Unity runs slow, how can I improve its performance?

Question

I like how Unity looks but I have 2 problems:

1. Unity 3D
   When I login with Unity 3D, my pc becomes slower, I got an AMD II X3 with 2GB of RAM, Nvidia Gforce 6150SE nForce 430/PCI/SSE2 integrated.
   When I try to open the dash, take a lot of time to open, most often takes up to 5 seconds and while its opening remains fuzzy and unreacted, even the apps or folders take the same time to open and the same reaction.

2. Unity 2D When I login with Unity 2D my pc goes more faster, the only problem is that i cant configure Unity as I want, I try to configure the Unity plugin in CCSM.
   For eg: I changed "hide Launcher" to: Never. It does not save changes, even when I restart my computer.

I don't know if the problem is with Unity 3D or with my pc.

Solution 1

In CCSM, go into the options for Ubuntu Unity Plugin and in the tab Experimental, change option Dash Blur from "Active Blur" to "Static Blur" or "No Blur".

You can also go into option Composite and disable "Detect Refresh Rate" and increase option Refresh Rate to over 60.

To increase performance further, you have to have Nvidia's propietary drivers installed (make sure you are using the latest version). Go into NVIDIA X Server Settings and in Open GL Settings Change "Image Settings" to "High Performance".

Remember these options will only apply with *Unity 3D*

Solution 2

You cannot ust CCSM to configure the Unity-2D since it is not using compiz to show Unity. You have to use dconf-editor or you can use this tool :

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/04/ubuntu-unity-2d-tweaking-tool-lets-you-adjust-the-launcher-dash-enable-compositing/

Hope this helps.

Luis Da Costa

Comments

[Cesar Gomez]

Sorry is Nvidia Gforce 6150SE nForce 430/PCI/SSE2

[fixedit]

Your English is good, I think I understood what you were trying to say.

[Luis Alvarado]

I think this question should be updated for 12.10+ and checked to see if the answers still apply.

[Cesar Gomez]

Tks for ur answer. already try this method and doesnt work, i cant edit anything with CCSM

[Cesar Gomez]

Tks for ur answer i will try and tell u

[Cesar Gomez]

Tks again, i with try 2D-Unity-settings and works good, i can configure it in my 2D performance, now how can i configure desktop effects? its not posible in unity 2D, i'm trying with CCSM but nothing.

[aliasbody]

I don't think you can configure de desktop effect (but I can be wrong), since, like I said earlier Unity-2D do not use Compiz so when using Unity-2D CCSM is useless... you only have 2 solutions : 1 - The software that I show you in my post. 2 - The gconf/dconf settings (but I can't really help with that since I am not using Unity-2D ... sorry :S)

[angebouabre]

Changing the Dash blush even to None had significant improvements on my machine.

[Cesar Gomez]

thanks but still same, can you write the steps that you use to install nvidia-96, you did using synaptic?

[Cesar Gomez]

Thanks i follow all ur steps but as Emil Ivanov even dont had significant improvements on my machine too :( even i got one more problem u can see right here "picasaweb.google.com/107400471364555567604/…" as u can see the icons are incomplete, can u help me with this?

[Markus Eisele]

try restart unity. Run command: "unity --replace"

[martu]

just used "additional drivers"