Picom takes +20% of CPU

Issues & Assistance i3wm
1

Hey folks, today I noticed that picom is taking about 15-25% (around 17% as of writing this) of cpu even when the pc is idle and nothing is open except htop.

I’ve searched around and all reports of picom taking too much cpu are cases of near 100% usage, in my cases its around 20% which isnt as big, but still a lot bigger than expected.

One fix that was proposed was to switch the backend to (or from) glx; neither helped so I retured it to the original value (xrender).
Any ideas?

System:
  Kernel: 6.6.1-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.2.1
    clocksource: tsc available: acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
    root=UUID=b290f53a-a9c0-43d4-92d1-c19e8c49542f rw rootflags=subvol=@
    rd.udev.log_priority=3 vt.global_cursor_default=0 loglevel=3 ibt=off
  Desktop: i3 v: 4.23 info: i3bar vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0
    Distro: Garuda Linux base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Razer product: Blade v: 6.06
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 9 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Razer model: Razer serial: <superuser required> UEFI: Razer v: 4.02
    date: 02/22/2018
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 9.0 Wh (40.0%) condition: 22.5/70.2 Wh (32.1%)
    volts: 12.2 min: 11.4 model: Razer Blade type: Unknown serial: <filter>
    status: not charging
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-7700HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake
    gen: core 7 level: v3 note: check built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6
    model-id: 0x9E (158) stepping: 9 microcode: 0xF4
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 4 tpc: 2 threads: 8 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB desc: 4x256 KiB
    L3: 6 MiB desc: 1x6 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 877 high: 923 min/max: 800/3800 scaling:
    driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave cores: 1: 900 2: 899 3: 923 4: 800
    5: 800 6: 898 7: 900 8: 901 bogomips: 44798
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 630 vendor: Razer USA driver: i915 v: kernel
    arch: Gen-9.5 process: Intel 14nm built: 2016-20 ports: active: eDP-1
    empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:591b class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP106M [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile] vendor: Razer USA
    driver: nvidia v: 545.29.02 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 545.xx+
    status: current (as of 2023-10; EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Pascal code: GP10x
    process: TSMC 16nm built: 2016-2021 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1c20
    class-ID: 0300
  Device-3: Realtek USB Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-7:5 chip-ID: 0bda:579f
    class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.9 compositor: Picom v: git-b700a
    driver: X: loaded: intel,nvidia unloaded: modesetting,nouveau
    alternate: fbdev,nv,vesa dri: i965 gpu: i915 display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22")
    s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 mapped: eDP1 model: LG Display 0x0569 built: 2016
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 157 gamma: 1.2 size: 310x170mm (12.2x6.69")
    diag: 355mm (14") ratio: 16:9 modes: 1920x1080
  API: Vulkan v: 1.3.269 layers: 8 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu
    name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 driver: nvidia v: 545.29.02
    device-ID: 10de:1c20 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 1 type: integrated-gpu
    name: Intel HD Graphics 630 (KBL GT2) driver: mesa intel v: 23.2.1-arch1.2
    device-ID: 8086:591b surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 2 type: cpu name: llvmpipe
    (LLVM 16.0.6 256 bits) driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 23.2.1-arch1.2 (LLVM
    16.0.6) device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: xcb,xlib
  API: OpenGL Message: Unable to show GL data. glxinfo is missing.
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: Razer USA driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a171
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP106 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel pcie: speed: Unknown lanes: 63 link-max: gen: 6 speed: 64 GT/s
    bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f1 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.6.1-zen1-1-zen status: kernel-api
    tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 0.3.85 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: Rivet Networks Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 driver: ath10k_pci
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 3b:00.0
    chip-ID: 168c:003e class-ID: 0280 temp: 33.0 C
  IF: wlp59s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4 Bluetooth 4.0 driver: btusb v: 0.8
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-4:2
    chip-ID: 0cf3:e300 class-ID: e001
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: disabled
    rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: N/A
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 68.14 GiB (14.3%)
  SMART Message: Required tool smartctl not installed. Check --recommends
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung
    model: MZVLW512HMJP-00000 size: 476.94 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: CXY7501Q temp: 36.9 C scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 124 GiB size: 124 GiB (100.00%) used: 68.12 GiB (54.9%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5 maj-min: 259:5
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 100 MiB size: 96 MiB (96.00%)
    used: 27.6 MiB (28.8%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 124 GiB size: 124 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 68.12 GiB (54.9%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5 maj-min: 259:5
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 124 GiB size: 124 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 68.12 GiB (54.9%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5 maj-min: 259:5
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 124 GiB size: 124 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 68.12 GiB (54.9%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5 maj-min: 259:5
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 15.51 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100
    comp: zstd avail: lzo,lzo-rle,lz4,lz4hc,842 max-streams: 8 dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 56.0 C pch: 46.5 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
  Processes: 236 Uptime: 6m wakeups: 0 Memory: total: 16 GiB
  available: 15.51 GiB used: 2.11 GiB (13.6%) Init: systemd v: 254
  default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 13.2.1 clang: 16.0.6
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1787 libs: 450 tools: pamac,paru Shell: Bash
  v: 5.2.15 running-in: xfce4-terminal inxi: 3.3.31
Garuda (2.6.19-2):
  System install date:     2022-10-10
  Last full system update: 2023-11-19
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager mkinitcpio nvidia-dkms
  Windows dual boot:       Probably (Run as root to verify)
  Failed units:
1 Like
2

I would try alternative to picom. Compton (for X) or Wayfire (for wayland). I don’t know why picom is taking 25%, maybe that’s expected. I would try alternatives and see if they reach my desired cpu consumption.

1 Like
3

Are you perhaps running Conky or running some script that monitors your system activity on a continual basis? If so shut it down, and see if your usage is reduced.

I see your system has been installed for over a year. When did this become a problem? Perhaps an update to picom has created this issue. Downgrading picom to an older version might be worth a try.

Have you tried disabling some of your visual effects such as transparency?

Does the same thing happen if you switch to your Intel graphics card?

Does the same thing happen if you disconnect any attached monitor and use only your laptop’s display?

Have you tested alternate kernels? I would suggest trying at least three different ones.

Please answer all questions and report in full on all suggestions tested.

1 Like
4

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