UFO:AI very slow on Intel915

[p_michalczyk]

Hello,

I've compiled UFO:AI 2.3 from source without issues.

I try to run it on Intel 915GM graphic card, but it shows very poor performance (refreshing is extremely slow). I cannot get past 'loading' screen because it takes several minutes to finish. CPU usage during this long 'loading' goes to 100%. Logging to console stops on:

Code: [Select]

Shared Client/Server Info loaded
... 99 items parsed
... 32 damage types parsed
... 80 map definitions parsed
... 29 equipment definitions parsed
... 10 inventory definitions parsed
... 20 team definitions parsed
executing keys.cfg
music change to van_theme (from PsymongN3)
s_language has no value

My card supports direct rendering - this is info from glxinfo:

Code: [Select]

direct rendering: Yes
OpenGL vendor string: Tungsten Graphics, Inc
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) 915GM GEM 20090326 2009Q1 RC2 x86/MMX/SSE2
OpenGL version string: 1.4 Mesa 7.4

At the same time other OpenGL applications work smooth (including glxgears).

I tried changing AccelModel in xorg.conf from 'EAX' to 'UAX' and also "greedy" setting. I moved beetween different versions of 'intel' driver with no results. I used 'driconf' to set appropriate options as mentioned on this site - still no results.

At this point I'm starting to think that it is not hardware/driver problem but rather some in-game software settings. I tried to 'strace' running process, but all I get is many 'ioctl' calls involving /dev/dri/card0

I would like to debug this problem and get to know what is its source. Unfortunately I have insufficient knowledge in this topic, so somebody plese guide me.

[geever]

Hello,

I've compiled UFO:AI 2.3 from source without issues.

I try to run it on Intel 915GM graphic card, but it shows very poor performance (refreshing is extremely slow). I cannot get past 'loading' screen because it takes several minutes to finish. CPU usage during this long 'loading' goes to 100%. Logging to console stops on:
...

First of all Intel display adapters (I would not call them videocards ) were never meant for gaming, so poor performance is hardware problem.

About the hangup, try running the game with +set r_programs 0 +set snd_init_0 (disables GLSL shaders and soundsystem), a safemode is also available somehow....


-geever

[p_michalczyk]

First of all Intel display adapters (I would not call them videocards Smiley ) were never meant for gaming, so poor performance is hardware problem.

I cannot agree. I played successfully on this 'adapter' in "Operation Flashpoint", "Battelfield 1942" and other 3D FPS under Windows. I know that its performance is relatively low comparing to newest products, but is UFO:AI really such power demanding game? It's hard to believe.

I tried cvars r_programs and snd_init set to 0, but without change.

What do you mean by safemode?

[p_michalczyk]

Out of curiosity I've checked UFO:AI 2.3 on Windows on the same hardware and guess what? It works smoothly

Unfortunately I use Windows only occassionally and I won't be able to play. Still I don't know where does the problem come from on Linux. Maybe buggy intel driver? First of all I will upgrade to newest Kubuntu version and will report if I succeed in running this game.

[geever]

Out of curiosity I've checked UFO:AI 2.3 on Windows on the same hardware and guess what? It works smoothly

It's most probably the driver then, yes.

-geever

[p_michalczyk]

Yesterday I've upgraded Kubuntu on my machine to newest version (with newest xorg, libdrm and drivers). UFO:AI is working now as good as on Wiondows

Thanks for help. For anybody owning Intel 915: don't give up, just upgrade