1
System
- 2x Intel Xeon X5650 @2.67Ghz, 6 cores, 12 threads
- Nvidia Quadro 4000, 2GB GDDR5
- 24GB DDR3
- 240GB SSD
- Windows 10 Pro
Virtual Ubuntu (16.04, 64bit ) having great performance issues
Context
As you can see, I have a beast of a machine running under my table; Total of 12 cores and 24 threads, "decent" amount of RAM and ok GPU, should be more than enought to run any virtual machine without any issues. Wrong.
VirtualBox settings, test 1
- 1 core, accelerations enabled
- 2048Mb of memory
- 128Mb of gpu memory, 3d acceleration enabled
- User experience, very poor. Every desktop action lags very much.
- Watching even 720p videos is impossible.
- Response to typing is very slow.
VirtualBox settings, test 2
- 2 cores, accelerations enabled
- 2048Mb of memory
- 128Mb of gpu memory, 3d accelerations enabled
- The same as previous. Difference to previous very small if none.
VirtualBox settings, test 3
- 4 cores, accelerations enabled
- 4096Mb of memory
- 128Mb of gpu memory, 3d accelerations enabled
- The same as previous two. Difference to previous very small if none.
VirtualBox settings, test 4
- 1 core, no accelerations
- 1024Mb of memory
- 128Mb of gpu memory, 3d accelerations enabled
- The same as previous two. Difference to previous very small if none.
Toughts
It suprises me that dispiting all the different settings, the visible performance didn't change. Even with different screen resolutions. I have this setup running on my other computer (i7, 16gb ddr3, gtx 760@2gb gddr5) and it's smooth sailing all the way. Since that system setup is very different BUT less powerfull by any stats, I think it has to be something about support of my components, gpu or processors. At first I was pretty sure it was because of the gpu, but after the next chapter, I'm not so sure anymore. Keep reading!
Virtual Lubuntu (16.04, 64bit) working just fine
Context
After frustrating tests with Ubuntu, I decided to try Lubuntu, which is much lighter distro, but but basically the same as Ubuntu.
VirtualBox, test 1
- 1 core, accelerations enabled
- 1024Mb of memory
- 128Mb of gpu memory, 3d accelerations enabled
Everything works well, except for the full HD videos (or ones with higher resolution), have a little lag in them. Using the os itself, does work fine and without lagging.
VirtualBox settings, test 2
- 2 cores, accelerations enabled
- 2048Mb of memory
- 128Mb of gpu memory, 3d accelerations enabled
Not much different than previous.
The question
What is causing the poor performance of Ubuntu with my system? Is it CPU, GPU, both or something else? Any ideas?
try installing LXDE in your std ubuntu and logging into the resulting LXDE session instead of the default graphical session.
– quixotic – 2017-02-09T08:11:17.2502Looks like you know what are doing, but just in case, you know we all sometimes missing something regardless experience: Are
VT-x
, EPT are enabled in Ubuntu VM? Are you using guest additions that comes with Ubuntu or you updated it with Vbox you are using? 3-d AFAIK is experimental feature... – Alex – 2017-02-09T08:12:14.043@alex: exactly, we all tend to miss something. VT-x on and Paravirtualization Interface set to default. Also Nested Pagin is on, but could not find EPT you mentioned. Have not installed quest additions, but will now. Report back to you later. – Shamppi – 2017-02-09T08:29:51.870
@quixotic: Thanks for that advice. I'll try it after quest additions. – Shamppi – 2017-02-09T08:29:54.897
Forget about EPT if you turn on Nested pages, Intel called it as Extended Page Tables (EPT), and AMD called it as Nested Page Tables (NPT), so VBox should choose right way itself how to manage it – Alex – 2017-02-09T08:37:53.783
1@Alex, Thanks for the advice of installing guest additions - it worked and things are running as they should. – Shamppi – 2017-02-09T09:04:07.203
I will move then my comment to the answer so other may find it – Alex – 2017-02-09T09:06:58.763