Linux client hogs CPU resources = major lag

Hi,

I am having problems with both of the latest Linux clients (Normal and RC) Basically, when I minimise SL and once I maximise it again, SL consumes most of my CPU resources, lags like hell and causes all other running programs to lag. If I'm listening to music or watching Youtube, then that starts to make weird stuttering sounds. If I don't minimise SL, then it runs fine for awhile, but as soon as I maximise it again, the problem occurs. - I use my computer for work as well, so it's just not practical to keep SL maximised all the time.

System specification:

Operating system: Ubuntu 8.10 32-BIT
CPU: Intel Q6600
Graphics card: Nvidia 8800GT with the latest drivers
RAM: 3GB
Internet connection: 5-8mbit depending on the time of day

I find it so annoying that I can never use the Linux client without experiencing problems of some sort. It has been beta for ages now, I'm surprised it's not stable yet, surely it doesn't take THAT long to iron out the bugs?

If anyone could help, I'd appreciate it.

Cheers.

- Ex

Could you be more specific, please? Exactly which drivers are you using? The drivers in Ubuntu's Restricted Driver Manager? Envy? Mesa? Which version?

177.80 from Ubuntu's restricted driver manager.

Hmmmm....

This might be a long shot, but try stepping down to version 173. That's the driver I used on Hardy when version 169 was causing the viewer to randomly spike up my CPU usage and cause my wireless connection to get dropped.

My experience when I resize or minimize-and-maximize the Linux viewer window:
- SL framerate often drops from 20-30 to 4-5 FPS
- apparently other applications don't get impacted
- my workaround is going to virtual terminal (CTRL ALT F2) then going back to X (CTRL ALT F7 or F1, depending on your Linux distro). This fixes the framerate drop

This happens since I use Second Life, on different hardware and across various clients, Nvidia graphic cards and drivers.