Low performance

[Powerpuffman]

I am experiencing a low frame-rate while playing under Linux compared to Windows. In Windows, I will have an almost-constant 60 FPS while in Linux it rarely gets higher than 30 FPS.
All graphics options are maxed out in both Windows and Linux. If I put all the options to low/minimum under Linux, I notice a small improvement (+0-10 fps).

Technical
OS: Ubuntu 10.10 x86_64
GFX: ATI Radeon HD 5870
Driver: Catalyst 11.01 - Latest from ati.com

Compiz is disabled.


oscar@oscar-ubuntu:~$ glxinfo | grep -i "opengl\|direct\|server\|client" && lspci | grep -i vga && uname -a
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: ATI
server glx version string: 1.4
server glx extensions:
client glx vendor string: ATI
client glx version string: 1.4
client glx extensions:
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
OpenGL version string: 4.1.10428 Compatibility Profile Context
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.10
OpenGL extensions:
GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex, GL_ARB_draw_indirect,
GL_EXT_copy_buffer, GL_EXT_copy_texture, GL_EXT_direct_state_access,
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress)
Linux oscar-ubuntu 2.6.35-24-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Thu Dec 2 02:41:37 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/LinuxConsole.log (http://tools.heroesofnewerth.com/view.php?key=e53d1a4f4148f33f&action=view)

Please let me know if you need any more information.

Thanks in advance!

[Naib]

Unfortunately there is a performance difference between the OGL renderer and the DX renderer
Same occurs in windows if you use the ogl renderer

[Powerpuffman]

Unfortunately there is a performance difference between the OGL renderer and the DX renderer
Same occurs in windows if you use the ogl renderer
EDIT: I just tried launching HoN with OGL under Windows using the following in Target...

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Heroes of Newerth\hon.exe" -vid vid_gl2
I verified that HoN was using OpenGL by checking the console (ctrl+F8).
Then I entered a game and my framerate was at a comfortable 70-90 FPS.

What could cause the linux client to perform so much worse than the Windows, even when using the same renderer?

[Naib]

mtrr with resisdual uncachable entries possibly

cat /proc/mtrr

[Powerpuffman]

reg00: base=0x000000000 ( 0MB), size= 4096MB, count=1: write-back
reg01: base=0x0e0000000 ( 3584MB), size= 512MB, count=1: uncachable
reg03: base=0x100000000 ( 4096MB), size= 1024MB, count=1: write-back
reg04: base=0x130000000 ( 4864MB), size= 256MB, count=1: uncachable

It seems you are right.
I have no idea what it means and how to fix it though :p

[Naib]

Well having uncachable entries isn't an issue.
it is ONLY an issue if the other entries do not equal your RAM (I tak it you have 4gig there) and yr VRAM.

how much ram and vram do you have

[Powerpuffman]

Oh, I see.
I have 4GB RAM and 1GB VRAM.

[Naib]

ok so it isnt about caching
any mods?

[Powerpuffman]

No mods, vanilla install.

[Naib]

I would like to put this downto the ati drivers because tbf they are quite crap but I wonder if some tuning can be done

might be worth firing hon in a second xserver

[Powerpuffman]

For future reference, my solution to this problem was simple; Play HoN under Wine. Or Windows. Or buy an nVidia card.

[Naib]

nvidia really is the best solution, has been for over a decade (ati has never really been a serious solution)

I am actually trying to finish my HoNtoo (HoN onna stick) it might be worth you trying with that when I get it built

[Powerpuffman]

HoN on a stick sounds cool :D

I managed to find the cause and solution to my original problem:
Disable multi-desktop in Catalyst Control Panel. Multi-desktop adds together all the monitors resolutions and make one big desktop out of it.
The other alternative is single-desktop in which every screen gets its own desktop. The drawback to this is you can't drag windows between monitors, unless you enable Xinerama.

[Naib]

look into randx, its the only real viable option for multi-desktop with ati. There drivers are a POS