Arch Linux

lagagnon

Member

From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

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CPU Load Averages: higher in Arch than Ubuntu. Why?

I have noticed considerably higher CPU load averages on my Arch system compared to a machine I have running Ubuntu. I find this strange as I did the test on both not long after boot, and while idling for 15 minutes with Opera (no tabs loaded) and two terminals up. Both while "top" was basically showing no activity, and then I shut down top and let them sit doing nothing for 15 minutes. Ubuntu is running Gnome so has almost 3 times as many processes loaded as my minimal wmii window manager system under Arch.

Here's the data:

Ubuntu System (10.10 kernel 2.6.35-22-generic)

load average: 0.10, 0.31, 0.20

Arch System (kernel 2.6.35-ARCH)

load average: 0.88, 0.79, 0.75

Both machines are dual core, the first being a Pentium 3000 the latter an AMD X2 II 240. I would have thought the last load average on Arch after 15 minutes of idling should be much lower. Any ideas why not?

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Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

karol

Archivist

Registered: 2009-05-06

Posts: 25,440

Re: CPU Load Averages: higher in Arch than Ubuntu. Why?

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=103346