Extremely slow UV editing when using images...

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1

Usually Blender performs very nicely, even on my old laptop, with just about everything, even UV editing very complicated models without using an image.

However, as soon as I add even a small image like 128x128 JPG/TGA (doesn’t seem to matter which format) the UV window lags something shocking, even on low-poly models and it’s extremely frustrating. I’ve tried changing a bunch of settings in the Blender preferences but that doesn’t seem to fix this problem.

some relevant specs:-
Blender version: all of latest, 2.59-2.66.
Mobo: ASUS A7N8X-E
OS: WinXP Pro
CPU: AMD Athlon 2500+
RAM: 3GB
GPU: Radeon X1950 512MB with catalyst 7.3 drivers (can’t update)

A note about the drivers, I can’t really update them because of my unusual system using such a video card. Anything above Catalyst 7.3 simply won’t install for me. I’m not entirely sure exactly why, but I’ve lost a lot of hair trying to figure that out before.

Thanks in advance for any help!

2

bumpity
I’ve tried installing the Omega drivers and they work okay, but unfortunatey it didn’t fix my UV-with-images issue.
I’ve also tried setting the v-sync, texture quality and mipmap controls down to minimum in the GPU settings, but that didn’t have any noticable effect either.

I can unwrap a monkey head without using an image and scroll and zoom it nice and smooth, even for thousands of triangles of interior mapping, but as soon as I add a tiny little image to an unwrapped 12-triangle box, it becomes uncomfortably choppy.

Please, any help! :spin: :spin: :spin:

3

You can try to change the window draw methode in UPreferences > system.
Your system is really old, I can´t even work smooth with my cheap dual core laptop with intel graphics chip (400 Euro/3 years old).

Cheers, mib.

4

Thanks but what exactly should I be looking to change in system preferences? I think I’ve toggled just about everything in there.

And yeah, my system is old, but here’s the thing - the UV window (with images) operates smooth on my laptop which is even weaker than my desktop, it has half the RAM and no separate GPU.

Also, I seriously hope my old PC spec is not the reason I’m not getting much help here. That would indeed be very sad.

5

System > Window Draw Method
Try one of these settings, it is different on every system.
I use Triple Buffer.

Cheers, mib.

6

I’ve recently profiled the poor UV editor performance with large images and noticed a comment about how AMD cards can give bad performance in there.
I’d assume it’s a GPU driver issue, if you can’t work around it by updating the drivers (possibly the OS, as well), I can only suggest to get a different GPU.

7

But I’ve already said that my older little laptop which doesn’t actually have a separate GPU doesn’t have this problem, so it can’t be the right solution to simply say “buy a new PC”, I’m reading that around way too much. As if just throwing $1000s at the problem is the correct way to solve the problem. I’m working with Blender on in-game real-time content anyway, so even my laptop (just barely) will do.

I might also have worded it differently, instead of saying “AMD has a problem with Blender” it should read “Blender has a problem with AMD”?

Any other suggestions that aren’t “spend $1000s” will be very appreciated.

8

Hi, did you try System >

Window Draw Method
Try one of these settings, it is different on every system.
I use Triple Buffer.

The problem is we can´t reproduce the problem so help is difficult.
May you can get a different graphics card to eliminate problems with your card.
A friend use a GT 610 (30 Euro) and it is ok for blender (and is ten times faster than your CPU in Cycles).
If it not solve you problem get it back to the shop.

Cheers, mib.

9

Putting me down based on my PC specs is pretty backward, coming from someone who has recommended a PCI-E card for a motherboard that is PCI/AGP only. You might want to learn something about PCs first before recommending I “get it back to the shop”.

My question was about getting Blender to work decently on what I have to make do with already, mainly considering it doesn’t have this problem on a lesser system (my laptop), because not all of us can just grab at daddy’s credit card anytime we feel like it.

10

But I’ve already said that my older little laptop which doesn’t actually have a separate GPU doesn’t have this problem.

That’s completely irrelevant. If it’s a driver issue, it can make things run slower or even not work at all. You also completely leave out the part where I suggested to try updating your driver or operating system. I also never suggested to spend 1000$. It makes me really angry to be quoted as if I was some sort of elitist idiot, when I just replied to share my insight.

You might want to learn something about PCs first before recommending I “get it back to the shop”.

Well, I guess you can’t blame him for not caring enough to google your motherboard spec. The point is, you do not have to spend 1000$. And you have the nerve to tell him to learn about computers… Did I already mention how much your attitude pisses me off? Did you try his suggestion? No, of course not…
Get a different GPU (from a store, from ebay, from a friend…), preferrably not from AMD.

My question was about getting Blender to work decently on what I have to make do with already, mainly considering it doesn’t have this problem on a lesser system (my laptop), because not all of us can just grab at daddy’s credit card anytime we feel like it.

How’s this for an answer: It doesn’t work, deal with it. Feeling better?

EDIT: Ok, I’ve calmed down a bit. Here’s my interpretation: You probably have money problems and associated lack of self-worth, causing passive-aggressive behaviour. Nothing in our posts was condescending. Nobody is out to put you down. You are imagining these things. Read the posts again. They were helpful and polite. But when you read them, the only message that arrives seems to be “Get a new PC, your system sucks, loser!”. That’s why you are unable to address any of the other things we said. You simply didn’t perceive them. This behavior of yours is something you should be cautious of when dealing with people, especially online (where it’s harder to get a sentiment across).

11

Wow, lovely help. You’re having a bad day, I guess, that’s okay. We all have bad days, the difference is, we don’t all take it out on random strangers on the internet. :slight_smile:

I’ve already talked about updating drivers in my very first post, yet I’m guilty of not reading properly? Heheh. If “deal with it” or “buy a new PC” is the only help I can get here, it says more about people here than it ever could about me.

Not posting anything at all, or even “I don’t know, sorry” would have reflected on you much better. I know, it’s difficult. Thanks anyway, folks.

12

I’ve already talked about updating drivers in my very first post, yet I’m guilty of not reading properly?

Yes, you’ve talked about it, but I’m not convinced you’ve exhausted your options there. You also didn’t try a different OS such as linux. I know these aren’t necessarily things one would want to do, but I listed them any way, because these are your options if it is a driver issue, which, as it had to be repeatedly pointed out to you, has nothing to do with your laptop having “lesser” graphics. But the really important part is that I did not say you should get a new PC for 1000$, which is how you made it look. That’s what rightfully pissed me off. I didn’t suggest to get a new PC at all, I suggested to try a different GPU. For what it’s worth, you can get a new Blender-capable PC for 300$ or so. But again, I’m not suggesting that either.

Not posting anything at all, or even “I don’t know, sorry” would have reflected on you much better.

The reason I replied at all was that I happened to profile the UV code (because of bad drawing performance with large images) and I noticed a comment about AMD graphics giving very bad performance for certain operations, which presumably is being worked around. I also replied to point out to you that driver problems can cause your “better” GPU to behave worse than your laptop GPU (Something I’m still not sure has arrived at your end).
Now having said that, the reason the UV editor performs badly with large images is (among other reasons) that they are constantly being converted between color spaces (since a certain color management refactor). It might be that since your CPU is relatively slow, it affects you even on a very small image. To rule that out, you should try an older version of Blender (not sure which, maybe 2.60).

13

Sorry, never realize anybody use a AGP board today.
Last time I found an AGP card in my stock a few years ago I trow it to the trash can.

Cheers

14

Here’s my interpretation: You probably have money problems and associated lack of self-worth, causing passive-aggressive behaviour
Heheh, money equals self-worth? Not at all, I’m having a lovely day, surrounded by lovely people, and I get self-worth from viewing the world with optimism and appreciating these wonders of technology that I have. I feel priviledged to use these PCs and create models, UV layouts and textures for them, which I normally have no problem doing. I just wish Blender would behave slightly better and came here for a little help. If this is a Blender issue, enough said. I can only hope for a fix. No problem, that’s all anyone needed to say. Splashing money around on new PC parts doesn’t make someone a better 3D artist and certainly nowhere near a better “person”. I think we’ve established that.

What makes me feel “aggressive” (if one could call it that) is:-

Sorry, never realize anybody use a AGP board today.
Last time I found an AGP card in my stock a few years ago I trow it to the trash can.

Soooo cool, throwing PC parts in the trash can while others can barely afford to eat. Naaah, nuthin’ wrong wid dis wurld!

Nevermind, just let the thread sleep now. Goodnight nurse.

15

No. However, lack of money, being in a state of (relative) poverty can certainly cause a lack of self-worth.

Not at all, I’m having a lovely day, surrounded by lovely people, and I get self-worth from viewing the world with optimism and appreciating these wonders of technology that I have. I feel priviledged to use these PCs and create models, UV layouts and textures for them, which I normally have no problem doing.

Again, it’s just my interpretation. However, I still may be right. You may not even be conscious about it (or be too proud to admit it), but your behavior certainly speaks for itself.

I just wish Blender would behave slightly better and came here for a little help.

Which you have been given, but have ignored. You didn’t try any of the things that were suggested to you. You didn’t help investigating the problem. You’ve ignored everything that doesn’t fit your expectation of being belittled because of your outdated hardware and lack of financial means. Your way of information intake is completely distorted. You make yourself believe I must’ve had a bad day to react aggressively. I haven’t, it’s your behavior that caused this. Think about it.

If this is a Blender issue, enough said. I can only hope for a fix. No problem, that’s all anyone needed to say.

I wouldn’t call it a Blender issue per se. Programs aren’t obligated to support (or work around the issues of) outdated hardware, drivers or operating systems indefinitely. Again, try an older version, your problem might be related to the color management refactor.

Splashing money around on new PC parts doesn’t make someone a better 3D artist and certainly nowhere near a better “person”.

Indeed it doesn’t. Nobody has claimed so, yet you hint at if that had been the case, which is absolutely insulting.

What makes me feel “aggressive” (if one could call it that) is:-
Soooo cool, throwing PC parts in the trash can while others can barely afford to eat. Naaah, nuthin’ wrong wid dis wurld!

I get your point, but what are you realistically going to do? Find someone who will want such an old GPU? Throwing it in the trash will likely cause at least the metals to be recovered. Also, old processors are highly power-inefficient. Waste really goes both ways.

16

Zalamander, I thought you said you had calmed down? :slight_smile: You might lead people to believe I’ve hit a nerve.

I already said in my original post I had tried “2.59-2.66”, and I even tried 2.49. I have NO other issues with Blender, only sluggish UV editor. Okay, that’s MY problem, you’re right. The best thing would have been to ignore me, but you want to keep arguing while attempting to broadcast what issues I have in my personal life? Thanks to all your efforts, I don’t even need to make the counterpoint. Funny as hell.

but what are you realistically going to do?

Time to let it sleep. Relax and take it easy, pal.
(but noooo here he comes back to have the final word…)

17

Zalamander, I thought you said you had calmed down?

Of course, which is why I explain to you how I understand the situation. Otherwise, I’d be more inclined to just call you an idiot.

I already said in my original post I had tried “2.59-2.66”, and I even tried 2.49.

If the same issue is present in 2.49, that rules out the color management issue. Good to know!

The best thing would have been to ignore me, but you want to keep arguing while attempting to broadcast what issues I have in my personal life? Thanks to all your efforts, I don’t even need to make the counterpoint. Funny as hell.

I don’t think so. It allowed at least me to reflect on how this conversation went (and why). If you find no fault in your side, then that’s just how it’s going to be (no surprises there). However, other people will take issue with you as well and they probably won’t bother explaining (or even thinking about) why. It’s going to impair you in your (personal and professional) life. But you can also ignore it (you probably have to ignore it, due to cognitive dissonance). Also: It isn’t funny, it is sad. I sincerely(!) pity you. Otherwise, I’d just make fun of the situation by saying something like this:

Oh wait, now I did make fun of it! Not sure if that was funny :confused:

18

I just thought I should bump this thread and say now that 2.67a has been released, this issue has been resolved. The UV editor is now very smooth, even using up to 2048x2048 images, which for me is plenty for the time being. Luckily we have great and smart people working on the Blender code instead of the stinky likes of Zalamander with his grubby-diaper attitude…