tried to run.

Any help greatly appreciated, even if it's to tell me to buy a different graphics card.

My graphics card is an ATI Technologies Inc RV516 [Radeon X1300/X1550 Series][

[elija]

For GNU Chess in 3D thing you need to install a couple of things so open up a terminal and type

sudo apt-get install python-gtkglext1 python-opengl <press enter and give your password when requested>

If you are more comfortable with a GUI you can use Synaptic to search for and install the same libraries. Accept any extra things it wants to install and once done you should be good to go. Personally I prefer the 2D view as it is easier to see what is going on when I get my arse kicked!

[devils casper]

Which driver are you using for Graphics Card right now? Execute this

grep -i driver /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Post output here.

[Tenderfoot_1200]

elija.... Thanks for that quick response. Did as you said and now have 3D chess working, I thought it may have some effect on Second Life, and maybe it has.. frame rates seem to vary for no obvious reason, so hard to tell, but still at times it's around 1 to 3 fps. Thank you for your help.

devils.... is this what you wanted?
Driver "fglrx"

[Tenderfoot_1200]

Please don't take this the wrong way, this is a serious question. Is it really so hard to get my system up and running with decent 3D graphics, as I mentioned, I'd even buy a new card if that is needed. It's been over a week now on this and another forum and still no nearer to an answer.

If you think I should just get off my arse and do some googling, well I have tried, but as a total noob I find it all quite difficult to understand.

As always, many thanks for any help.

[D-cat]

Your card is fine and you're running the correct video driver. Question, are you running the Compiz 3D desktop (cube)? That'll drain 3d resources from games.

Especially on older cards, I've noticed an OpenGL glitch that drops to software rendering at a manual resolution change or large resolutions. Try setting your resolution on the game window to 1024x768, saving it there, then exiting and restarting the game.

Another question, you are running the Linux viewer right? Running any Windows program via WINE is going to guarentee a performance hit.

Good luck!

[Tenderfoot_1200]

D-Cat... Thank you for your helpful reply. No, I'm not running Compiz (Thats the advanced desktop, right?) I have 'none' selected. I don't know what WINE is, but I'm running a linux version of Second Life under Ubuntu on my duel boot system.

I've tried to take frame rates from Windows and Ubunu but it's quite hard to do. For example under Windows I noticed reducing the 'quality' setting from mid to low within SL actually REDUCED the frame rate, until I closed SL and logged back in.

Under Ubunto I cant alter the screen resolution within SL because it straight away reverts to 1680-1024. I altered it using the ATI control panel to 1024-768 which increased the rate, but not as high as under Windows at 1024-768.

Overall I guess the frame rates are 1/3 to 1/2 slower under Ubuntu.
Maybe I just need a better card? Suggestions please?

Oh, as a p.s. all settings on the ATI control panel are set to 'performance'