Crappy Laptop > Ubuntu MATE > Low framerate

RetroArch Linux devices
#1

Farting around on an old laptop. Decided to try RetroArch … I cant seem to get the refresh above 40ish. Well, i can in a window. A small window with go higher than a larger window. Really strange. Any ideas?

This is full screen with windowed off

IMG_3650
IMG_36501305×979 232 KB

#2

if it loses frames as the window gets larger, that typically means you don’t have hardware acceleration. If I had to guess, I would say it’s using a soft-GPU.

#3

Hmm. Any idea how to change that?

The system monitor says the GPU is Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset (CTG)

#4

what video driver are you using in RetroArch? Also, can you pastebin a verbose log?

#5

GL. I tried all the GLs and Vulkan. RA doesn’t start with anything other than GL

When i figure out how to do it in Linux. I suck at Linux, heh.

#6

easiest thing to do is launch from a command line like this:

retroarch --menu --verbose >> log.txt

#7

I’ll try that next … i did

First We’ll need to activate the Advanced Settings:

  1. Go to settings
  2. Enter at “User Interface”
  3. Activate “Show Advanced Settings” Next We’ll activate the logging option:
  4. Go to settings if you weren’t there
  5. Enter at “Logging”
  6. Activate “Log to File” 4.(optional) Customize Core & Frontend Logging Level & if you want timestamps or performance counters on your log
  7. Activate “Logging Verbosity”

but where does the log get saved? lol

#8
#9

That works, too. it goes into your ‘log’ directory. If there’s a default setting on Linux, it’s probably ~/.config/retroarch/logs or something like that.

#10

Pasted above :stuck_out_tongue:

Moar characters!

#11

Try running from a command line and see if making the window bigger makes the FPS drop:

vblank_mode=0 glxgears

#12

Same thing running retroarch from terminal. Running retroarch vblank_mode=0 glxgears doesn’t start anything.

#13

just run the above command, not with ‘retroarch’ in front of it. GLXGears is its own thing.

#14

Ahh, lol. The gears run at a much lower FPS with a bigger window. Also windows tear when moving around.

1 Like
#15

Tried Mint Cinnamon. Same deal :’(

#16

EDIT

I’ve had the 40 fps issue on my Chromebook with Intel Graphics before and it was an issue with the kernel (4.16 if I recall correctly). I found bug reports on this online.

On Ubuntu 20.04 I also encountered issues with kernel 5.8, which I fixed by installing and using kernel 5.4.

So in my experience you most likely have to try a different kernel and see which works best.

1 Like
#17

Probably because there is no driver for your graphics card in the kernel. First things first you should give full specs of the laptop.

2 Likes
#18

Thanks metchebe, i’ll look into that. Though im not sure i could figure out how to change the Kernel, lol.

[INFO] CPU Model Name: Pentium® Dual-Core CPU T4200 @ 2.00GHz

[INFO] Capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3

Intel doesn’t say what the iGPU is when i look it up but linux says the GPU is “Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset (CTG)”

Edit: GMA 4500MHD GPU?

#19

Tried a distro that comes with 5.4 and got the same results. Updated it to a newer version of 5.4 and… same. I’m just going to give up now :slight_smile:

#20

what is the model of the laptop, should be written in a sticker under. Then someone can find the full specs and check what is wrong.