x11perf

x11perf [-options ...]

-all
    Run all tests.

-do rect1
    Run the `rect1` test (filled rectangles).

-do line1
    Run the `line1` test (single-pixel-width lines).

-do text1
    Run the `text1` test (text drawing).

-repeats
    Set the number of repetitions for each test. Default is 10.

-time
    Set the time in seconds to run each test. Default is 5.

-sync
    Synchronize after each operation.
This significantly impacts performance but provides a more accurate measure of raw drawing speed.

-server
    Specify the X server to connect to (e.g., 'hostname:0').

-font
    Specify the font to use for text tests.

-sizes
    Specify sizes to use for tests that draw rectangles or other shapes.

-solid
    Use solid fills for drawing.

-pixmap
    Draw to a pixmap instead of the window.

-help
    Display help message.

x11perf is a micro-benchmark program for measuring the performance of various X11 server operations. It focuses on low-level drawing primitives and operations, providing insights into the speed and efficiency of the X server and underlying graphics hardware. It allows users and developers to measure the performance of X server drawing operations, such as drawing lines, rectangles, text, and other primitives, as well as operations like image transfers and memory access. By running specific tests, x11perf can pinpoint bottlenecks in the X server or the graphics driver stack. It's commonly used to compare the performance of different X servers, graphics cards, or driver configurations. The results are presented in terms of operations per second, providing a quantifiable metric for performance evaluation. The tool is a valuable asset for X server developers, system administrators, and anyone seeking to optimize the graphical performance of their Linux or Unix systems.

The x11perf results can be influenced by various factors including the X server implementation, graphics driver, hardware, and system load. It's a micro-benchmark, and its results may not directly translate to real-world application performance.

The output of x11perf typically shows the number of operations completed per second for each test. Higher values generally indicate better performance. However, it's crucial to compare results across similar system configurations to draw meaningful conclusions.
Consider system load and consistency of results between multiple runs to properly assess performance improvements and identify areas that may be bottlenecks.

x11perf -all
Run all tests using default parameters
x11perf -do rect1 -repeats 100 -time 10
Run only rectangle drawing test 100 times each during 10 seconds each

x11perf has been a staple tool for X11 performance analysis for many years. It originated as a way to quantify and compare the efficiency of different X server implementations and graphics hardware configurations. It's development has been driven by the need to optimize X11 performance, particularly in the context of desktop environments and graphical applications.

xdpyinfo(1), xprop(1)