ObjectDock + WindowFX = Slower window dragging

Saturday, January 10, 2004 by Garion2K | Discussion: Stardock Software

When I have ObjectDock and WindowFX (to enable shadows only), windows move slower when I drag them around the screen. I have WindowFX set to show shadows while moving, and Windows XP is configured to show window content while dragging. If I unload ObjectDock, the windows move very quickly. If I set WindowFX to hide shadows while moving and keep ObjectDock running, windows move very quickly as well. I have tried this with WindowBlinds loaded and without it, and it doesn't make much difference.

I have an ATI Radeon 9800 and am running the 3.10 catalyst drivers under Windows XP SP1. I have an AMD Athlon 2800+ (Barton) with 1gb of RAM. I enabled hardware alpha-blending as recommended by WindowFX in the performance advise section.

It's not a big deal, but I thought I would post just to see if anyone else experiences similar slowdowns when running both apps together in a similar configuration. It would be nice if the windows moved as quickly with ObjectDock running and shadows turned on while moving as they do without. Is this a technical limitation of the video hardware, or is it something that can be improved in code?




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8 Reply 5 Referrals
-daVo-
Reply #1 Sunday, January 11, 2004 5:19 PM
Wow man, I don't know much about the inner workings of the programs but I couldn't imagine it being a hardware problem. I have a 2700, an ATI 7000, and considerably less ram, and I also run WindowsFX + OD at the same time with no problems. Hopefully someone who knows can give you a definative solution but in the meantime I can tell you that I've been using mindsoft utilities 7.62 and noticed an immediate BIG improvement in performance. BTW: I have been told that Nvidia cards work better with AMD's and the ATI cards mesh with the pentiums better. (after I got an ati for my AMD box, but from a very reliable source none the less).

Essencay
Reply #2 Sunday, January 11, 2004 5:59 PM
I have been told that Nvidia cards work better with AMD's and the ATI cards mesh with the pentiums better


I have built both Intel and AMD machines and I agree with that

yrag
Reply #3 Sunday, January 11, 2004 8:12 PM
Open Task Manager and see how many handles OD has going in processes....if your machine has been up for awhile it could be thousands. (it's a known issue). If it is high just re-start OD and see if everything works any better.



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kongit
Reply #4 Sunday, January 11, 2004 8:25 PM
the threads go for any program. if you get over 2000 it needs to stop running.

yrag
Reply #5 Sunday, January 11, 2004 8:33 PM
Travis ...I didn't say threads (that is not an issue with OD)...I said 'handles'



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Garion2K
Reply #6 Monday, January 12, 2004 10:51 PM
Thanks for the replies.

The handles count for OD is currently at 996. It's been running for a couple of days. Unfortunately, restarting it doesn't help since the slow down happens right after loading OD with WindowFX in this config.



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kongit
Reply #7 Friday, January 16, 2004 12:47 AM
threads, handles. applies to both

kongit
Reply #8 Friday, January 16, 2004 12:48 AM
Also I always noticed slower window dragging with windowsfx so I turned that feature off in it. just gave it the old dotted outline to move around windows.

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