This has been chatted about but thought there was no definite resolution. (Is there?)
I read this is a bug, is it?

Installed Cinnamon 17.3 all the latest ISO/updates etc on an Acer Aspire with an Intel video card. It boots in software rendering, rendering this wee little lappy soggy slow.
Here's the output of the famous INXI command:

aw@aw-AOD270 ~ $ inxi -F
System: Host: aw-AOD270 Kernel: 3.13.0-37-generic i686 (32 bit)
Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.6 Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine: System: Acer (portable) product: AOD270 v: V1.06
Mobo: Acer model: JE01_CT Bios: Insyde v: V1.06 date: 03/05/2012
CPU: Dual core Intel Atom N2600 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 512 KB
clock speeds: max: 1600 MHz 1: 600 MHz 2: 600 MHz 3: 600 MHz
4: 1600 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Atom Processor D2xxx/N2xxx Integrated Graphics Controller
Display Server: X.Org 1.15.1 drivers: (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1024x600@60.0hz
GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 3.4, 128 bits)
GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.1.3
Audio: Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.13.0-37-generic
Network: Card-1: Realtek RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
driver: r8169
IF: eth0 state: down mac: 03:7e:7c:81:9b:77
Card-2: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter
driver: bcma-pci-bridge
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: d0:19:85:8f:dd:df
Drives: HDD Total Size: 320.1GB (32.8% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD3200BPVT size: 320.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 292G used: 96G (35%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 2.13GB used: 0.04GB (2%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info: Processes: 164 Uptime: 2:48 Memory: 946.7/2004.6MB
Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.28

Is there actually a fix? Or do I have to wait for a newer version?

thanks for replying....

ABW101,

First, try changing from your current kernel (3.13.0-37) to 4.2.0.27

Menu > Applications > All > Update Manager > View > Linux kernels > select latest kernel 4.2.0.27 > Install.

Then reboot.

Software rendering problems often arise with using Cinnamon and, generally speaking, it is advisable to use MATE or Xfce.

There is no need to do a fresh installation.

In Terminal type (for MATE):

Then follow the instructions on this link:

http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-insta...namon-edition/

Alternatively, for Xfce:

Cinnamon requires a lot of "horsepower" to run well...

The Atom N2600 CPU features the infamous PowerVR SGX 545 video chip (relabeled by Intel to GMA3600, IIRC). There are no proper Linux drivers for this device, at best you will get some 2D acceleration, but no 3D or video acceleration. Sad, but this machine is best used with Windows.

Thanks all, I've gone to Mate and it seems to be in direct rendering mode, not software rendering. I am happy, but wonder why Mate can use Intel's video hardware but not Cinnamon? After all I assume the driver remains the same as well as the kernel! Anyhow............

ABW101,

I am glad that you appear to have fixed the problem with MATE.

Please mark this thread as solved using the Tools tab on your original post.

I was wondering the same thing. As best I can tell Mate and Cinnamon are actually using the same driver, it just that Mate makes it work less hard so it more acceptable.

As my first post here I don't want to offend anyone or appear to pedantic but it seems to me the post should be flag as something like [WORKAROUND] not [SOLVED] as the the current solution is a compromise. In my case as an old laptop with the offending hardware is being used as workbench display and my other dev systems all run Cinnamon I will put up with the slow performance so that all my tools are the same. If it was my primary machine I suspect I would change to Mate.

I had a look at the Intel supplied drivers but they date back to 2010 so I think trying to use them would be more trouble that is worth.