Possible regression with 2.6.0-test6

Possible regression with 2.6.0-test6

[Stephen Anthony]

I've noticed that test6 isn't as 'smooth' as test5.  Specifically, if I 
open an nedit window and use the cursor down key to scroll down through 
text, there is some jerkiness.  At this point I've noticed that CPU use 
goes to 1% or more.  A similar problem happens with Opera (web browser), 
but of course the CPU usage is higher, which is expected.

When I go back to test5, scrolling in nedit is smoother, and CPU never 
goes above 0.6%.  Note that the speed that text moves is the same in 
both, but the test6 version 'jumps' and 'stops' for a little bit.  Hence 
my describing it as jerky.

I know its not much to go on, but it is a noticable difference, at least 
to me.  Since this new release has tweaked interactivity patches, I'm 
wondering if this has anything to do with it.

System is a fully updated Mandrake 9.1, but I don't think that would 
matter.  CPU is P4-2.4GHz with 768 MB RAM, and NVidia video card.

Steve

Re: Possible regression with 2.6.0-test6

[Nick Piggin]

Stephen Anthony wrote:

>I've noticed that test6 isn't as 'smooth' as test5.  Specifically, if I 
>open an nedit window and use the cursor down key to scroll down through 
>text, there is some jerkiness.  At this point I've noticed that CPU use 
>goes to 1% or more.  A similar problem happens with Opera (web browser), 
>but of course the CPU usage is higher, which is expected.
>
>When I go back to test5, scrolling in nedit is smoother, and CPU never 
>goes above 0.6%.  Note that the speed that text moves is the same in 
>both, but the test6 version 'jumps' and 'stops' for a little bit.  Hence 
>my describing it as jerky.
>
>I know its not much to go on, but it is a noticable difference, at least 
>to me.  Since this new release has tweaked interactivity patches, I'm 
>wondering if this has anything to do with it.
>
>System is a fully updated Mandrake 9.1, but I don't think that would 
>matter.  CPU is P4-2.4GHz with 768 MB RAM, and NVidia video card.
>

Hi Stephen, the new CPU scheduler is likely to be the change. You need
to first make sure your X server is not reniced to -10 (should be at 0).

If that fails to help, then you could try my scheduler (with X at -10!)
http://www.kerneltrap.org/~npiggin/v15a/sched-rollup-v15a-260t6.gz

Re: Possible regression with 2.6.0-test6

[Joshua Kwan]

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On Mon, Sep 29, 2003 at 08:22:09AM -0230, Stephen Anthony wrote:
> Since this new release has tweaked interactivity patches, I'm 
> wondering if this has anything to do with it.

Yes. Con Kolivas' interactivity patches that have been merged into
mainline mean that if Mandrake's XFree86 runs at a negative nice value,
this will affect interactivity. Please set it to 0.

FWIW for others reading this thread, in Debian it is a matter of running
'dpkg-reconfigure xserver-common'.

(As I was writing this message I realized that Nick Piggin had already
answered, but because of the little Debian factoid I'm deciding to send
it anyway.)

-- 
Joshua Kwan

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