diff -ur kvm-45.orig/qemu/sdl.c kvm-45/qemu/sdl.c
--- kvm-45.orig/qemu/sdl.c	2007-10-02 10:36:33.000000000 +0200
+++ kvm-45/qemu/sdl.c	2007-10-07 08:32:38.000000000 +0200
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@
 static int guest_cursor = 0;
 static int guest_x, guest_y;
 static SDL_Cursor *guest_sprite = 0;
+static int decimate_counter = 0;
+static int idle_counter = 0;
 
 static void sdl_update(DisplayState *ds, int x, int y, int w, int h)
 {
@@ -347,17 +349,24 @@
     vga_hw_update();
 }
 
+#define SDL_IDLE_THRESHOLD 10
+#define SDL_DECIMATE 3
+
 static void sdl_refresh(DisplayState *ds)
 {
     SDL_Event ev1, *ev = &ev1;
     int mod_state;
+    int was_idle = 1;
 
     if (last_vm_running != vm_running) {
         last_vm_running = vm_running;
         sdl_update_caption();
     }
 
-    vga_hw_update();
+    if (idle_counter < SDL_IDLE_THRESHOLD || decimate_counter == 0)
+ 	vga_hw_update();
+ 
+    decimate_counter = (decimate_counter + 1) % SDL_DECIMATE;
 
     while (SDL_PollEvent(ev)) {
         switch (ev->type) {
@@ -366,6 +375,7 @@
             break;
         case SDL_KEYDOWN:
         case SDL_KEYUP:
+	    was_idle = 0;
             if (ev->type == SDL_KEYDOWN) {
                 if (!alt_grab) {
                     mod_state = (SDL_GetModState() & gui_grab_code) ==
@@ -476,6 +486,7 @@
             }
             break;
         case SDL_MOUSEMOTION:
+	    was_idle = 0;
             if (gui_grab || kbd_mouse_is_absolute() ||
                 absolute_enabled) {
                 sdl_send_mouse_event(0);
@@ -483,6 +494,7 @@
             break;
         case SDL_MOUSEBUTTONDOWN:
         case SDL_MOUSEBUTTONUP:
+	    was_idle = 0;
             {
                 SDL_MouseButtonEvent *bev = &ev->button;
                 if (!gui_grab && !kbd_mouse_is_absolute()) {
@@ -515,6 +527,13 @@
             break;
         }
     }
+
+    if (was_idle) {
+	if (idle_counter < SDL_IDLE_THRESHOLD)
+	    idle_counter++;
+    } else {
+	idle_counter = 0;
+    }
 }
 
 static void sdl_fill(DisplayState *ds, int x, int y, int w, int h, uint32_t c)
@@ -627,6 +646,7 @@
     ds->dpy_fill = sdl_fill;
     ds->mouse_set = sdl_mouse_warp;
     ds->cursor_define = sdl_mouse_define;
+    ds->refresh_interval = 10;
 
     sdl_resize(ds, 640, 400);
     sdl_update_caption();
diff -ur kvm-45.orig/qemu/vl.c kvm-45/qemu/vl.c
--- kvm-45.orig/qemu/vl.c	2007-10-02 10:36:33.000000000 +0200
+++ kvm-45/qemu/vl.c	2007-10-07 08:34:01.000000000 +0200
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
 #define DEFAULT_RAM_SIZE 128
 #endif
 /* in ms */
-#define GUI_REFRESH_INTERVAL 30
+#define DEFAULT_GUI_REFRESH_INTERVAL 30
 
 /* Max number of USB devices that can be specified on the commandline.  */
 #define MAX_USB_CMDLINE 8
@@ -4918,6 +4918,7 @@
     ds->dpy_update = dumb_update;
     ds->dpy_resize = dumb_resize;
     ds->dpy_refresh = dumb_refresh;
+    ds->refresh_interval = DEFAULT_GUI_REFRESH_INTERVAL;
 }
 
 /***********************************************************/
@@ -6913,7 +6914,7 @@
 {
     DisplayState *ds = opaque;
     ds->dpy_refresh(ds);
-    qemu_mod_timer(ds->gui_timer, GUI_REFRESH_INTERVAL + qemu_get_clock(rt_clock));
+    qemu_mod_timer(ds->gui_timer, display_state.refresh_interval + qemu_get_clock(rt_clock));
 }
 
 struct vm_change_state_entry {
diff -ur kvm-45.orig/qemu/vl.h kvm-45/qemu/vl.h
--- kvm-45.orig/qemu/vl.h	2007-10-02 10:36:33.000000000 +0200
+++ kvm-45/qemu/vl.h	2007-10-07 08:33:36.000000000 +0200
@@ -970,6 +970,7 @@
     int height;
     void *opaque;
     QEMUTimer *gui_timer;
+    int refresh_interval;
 
     void (*dpy_update)(struct DisplayState *s, int x, int y, int w, int h);
     void (*dpy_resize)(struct DisplayState *s, int w, int h);