Is there still any modern non compositing desktop? [closed]

Solution 1:

howtogeek has this to say about it:

Use a Non-Composited Desktop

If you do want to play 3D games in windowed mode and get maximum performance, you’ll need a non-composited desktop.

If you’re using Ubuntu 12.04, you can select Unity 2D on the login screen. Ubuntu 12.10 users will have to use a different desktop environment, as Unity 2D is no longer available.

Unity and GNOME Shell don’t allow you to disable compositing, although many other desktops do. You may want to try Xfce, KDE, or another desktop environment – just ensure you disable compositing in the desktop you choose. (Perform a Google search to learn how to disable compositing on your desktop of choice.) You’ll lose the fancy graphical effects, but windowed 3D rendering will speed up.


It mentions 12.10 but you can read this as "12.10 and newer".

The link has several desktops listed but I would start with XFCE if I was you. Mind though: compositing will be enabled on first install and you need to turn it off yourself. Regarding the 2 mentioned in the article, xfce and kde:

  • webupd8 on XFCE and disabling composite.
  • KDE.org forums on KDE and disabling composite.