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Ubuntu 12.10 release performance poor in VirtualBox

Asked by s sander

Ubuntu 12.10 release version 32-bit performance is poor running under VirtualBox (Win7 host x64 8GB DRAM).
Visibly slower than 12.04 and 11.10 on the same hardware with identical virtual machine configurations.
Especially noticeable in GUI operations. I commonly use Ubuntu guests for production operations, but 12.10
is not currently usable for production uses. (I use also Ubuntu as primary OS on laptops, but this has discouraged
me from moving to 12.10 on laptops as well.)

True, I can use a lighter-weight window manager, but my key question is: why did it go from usable in 12.04 to unusable in 12.10 and what, if anything, can be done to fix that? Seems less than excellent to go thru the bumpy path from Gnome to Unity only to have Unity become unusable.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Which desktop are you using?

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s sander (ssander87) said : 		#2

If you mean what window manager/etc. - vanilla Ubuntu Unity

If you mean what hardware/OS - i3-530 dual core+HT 8GB DRAM Westmere
integrated gfx Windows 7 SP1 themes on/transparency off VirtualBox
4.2.2R81494 w/3GB memory for guest, 2 processors, 128MB video memory 3D
accel

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> Subject: Re: [Question #211818]: Ubuntu 12.10 release performance poor in VirtualBox
> Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 20:01:09 +0000
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> Your question #211818 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/211818
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> actionparsnip requested more information:
> Which desktop are you using?
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

I suggest you use LXDE or XFCE, it will give a more responsive OS. You should also disable the 3D stuff in the config of the virtual system before you power it on

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Craig Mason (craig-mason-stasismedia) said : 		#4

I must echo the comments from OP.

I have used Ubuntu as a guest inside of Virtualbox for many years. I use Windows as the host OS due to proper multi-monitor support and access to Adobe tools.

Gnome was always usable, and Unit 2D worked well. Unity 3D was somewhat slower/buggy, but passable.

However, Unity in 12.10 runs very poorly in a virtualised environment. I've had to switch to Gnome Classic to get a decent experience, which is a shame as Unity 2D ran perfectly. I now find myself fighting against the OS, which is the complete opposite of what I have come to expect.

My main machine specs are:

4GHz quad i7
16GB Ram
ATI 5970
x64 Windows 7 (x64 Ubuntu guest)

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Enzo (echimienti) said : 		#5

Same story here, am running from my job Win 7 machine 8GB RAM and ubuntu in virtualbox.
Same story, very slow and totally unusable ubunty, while 12.04 worked perfectly!
Same settings, same configuration!

What is this, I am not used this from ubuntu!
I have 2 other computers at home running ubuntu 12.04 and I will not upgrade them.

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Enzo (echimienti) said : 		#6

switched of 3D accelleration which didn't help.

Also the complete eclipse installation I had in 12.04 is overwritten by a clean new one, nothing is migrated so have to start over configuring all from scratch! That's not good!!!

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Alan Pope 🍺🐧🐱 🦄 (popey) said : 		#7

Upstream bug in VirtualBox..

https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/11107

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