In this article, we will guide you through the process of enabling tear-free in Xubuntu with Intel Graphics Driver. This is particularly useful if you’re experiencing screen tearing issues when watching videos or playing games. The steps provided are specifically for Xubuntu 13.10 and Intel 945GM graphics driver.
To enable tear-free in Xubuntu with Intel Graphics Driver, you need to create a configuration file and add the necessary details to enable the TearFree option. This can significantly improve your visual experience, especially if you’re experiencing screen tearing issues.
Understanding Screen Tearing
Screen tearing is a visual artifact in video display where a display device shows information from multiple frames in a single screen draw. This can be quite annoying, especially when you’re watching a video or playing a game. The good news is that it can be fixed by enabling the TearFree option for the Intel Graphics Driver.
Enabling TearFree
Step 1: Create a Directory
First, open a terminal and create the directory /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ by running the command:
sudo mkdir /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/The mkdir command is used to create a directory. The -p option creates intermediate directories as necessary. If these directories exist, no error is specified. The sudo command is used to run the command as the superuser.
Step 2: Create a Configuration File
Next, create a configuration file named 20-intel.conf in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ directory by running the command:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.confThis command opens the nano text editor, a simple, user-friendly text editor in the terminal. The sudo command is used to run the command as the superuser.
Step 3: Add Configuration Details
In the nano text editor, add the following lines to the 20-intel.conf file:
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "AccelMethod" "sna"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSectionThese lines specify the device, driver, and enable the TearFree option. The Identifier and Driver options are self-explanatory. The AccelMethod option is used to specify the acceleration method, and sna stands for Sandybridge’s New Acceleration. The TearFree option is used to enable or disable tear-free updates.
Step 4: Save and Exit
Save the file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, and finally Enter to confirm the filename.
Step 5: Restart Your System
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Verifying the Changes
After following these steps, tear-free should be enabled for your Intel 945GM graphics driver. You can verify this by checking the Xorg log file with the command:
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.logThe cat command is used to concatenate and display file content. If tear-free is enabled, you should see a line similar to:
[ 1718.525] (**) intel(0): "Tear free" enabledTroubleshooting
If you have previously created an /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, it may interfere with the Intel device settings. You can remove or rename it as a backup by running the command:
sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backThe mv command is used to move or rename files and directories. The sudo command is used to run the command as the superuser.
If you still experience tearing issues, you can try using the compton compositor as suggested by some users. You can install compton by running the command:
sudo apt-get install comptonAfter installation, you can configure compton to reduce tearing by editing its configuration file located at ~/.config/compton.conf or /etc/xdg/compton.conf.
In conclusion, enabling TearFree in Xubuntu with Intel Graphics Driver can significantly improve your visual experience, especially if you’re experiencing screen tearing issues. The steps provided in this article are straightforward and can be easily followed. However, if you encounter any problems, feel free to ask for help in the comments section below.
Xubuntu is a flavor of Ubuntu that uses the Xfce desktop environment, which is known for its lightweight and efficient performance.
Screen tearing is a visual artifact where the display shows parts of multiple frames at once, resulting in a torn appearance on the screen.
Screen tearing occurs when the display device and the graphics card are not in sync, causing frames to be displayed out of order.
The TearFree option is a setting in the Intel Graphics Driver that helps eliminate screen tearing by synchronizing the display updates.
The steps provided in this article are specifically for Xubuntu 13.10 with the Intel 945GM graphics driver. However, you can try similar steps for other versions of Xubuntu or different Intel graphics drivers.
You can check if TearFree is enabled by viewing the Xorg log file with the command cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log and looking for a line that says "Tear free enabled".
If you have an existing xorg.conf file, you can move or rename it as a backup by running the command sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.back.
If you still experience screen tearing, you can try using the compton compositor as suggested by some users. You can install compton with the command sudo apt-get install compton and configure it to reduce tearing.
If you encounter any problems or need further assistance, you can ask for help in the comments section below the article.
