[solved]Arch runs slow

pottzie · 2010-06-13 21:41:20

I apologize for the generic header for this post, but I couldn't think of a more accurate way to say what my problem is- Arch is slow! The way I have it configured, anyways. And I don't know if that's because I've got something missing or something that's conflicting an otherwise good install.
On any distro I've used, patches periodically come out to fix problems. Of course, the problems being fixed are bizarre, like the Chinese language update that I saw from one the other day. But distros do check for conflicts and dependencies. If that's all up to me now, is there a way that I can check and see what makes my set up run slower than Windows 98 on dial-up?

Last edited by pottzie (2010-06-14 20:47:05)

demian · 2010-06-13 21:43:23

Slow how? Start up? Responsiveness? Internet Connection?

If it's generally slow I'd probably check the harddrive first.

skottish · 2010-06-13 21:43:56

You didn't exactly define your problem. The Internet is slow?

lucke · 2010-06-13 21:44:16

Tell us what hardware you have.

Tell us what desktop environment/window manager/programs you run.

Tell us what feels slow (booting, opening applications, opening pages in the browser, drawing performance of the graphics card, etc.).

cesura · 2010-06-13 21:45:45

Slow....how?

kazuo · 2010-06-13 21:52:22

Uhh, put a carrot beside the computer!

Ohh, its not about a slow rabbit showing rate? Sorry...

EDIT: Men, I learned now that rabbits cant vomit! Its so sad.... http://www.rabbit.org/fun/answer11.html

Last edited by kazuo (2010-06-13 21:56:43)

pottzie · 2010-06-13 22:18:46

Yeah, how to define it? I'm running Fedora and Mint on other computers, windows pop open and pages load like they're spring loaded. I thought Arch was just slow, then I read that Arch runs circles around almost anything.
This is an older generic Compaq Presario, inherited from my kid after going through high school circa 2003-2007, and getting his computer after every bug and virus that European porn sites and kazza illegal file sharing could muster. Nothing wrong with the hardware though, as far as I can tell. Speed comparison comes from using the other distros. Speed compares quite nicely to Windows on my wife's computer, though.

eirik · 2010-06-13 22:35:19

Just saying it's an "older generic Compaq Presario" doesn't tell much, and you didn't mention what window manager/desktop environment you've set up. That Fedora and Mint runs well on other computers doesn't really matter; different hardware. If you for instance are using GNOME, you could try switching it out with XFCE or something else. On my netbook I use OpenBox to save as much juice as possible for the applications themselves, and everything runs perfectly fine except for Chromium after a long surfing session with many tabs open. Older computer have similar limitations, especially so due to hardware degradation.

pottzie · 2010-06-14 02:41:35

KDE for window manager. Don't remember what I installed other than that. All I've seen for window managers were either gnome or KDE. As far as what they run on top of, who knows? It's always been gnome or KDE, and nothing else as far as any operating system that I can think off. Xfce would be my guess, only because it's a name I recognized more than the others.
I guess what I'm asking is what is there that CAN slow down or speed up a system? Other than the hardware, is there really that much difference in performance between the choices, or is all just the same stuff sliced different?
One thing I've noticed is that when I click on something, the system seems to balk and pause (a lot!) then spring into action.. after taking a lunch break.

kazuo · 2010-06-14 03:06:47

You are asking much generic questions. And giving to little information for us to decide what is a answer. For example a faster processor can speed about any system running any OS with any DE/WM. a fork bomb

:(){ :|:& };: # dont run this!!!!!!

can slow down about any system too. And nothing of this have anything to do with Arch Linux.

If you read the arch docs, you see how much "competent users" are appreciated. Really, you can get a lot of good tips and solutions here, but you need to learn how to ask good questions.

Somethings we cant do for you. We dont have access to your system to discovery what you mean by "slow", what you mean by "fast", what can help, what cant help you.

We really cant help you if you dont do your part, of researching. For example you are in doubt about kde/gnome/xfce go and read wiki about each one of then, install, use, make some test and come back saying "Opening firefox in kde is 10 seconds fast than xfce." and so you can ask "What make xfce more slow than kde"

Asking what make a computer slow is a question that dont make any sense, because anything can be a valid answer, yes my carrot answer is a valid one, in this forum a user posted one time about how a sock he forgot inside of computer make his computer behavior bad. You looked for socks inside your computer?

I can be wrong on this (because I have a scientific background, I'm a theoretical physicist) but I learned that all the good discoveries are made when people made the correct questions. Genius dont give answers they give good questions.

Last edited by kazuo (2010-06-14 03:43:45)

cesura · 2010-06-14 03:29:22

kazuo wrote:

:(){ :|:& };:

I actually ran that :P

EDIT: Or Python:

import os
while True:
    os.fork()

Last edited by cesura (2010-06-14 03:43:34)

fsckd · 2010-06-14 03:38:04

kazuo is absolutely correct that good question beget good answers, i.e. garbage in garbage out. One thing that surprises me is the OP's ignorance on what his system is running. Yes, what one installs makes a huge difference. That's why we keep asking you. I'm going to throw this out there, pottzie are you even sure ArchLinux is for you? You seem to barely have any handle on your system's current state.

pickboy87 · 2010-06-14 18:01:03

Alright, let me throw in my two cents. From what I gather what the OP is confused about is why Arch w/ KDE runs slower than Fedora and Mint which both run gnome on different hardware.

Essentially, what OP needs to do is get a different Desktop Enviroment or Window Manager. If you managed to install Arch, you should have the know how to switch to a different DE/WM. KDE is slow on older computers. REALLY slow sometimes. Mint and Fedora tend to be a bit more optimized with older hardware. I would suggest switching to XFCE for a desktop enviroment, or even Openbox or the like for a Window Manager. Pick, download, test and find what runs best for you.

I use Awesome Tiling Window Manager and my Arch is incredible fast. Using only 50 megs of ram for a system idle vs 250+ megs of ram on KDE makes a BIG difference on older hardware.

pottzie · 2010-06-14 20:46:05

Nope. You may have answered my question(s) by not giving a direct answer! What I had expected was "Oh yeah, common problem. Just do XYZ, and see if that works." Since nothing like that popped up form the forum, I'll assume that what I've got is what I get, as far as making this set up perform better. in fact a screw up surfaced on a reboot, and I had to run fsck. Maybe that was the problem and it "fixed itself." Time will tell. For right now I'm satisfied that no one sees any common booboos that a newber like myself would commit. And as far as inventing new and improved ways to screw things up, I'm an expert at that as well as anyone.
I'm marking this solved!

Arch Linux

#1 2010-06-13 21:41:20

[solved]Arch runs slow

#2 2010-06-13 21:43:23

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#3 2010-06-13 21:43:56

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#4 2010-06-13 21:44:16

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#5 2010-06-13 21:45:45

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#6 2010-06-13 21:52:22

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#7 2010-06-13 22:18:46

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#8 2010-06-13 22:35:19

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#9 2010-06-14 02:41:35

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#10 2010-06-14 03:06:47

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#11 2010-06-14 03:29:22

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#12 2010-06-14 03:38:04

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#13 2010-06-14 18:01:03

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

#14 2010-06-14 20:46:05

Re: [solved]Arch runs slow

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