Linux @lemmy.ml Chewy @discuss.tchncs.de 11mo ago

KDE KWin Merge Request For Triple Buffering

invent.kde.org Draft: backends/drm: allow having two frames in flight ("triple buffering") (!4833) · Merge requests · Plasma / KWin · GitLab

When it takes more than one refresh cycle to render a frame, which isn't unheard of with weak integrated GPUs, KWin starts compositing immediately and we may or...

Phoronix: https://www.phoronix.com/news/KDE-KWin-Triple-Buffering-MR

Gnome also might add support for triple buffering (patch has existed for years): https://www.phoronix.com/news/GNOME-Triple-Buffering-Ready

3 comments

Errrm, could they please leave some memory to other processes? KDE already takes about 1.5GB of VRAM on my RX7600 8GB just running a desktop (dual head 4k + 1440p displays). Yes, things can get swapped out to main memory, but that becomes choppy. I'd rather run single buffered, get the odd screen tear, and have the VRAM back for real work.
- It says in the article that triple buffering only activates if your GPU struggles to render the desktop. That means old and weak iGPUs are getting this. For your desktop card nothing should change.
Nice. I keep forgetting to install it. Plasma is snappy as is