I have a Nvidia GEforce 8400 GS card, and the drivers from the Nvidia repository. When I try to enable Desktop Effects, I’m told that “Desktop effects are not supported on your current hardware / configuration.” Clicking no, something starts using up 90-100% CPU, I can’t tell what the rogue process is, top only shows the gconf daemon using 10-11% CPU. I have to log off to end it.
What’s up with the card not being supported? I can’t find a list, but I’m sure this is new enough to be included.
Is there a way other than top to trace the rogue application? I’ve never seen anything like this before, top has always been reliable.
The desktop effects message comes from the Desktop Effects dialog. Clicking no, the CPU and thermal meters in gkrellm jump, although top doesn’t show anything but the gconf daemon using 10-11% CPU. Killing gconfd doesn’t end the surge, only logging off will do this.
Something else, from time to time the display reverts to a lower res in a new session, and I can’t change this in the NVIDIA settings. 1024x768 is the highest available. Logging off and back on restores the higher res.