quietmint

If you use Ubuntu on a computer with an ATI graphics card, you may be disappointed (to say the least) with the video quality. While the quality can be improved by visiting Settings > Preferences > Video > Output Modules and choosing the XVideo output module, this seems to simply switch one problem (blocky picture) for another (flickering). The problem is that the ATI graphics driver for Linux, fglrx, does not get along with Ububtu’s 3D desktop effects manager, Compiz Fusion. Both programs fight for control over the display, resuling in flickering as one redraws overtop the other. The “solution” is to use to disable Compiz Fusion while playing videos. You can “wrap” the vlc executable around the following shell script which will automatically disable and re-enable Compiz Fusion as necessary. (The same script can also be wrapped around any other problematic application.) Continue reading