Ubuntu 12.04/12.10 OpenGL games fullscreen slow

Question

OpenGL games running in Ubuntu 12.04 and Ubuntu 12.10 in fullscreen mode very slow. FPS is very low (it lags). When I switch in the game settings in Windows Mode (same resolution 1680*1050) the game runs perfectly.

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
Driver: NVIDIA 304.48 (I now use a beta driver, but in the older drivers the games are slower.)

Answer 1

If you change your native screen resolution to whatever your window size was, fullscreen will/should be as performant as windowed.

to clarify, game running at 1680x1050 windowed and fullscreen means your native resolution >= 1680x1050 ... probably

If some random openGL app has to render a viewport, then scale it...performance is going to suffer.

Answer 2

Maybe trying the nvidia 310 driver could be an option? Many have reported success with the recommended driver in additional drivers. Others have reported making sure compositing is enabled in ccsm helps fps. Have you tried launching game from terminal after closing all other apps/programs in desktop session? Maybe helpful. Do not use the games you are myself but thought i would try to share some of the pointers that have helped me in getting closer to use my games. Running a game in windowed mode and pressing alt+enter (menu screen) should give you fullscreen at native resolutiion. Switching between open apps/desktop and back to game using alt+tab may help to get the alt+space to work!

Answer 3

Enable Unredirect Fullscreen Windows in CompizConfig Settings Manager:

http://www.ubuntuvibes.com/2012/10/how-to-improve-gaming-performance-in.html

In my opinion it should be enabled by default.