my arch feels tremendously slow!!!

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-14 12:21:28

Hi all

it is a while that my arch feels horribly slow... it takes forever to load applications and it is not snappy at all
My laptop has 2.2GhZ dual core, 2GB RAM, 256 MB NVIDIA and it is a dell latitude d830. The hard drive is a 7200rpm 120GB from Fujitsu

here are my free results, rc.conf and xorg.conf

it is real weird!!!

my glxgears give me only 2400 FPS...

$ free
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:       2058000    1720380     337620          0     149756     554508
-/+ buffers/cache:    1016116    1041884
Swap:      2096440       2852    2093588

#
# /etc/rc.conf - Main Configuration for Arch Linux
#

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# LOCALIZATION
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# LOCALE: available languages can be listed with the 'locale -a' command
# HARDWARECLOCK: set to "UTC" or "localtime"
# TIMEZONE: timezones are found in /usr/share/zoneinfo
# KEYMAP: keymaps are found in /usr/share/kbd/keymaps
# CONSOLEFONT: found in /usr/share/kbd/consolefonts (only needed for non-US)
# CONSOLEMAP: found in /usr/share/kbd/consoletrans
# USECOLOR: use ANSI color sequences in startup messages
#
LOCALE="en_US.utf8"
HARDWARECLOCK="localtime"
TIMEZONE="Canada/Eastern"
KEYMAP="us"
CONSOLEFONT=
CONSOLEMAP=
USECOLOR="yes"

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# HARDWARE
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Scan hardware and load required modules at bootup
MOD_AUTOLOAD="yes"
# Module Blacklist - modules in this list will never be loaded by udev
MOD_BLACKLIST=()
#
# Modules to load at boot-up (in this order)
#   - prefix a module with a ! to blacklist it
#
MODULES=(!acpi_cpufreq !cpufreq_powersave !cpufreq_ondemand !cpufreq_userspace !freq_table tun slhc tg3 iwl3945 snd-mixer-oss snd-pcm-oss snd-hwdep snd-page-alloc snd-pcm snd-timer snd snd-hda-intel nvidia soundcore gspca ide-scsi)
# Scan for LVM volume groups at startup, required if you use LVM
USELVM="no"

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# NETWORKING
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
HOSTNAME="ocivodul"
#
# Use 'ifconfig -a' or 'ls /sys/class/net/' to see all available
# interfaces.
#
# Interfaces to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each interface then list in INTERFACES
#   - prefix an entry in INTERFACES with a ! to disable it
#   - no hyphens in your interface names - Bash doesn't like it
#
# Note: to use DHCP, set your interface to be "dhcp" (eth0="dhcp")
#
lo="lo 127.0.0.1"
eth0="dhcp"
INTERFACES=(lo !eth0)
#
# Routes to start at boot-up (in this order)
# Declare each route then list in ROUTES
#   - prefix an entry in ROUTES with a ! to disable it
#
gateway="default gw 192.168.0.1"
ROUTES=(!gateway)
#
# Enable these network profiles at boot-up.  These are only useful
# if you happen to need multiple network configurations (ie, laptop users)
#   - set to 'menu' to present a menu during boot-up (dialog package required)
#   - prefix an entry with a ! to disable it
#
# Network profiles are found in /etc/network-profiles
#
#NET_PROFILES=(main)

#
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
# DAEMONS
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# Daemons to start at boot-up (in this order)
#   - prefix a daemon with a ! to disable it
#   - prefix a daemon with a @ to start it up in the background
#
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng cpudyn hal alsa !network netfs crond kdm acpid)
# End of file

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder26)  Fri Jan 11 14:26:48 PST 2008


Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Touchpad" "SendCoreEvents"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    RgbPath         "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
    Load           "synaptics"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "keyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Touchpad"
    Driver         "synaptics"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/input/mouse0"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto-dev"
    Option         "LeftEdge" "130"
    Option         "RightEdge" "840"
    Option         "TopEdge" "130"
    Option         "BottomEdge" "640"
    Option         "FingerLow" "7"
    Option         "FingerHigh" "8"
    Option         "MaxTapTime" "180"
    Option         "MaxTapMove" "110"
    Option         "EmulateMidButtonTime" "75"
    Option         "VertScrollDelta" "20"
    Option         "HorizScrollDelta" "20"
    Option         "MinSpeed" "0.50"
    Option         "MaxSpeed" "0.75"
    Option         "AccelFactor" "0.020"
    Option         "EdgeMotionMinSpeed" "200"
    Option         "EdgeMotionMaxSpeed" "200"
    Option         "UpDownScrolling" "1"
    Option         "CircularScrolling" "1"
    Option         "CircScrollDelta" "0.1"
    Option         "CircScrollTrigger" "2"
    Option         "SHMConfig" "on"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Unknown"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 110.0
    VertRefresh     50.0 - 150.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "NoLogo" "True"
    Option         "RenderAccel" "True"
    Option         "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP"
    Option         "TripleBuffer" "True"
    Option         "BackingStore" "True"
    Option         "DamageEvents" "True"
    Option         "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
    Option         "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

I hope you guys can help!

toliman · 2008-05-14 12:26:58

Probably your '/etc/hosts' is missing your hostname.
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Gnome#GNOME_lags

Last edited by toliman (2008-05-14 12:27:12)

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-14 12:45:48

thanks for the suggestion but it doesn't seem to make a difference :-( I am really considering going back to kubuntu at this point. Somehow my old laptop with kubuntu installed is now more snappy...

ise · 2008-05-14 12:54:37

Why have you disable the network daemon? There will be no loopback interface without it.

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-14 15:32:22

in my attempt to fix my wifi I played around and it seems I don't need it... I can try to readd it...

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-14 15:35:58

mmm... I just started it but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.... :-(

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-14 15:36:31

I fear that it might be something with the nvidia card...

watsonalgas · 2008-05-14 16:48:45

Cippa Lippa wrote:

my glxgears give me only 2400 FPS...

How is 2400 FPS only?

Ink-Jet · 2008-05-14 17:27:14

Glxgears is not a benchmark, mind.

finferflu · 2008-05-14 18:44:11

Just for your information, you don't need to enable the network daemon in order to get the loopback working, things have changed a while a go.
I think it probably has to do with the graphics card, too. Usually that's the source of these kind of problems.
I don't know if that makes much of a difference, but you could try to run some CLI apps in terminals, while running the X server, and then shut down the X server and trying to use them on the tty, and see if it makes any difference.
CLI apps are very snappy though, I don't know if you could really feel any difference...

ybotspawn · 2008-05-14 18:49:19

Just curious but would it help to troubleshoot if you disable the nvidia module? Is this a desktop and can you swap for maybe on board video? Is it just the graphics running slow or the system?

Edit: NVM i need to read more. What happens when you run things in terminal? still slow? if it's not then it's def ur gfx card.

Last edited by ybotspawn (2008-05-14 18:50:05)

theringmaster · 2008-05-14 19:21:17

I see you have "nvidia" in your modules array...I would just let x.org handle that via the xorg.conf

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 12:01:51

watsonalgas wrote:

Cippa Lippa wrote:
my glxgears give me only 2400 FPS...
How is 2400 FPS only?

I think a couple month back I was getting more in the 3000 range

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 12:04:37

ybotspawn wrote:

Just curious but would it help to troubleshoot if you disable the nvidia module? Is this a desktop and can you swap for maybe on board video? Is it just the graphics running slow or the system?
I'll try disable the nvidia module
My computer is a laptop
I notice the biggest lag in the opening of applications... for example I remember inkscape was very snappy and opening within 2 seconds, now it takes close to 6-7 seconds
Edit: NVM i need to read more. What happens when you run things in terminal? still slow? if it's not then it's def ur gfx card.

from terminal they are just as slow...

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 12:06:44

finferflu wrote:

Just for your information, you don't need to enable the network daemon in order to get the loopback working, things have changed a while a go.
I think it probably has to do with the graphics card, too. Usually that's the source of these kind of problems.
I don't know if that makes much of a difference, but you could try to run some CLI apps in terminals, while running the X server, and then shut down the X server and trying to use them on the tty, and see if it makes any difference.
CLI apps are very snappy though, I don't know if you could really feel any difference...

as a matter of fact I was wrong when I said that adding the network daemon didn't help. After rebooting I see now a major different especially in the speed of website loading... also the loading of apps seems to have improved a bit...

do you guys think that I should time the time of booting to give you an idea if it is an arch problem or a hardware problem?

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 12:48:32

by the way, you guys ROCK

ybotspawn · 2008-05-15 14:14:17

ok dumb questions but im just trying to narrow down the problem. First lets look at memory, how many chips do you have? If you have two do you notice any change in system performance when you take one of them out...what about the other one? The terminal test shows, I think, that the nvidia is not the problem. Trying to narrow down and be sure it's not a memory issue. Next thing you could check, which could really help, is grab yourself a live cd of just about any distro, prefirably arch though:)..... How fast does the live cd run? (trying to narrow the possibility that its the hard drive) Does it run fast on the livecd? if so.... would everyone agree that that implies the hard drive has a problem? Those are the two big culprits of slugishness.

Secondly, lets see some error logs if thats ok...? can you post some of these?

Thanks for your patience.

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 15:34:42

ybotspawn wrote:

ok dumb questions but im just trying to narrow down the problem. First lets look at memory, how many chips do you have? If you have two do you notice any change in system performance when you take one of them out...what about the other one? The terminal test shows, I think, that the nvidia is not the problem. Trying to narrow down and be sure it's not a memory issue. Next thing you could check, which could really help, is grab yourself a live cd of just about any distro, prefirably arch though:)..... How fast does the live cd run? (trying to narrow the possibility that its the hard drive) Does it run fast on the livecd? if so.... would everyone agree that that implies the hard drive has a problem? Those are the two big culprits of slugishness.
Secondly, lets see some error logs if thats ok...? can you post some of these?
Thanks for your patience.

BTW now my glxgears hover at around 2900... so somehow the network daemon was affecting the video card???

if yours are dumb questions I am gonna reply with even dumber questions! :-)
I have a dual core
How can I take out one of the chips? you don't mean physically right??

The live cd doesn't run very fast because you have the bottleneck of the cd drive which has to read everything when you issue a command. At least this with kubuntu hardy

which error logs should I issue? how to get them? please do not throw tomatoes at me for my ignorance!!!

I am going to soon reboot and see if removing the nvidia module helps

Cippa

Last edited by Cippa Lippa (2008-05-15 15:35:31)

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 15:38:00

another observation:

I am using Kima to monitor some stuff in my laptop: I have observed that the CPU Usage doesn't really go to 100% when I load a software... is that normal for Linux???

Also, is it ok to have 640MB of RAM in use according to free???????????????? (with only firefox, krusader and konsole running):

total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 2058000 1872700 185300 0 146804 1083544
-/+ buffers/cache: 642352 1415648
Swap: 2096440 2384 2094056

Last edited by Cippa Lippa (2008-05-15 15:38:16)

ybotspawn · 2008-05-15 18:08:31

LOL ok back to dumb questions

I meant memory not cpu. Take a look at the installed ram, if it's say 2 gigabytes, it's prolly 2 (read quantity 2) 1 gigabyte chips.... take one of them out... boot... does it run smoother? shutdown and swap the chips and try again? any better

Live cd should be writing a virtual image to memory if I'm not correct. I thought the ubuntu live cd does.... I have never had a ubuntu live cd run slow.... give that a go... If it runs slow... it's a good chance we're facing a memory issue,

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 20:51:07

I'll see if it is ok to take out the RAM from my laptop... I spent 400 dollars in warranty on this laptop, wouldn't wanna burn it for this

finferflu · 2008-05-15 20:55:51

I guess you lost the warranty when you installed Linux, isn't it?

Cippa Lippa · 2008-05-15 21:10:43

no, not really... there is a lot of debate on this but essentially in case of trouble you can just zap the linux partition for the duration of the repairs and recover it as soon as you get the stuff back...

ybotspawn · 2008-05-15 23:01:38

I cant imagine any warranty department actually crying foul play for you swapping memory. I doubt it even has one of those little warranty stickers covering the memory panel. Go for it! Live on the edge!

Taylor · 2008-05-16 04:44:00

I have the same experience the last three weeks or so, but I have an ATI card. It used to be snappy, now it's going majorly slow. I'll be watching this thread

Arch Linux

#1 2008-05-14 12:21:28

my arch feels tremendously slow!!!

#2 2008-05-14 12:26:58

Re: my arch feels tremendously slow!!!

#3 2008-05-14 12:45:48

Re: my arch feels tremendously slow!!!

#4 2008-05-14 12:54:37

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#5 2008-05-14 15:32:22

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#6 2008-05-14 15:35:58

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#7 2008-05-14 15:36:31

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#8 2008-05-14 16:48:45

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#9 2008-05-14 17:27:14

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