Get XBMC tear free on Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty) / 11.10 (Oneiric)

If you aren’t familiar with XBMC, please check out my earlier guides.

My hardware is: Asrock ION330 (works great for 720p and 1080p)

I have been running XBMC on 8.10 (Intreprid) for quite a while and now I have updated to 11.04 (Natty).
Everything works fine, but HEY!, tearing on SD / HD material, argh!!!

Step 1. Getting rid of Unity
Guess I’m getting old, but I don’t like to “search” or pin my stuff to a bar + many people reported that Unity is a tear problem.
First go to the system settings:

Goto the systemsettings in ubuntu

Second to the login screen:

Start the Login Screen function and change the session variable to "Ubuntu Classi"

With these changes you are rid of Unity and back to the god’ol Ubuntu.
Tip: You can also make your user automatic login on the Login Screen, check it out while you’re there.
(Pictures are snagged from here, thanks mate…)

Step 2. Changing the xorg.conf
I tried several tips on how to get the tearing off.
I didn’t know that the Composite was manadatory to disable on my ION box, but it is…

To add this open a terminal then write

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Goto the bottom and add the text below.

Section “Extensions”
Option “Composite” “Disable”
EndSection

Tip:
While you are in the xorg.conf, why not add all the entries suggested by the XBMC wiki:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW-TO:Install_Ubuntu_and_XBMC_on_Asus_EeeBox_PC_EB1501#Generate_an_xorg.conf_file

Tip 2: Alternative to write the xorg.conf yourself;

sudo nvidia-xconfig -no-composite

Now reboot and get your tearfree VDPAU ION computer to work as expected! 🙂

Compiz and others, check this out:
If you are running Compiz or maybe have a ATI card (or something) please check out this post

Not for the faint heart 😉
I use the unstable NVIDIA drivers, if you experience any trouble you should try them.
Use this guide to add a new entry to the repositary, then include this PPA: ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
(Get more updates here and here)