Multiple Monitors Causing Slow Performance ?

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PublicLewdness
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Joined: 03/15/2020

I just got myself a second monitor for my Trisquel desktop last night and noticed that my system became really sluggish in general performance such as opening programs; menus; etc. As soon as I unplug either of the monitors it goes back to my normal speedy setup I am used to. I don't have a powerhouse GPU installed but expected better than this. Has anybody else encountered this kind of issue with Trisquel before ? To do a thourough test I should install a different distro on a spare drive and see if it happens there as well but I just wanted to get a general opinion while I take the time to do that. I also plan on upgrading the GPU to a GTX 780 but not for a few months.

The setup:

AMD FX-6100 | 16GB DDR3-1333 CL | EVGA GT 730 1GB | Mesa 20.0.8 | Mushkin Source SSD 120GB | Trisquel 9.0 | Mate 1.20.0 | Kernel 5.3.0-62-generic | Acer HA220Q @ 1920x1080 | HP E221i @ 1920*1080 @ 60hz

nadebula.1984
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Joined: 05/01/2018

GeForce 700 series are the last generation of ethically acceptable discrete graphics cards, with one exception. Some GTX750 cards are based on GM206, which, like any other 2nd-generation Maxwell architecture cards, require signed firmware.

Your current GT730 is too weak, even if it uses 64-bit GDDR5.

hwpplayer1
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Joined: 07/19/2015

Thanks for clarification

PublicLewdness
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Joined: 03/15/2020

I was thinking this may be the case. Well no worries, just means the plan for the GTX 780 will have to be accelerated. I only bought the GT730 as a placeholder card for cheap as I had no other GPUs that would work with Trisquel for the desktop and didn't have the money to drop on something good at the time.

Malsasa
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Joined: 12/01/2016

Hello xliang,

On 9/20/20, name at domain <name at domain> wrote:
> GeForce 700 series are the last generation of ethically acceptable discrete

Great thanks for this info! I always want to know everything about
freedom respecting Geforce.

> graphics cards, with one exception. Some GTX750 cards are based on GM206,
> which, like any other 2nd-generation Maxwell architecture cards, require
> signed firmware.

Where I can learn such knowledge as you know? Thanks.

PublicLewdness
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Joined: 03/15/2020

To see what hardware will work on FLOSS distros such as Trisquel I would recommend checking out H-Node.

https://h-node.org/home/index/en

It is a database of hardware that people can submit their experiences on different hardware.

Mr. P
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Joined: 03/25/2020

Hi!
Sometime connect my laptop (4Gb DDR3, 500Gb HDD) to other’s screen ( monitor 17”/19” with VGA, smart tv 32” with HDMI) and don’t have this problems. But my graphics card it’s a GeForce 710M. Do you have try to playing with setting monitor preference? Switch to low resolution, set primary screen, and try to save the changement. Trisquel can remember setting for all the screen you connect, if you tell it, but some changement need restarting desktop ambient or OS, to really work.If don't do it, Trisquel can do strange tricks :-), hidden name in App menu, slow reaction to input, ecc. I suggest you to try a type of setup (from best to bad), save it and restart the machine to see the changement.
If nothing change, is not a problem of "setting", and is not a problem of power... how Nebula say.
Is not possible, if the day before your machine work well, maybe Trisquel checking for update on this moment?? By default Trisquel checking at every start, if I remember well.
I hope for you, it’s a stupid thing like these ;-) if not, good luck and good work... :-)

PublicLewdness
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Joined: 03/15/2020

So one thing I did today, which I was planning on doing anyway, was to switch my new monitor from using VGA to HDMI. My secondary is using DVI. I have noticed better performance when on HDMI than on VGA for whatever reason. Still not perfect but more tolerable.

Mr. P
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Joined: 03/25/2020

Better of nothing... :-) I suppose HDMI is more fast of VGA and DVI. Also can be, the secondary screen don't good accept Libre software.
Do you have search in synaptic? For what I have understand, is like the graphic card working always at 110%, and go slowly for that (I believe). But work. So, have some type of permission, for do it. May be, need only the right software to configure it, or for replace the evil parts of proprietary software.
H-node is not very updated, but what have say you?

PublicLewdness
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Joined: 03/15/2020

I was thinking if maybe the new monitor wasn't somehow fully compatible with libre software but the fact it works fine on it's own without a second monitor makes me think otherwise. Same goes for the other monitor. H-Node could always be more up to date but it is a database updated by random people so it is only as up to date as we all allow it to be. I also don't know of a better option for checking to see if certain hardware is compatible with libre distros.

Mr. P
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Joined: 03/25/2020

<< I was thinking if maybe the new monitor was....etc.......Same goes for the other monitor. >>
Is it the srange... :-) With only one screen work well, with two go slowly.
Or:
1_your machine don't is so much powerful for supporting all. I can't know that.
2_your machine lost power in some type of precess. That maybe can be caused, because don't have installed the needed Libre software/firmware or another "part", for working fully with many monitors or with the monitor manager. Or similar things... To first, you need understand the real problem what is, power or permissions.
I aggre about h-node and other options don't know, but for that there are many compatible hardware's not in list.
Any way, what really say h-node about?? If don't write info or log, isn't easy try to help you :-)
Many users around there, speech better with log! ;-)

PublicLewdness
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Joined: 03/15/2020

So I found a good deal on Ebay for a GTX 760 and it arrived today. Installed it into my Trisquel desktop and it works flawlessly and the speed is normal with both monitors plugged in. I still plan to pick up a used GTX 780 Ti in April but this will let me play some games on my Trisquel system between now and then.