linux on a laptop

Discussion:

linux on a laptop

(too old to reply)

Miguel

2004-12-29 23:09:20 UTC

Hi :

I installed suse 9.2 on my laptop. My laptop is is AMD Athlon XP-M 2600+
with chipset VIA it is a fast laptop in winXP put in Suse it is quiet
slow. My nornal installation of WINXP is around 130 MRAM but in Suse it
occupies around 200MRAM running only KDE and the normal stuff by default
. No Apache, no postfix, no mysql server. No nothing

What can I do to improve preformance I start openoffice in win and on
Linux takes 3 a 4 seconds more to open.
I thought that linux is lighter and faster than Windows.
I also heard that chipset VIA is not that great on LINUX is that true??

any ideas on what can be done to improve performance
this my ps aux what processos I don't need to run??

Thanks

Mister_K

2004-12-30 02:50:50 UTC

Permalink

You really should look into a custom install of Linux ... I really would
suggest installing Gentoo.

I have an old AMD K6-400 / 128MB RAM laptop and I installed SuSE 9.1 ...
it was so slow in X Windows I could not even use it.

I wiped the hard drive and installed Gentoo.
Do not install using the precompiled binaries (like all other distros)
... but take the time to build everything from scratch.

Now it blazes !!!!!
I am quite amazed at the speed/performance differences.

(also as an extra bonus it forces you to learn how to administer the
system).

Post by Miguel
I installed suse 9.2 on my laptop. My laptop is is AMD Athlon XP-M 2600+
with chipset VIA it is a fast laptop in winXP put in Suse it is quiet
slow. My nornal installation of WINXP is around 130 MRAM but in Suse it
occupies around 200MRAM running only KDE and the normal stuff by default
. No Apache, no postfix, no mysql server. No nothing
What can I do to improve preformance I start openoffice in win and on
Linux takes 3 a 4 seconds more to open.
I thought that linux is lighter and faster than Windows.
I also heard that chipset VIA is not that great on LINUX is that true??
any ideas on what can be done to improve performance
this my ps aux what processos I don't need to run??
Thanks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TTY STAT START TIME COMMAND
root 1 0.0 0.1 596 244 ? S 20:34 0:01 init [5]
root 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SN 20:34 0:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
root 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 20:34 0:00 [events/0]
root 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 20:34 0:00 [khelper]
root 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 20:34 0:00 [netlink/0]
root 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 20:34 0:00 [kacpid]
root 24 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 20:34 0:00 [kblockd/0]
root 35 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 20:34 0:00 [pdflush]
root 37 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 20:34 0:00 [aio/0]
root 36 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 20:34 0:01 [kswapd0]
root 620 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 20:35 0:00 [kseriod]
root 1549 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 20:35 0:00 [reiserfs/0]
root 2074 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 20:35 0:00 [khubd]
root 2122 0.0 0.1 1360 312 ? S<s 20:35 0:00 udevd
root 2505 0.0 0.1 1432 432 ? S 20:35 0:00 [hwscand]
root 2781 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 20:35 0:00 [khpsbpkt]
root 2791 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 20:35 0:00 [knodemgrd_0]
root 3225 0.0 0.1 1432 436 ? S< 20:35 0:00 [hwscand]
root 5112 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 20:47 0:00 [pdflush]
root 8141 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 21:05 0:00 [krfcommd]
root 11976 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 21:12 0:00 [pccardd]
root 12005 0.0 0.3 1512 704 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /sbin/cardmgr
root 12243 0.0 0.2 1444 620 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /sbin/syslogd -a /var/lib/ntp/dev/log
root 12246 0.0 0.2 1516 576 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /sbin/klogd -c 1 -2 -x
root 12280 0.0 0.3 2032 692 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /sbin/resmgrd
nobody 12283 0.0 0.2 1428 488 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /sbin/portmap
root 12349 0.0 0.6 4120 1532 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /usr/sbin/smpppd
root 12377 0.0 0.8 5140 1816 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd -o PidFile=/var/run/sshd.init.pid
lp 12399 0.0 1.4 6388 3260 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /usr/sbin/cupsd
root 12404 0.0 0.3 2620 708 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /opt/kde3/bin/kdm
root 12421 3.8 6.7 52632 15120 ? S 21:12 0:17 /usr/X11R6/bin/X -nolisten tcp -br vt7 -auth /var/lib/xdm/authdir/authfiles/A:0-Un8XkI
root 12422 0.0 0.5 3500 1328 ? S 21:12 0:00 -:0
root 12442 0.0 0.2 1388 532 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /usr/sbin/acpid -c /etc/acpi/events.ignore
root 12478 0.0 0.5 2712 1220 ? S 21:12 0:00 /usr/sbin/powersaved -d -x /usr/lib/powersave/scripts -a resmgr -v 3
root 12525 0.0 0.3 43088 808 ? Ssl 21:12 0:00 /usr/sbin/nscd
root 12624 0.0 0.6 4568 1428 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /usr/lib/postfix/master
postfix 12651 0.0 0.6 4684 1404 ? S 21:12 0:00 pickup -l -t fifo -u
postfix 12652 0.0 0.6 4716 1400 ? S 21:12 0:00 qmgr -l -t fifo -u
root 12655 0.0 0.2 1660 600 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 /usr/sbin/cron
root 12668 0.0 0.2 1824 620 tty1 Ss+ 21:12 0:00 /sbin/mingetty --noclear tty1
root 12669 0.0 0.2 1824 620 tty2 Ss+ 21:12 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty2
root 12670 0.0 0.2 1824 620 tty3 Ss+ 21:12 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty3
root 12671 0.0 0.2 1824 620 tty4 Ss+ 21:12 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty4
root 12672 0.0 0.2 1824 620 tty5 Ss+ 21:12 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty5
root 12673 0.0 0.2 1824 620 tty6 Ss+ 21:12 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty6
hjlopes 12691 0.0 0.6 3752 1372 ? S 21:12 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/X11R6/bin/kde
hjlopes 12793 0.0 4.5 24376 10236 ? Ss 21:12 0:00 kdeinit: Running...
hjlopes 12797 0.0 3.9 22908 8796 ? S 21:12 0:00 kdeinit: dcopserver --nosid
hjlopes 12799 0.0 4.5 24788 10256 ? S 21:12 0:00 kdeinit: klauncher
hjlopes 12802 0.1 6.1 28192 13832 ? S 21:12 0:00 kdeinit: kded
hjlopes 12922 0.0 3.0 13328 6772 ? S 21:13 0:00 /opt/kde3/bin/artsd -F 10 -S 4096 -s 5 -m artsmessage -l 3 -f
hjlopes 12925 0.0 7.1 33176 15884 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: knotify
hjlopes 12930 0.0 0.1 1376 316 ? S 21:13 0:00 kwrapper ksmserver
hjlopes 12932 0.0 5.2 24788 11640 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: ksmserver
hjlopes 12933 0.3 6.2 27512 14080 ? S 21:13 0:01 kdeinit: kwin
hjlopes 12936 0.0 5.4 25268 12296 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: khotkeys
hjlopes 12938 0.4 7.3 28868 16528 ? S 21:13 0:01 kdeinit: kdesktop
hjlopes 12944 0.4 7.5 30184 16984 ? S 21:13 0:02 kdeinit: kicker
hjlopes 12945 0.0 5.0 26052 11184 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: kio_file file /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/kdesktopuebddb.slave-socket
hjlopes 12949 0.1 6.8 28856 15312 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: kio_uiserver
hjlopes 12951 0.0 6.1 26964 13812 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: kpowersave
hjlopes 12953 0.0 6.2 27020 13904 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: klipper
hjlopes 12955 0.0 6.2 28220 13964 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: profile_chooser
hjlopes 12959 0.1 6.3 27020 14152 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: susewatcher -caption SuSE Watcher -icon kinternet.png -miniicon kinternet.png --quiet
hjlopes 12960 0.0 6.3 28520 14272 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: kinternet -caption Kinternet -icon kinternet -miniicon kinternet --quiet
hjlopes 12961 0.2 7.5 31356 16868 ? Sl 21:13 0:01 kdeinit: suseplugger -caption SUSE Hardware Tool -icon hi22-action-hardware.png -miniicon hi22-action-hardware.png --quiet
hjlopes 12965 0.1 7.2 28704 16136 ? S 21:13 0:00 kdeinit: kmix
hjlopes 12966 1.6 10.9 37956 24444 ? S 21:13 0:06 kdeinit: konqueror --preload
hjlopes 12982 0.0 2.5 15100 5764 ? S 21:13 0:00 /opt/kde3/bin/kdesud
hjlopes 13225 0.0 4.8 25600 10808 ? S 21:15 0:00 kdeinit: kio_drives drives /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/kdesktopHtVyva.slave-socket
hjlopes 13227 0.0 4.9 25600 11168 ? S 21:15 0:00 kdeinit: kio_drives drives /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/konqueror9rlM3a.slave-socket
hjlopes 13288 0.0 4.9 25628 11112 ? S 21:16 0:00 kdeinit: kio_file file /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/kio_thumbnailbmybUb.slave-socket
hjlopes 13292 0.0 4.9 26044 10968 ? S 21:16 0:00 kdeinit: kio_file file /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/konquerorEaveqc.slave-socket
hjlopes 13307 0.1 5.2 25328 11816 ? S 21:17 0:00 kdeinit: kaccess
hjlopes 13356 14.5 10.8 38460 24180 ? SN 21:19 0:05 kdeinit: kio_thumbnail thumbnail /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/konqueror2LyIxb.slave-socket
hjlopes 13357 0.0 4.9 25620 11104 ? S 21:19 0:00 kdeinit: kio_file file /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/kio_thumbnailt6YBib.slave-socket
hjlopes 13358 0.0 4.9 25620 11112 ? S 21:19 0:00 kdeinit: kio_file file /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/kio_thumbnailrWEVGb.slave-socket
hjlopes 13359 0.0 4.9 25620 11104 ? S 21:19 0:00 kdeinit: kio_file file /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/klauncherbZOnda.slave-socket /tmp/ksocket-hjlopes/kio_thumbnailiVcrLa.slave-socket
hjlopes 13371 4.4 7.4 30296 16612 ? S 21:19 0:00 kdeinit: konsole
hjlopes 13372 0.1 0.8 4124 1800 pts/1 Ss 21:19 0:00 /bin/bash
hjlopes 13380 0.0 0.3 2372 708 pts/1 R+ 21:20 0:00 ps aux

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=====================
= www.oyamaphotogrphy.com =
=====================

Mark Hobley

2004-12-30 21:00:16 UTC

Permalink

Post by Miguel
What can I do to improve preformance I start openoffice in win and on
Linux takes 3 a 4 seconds more to open.

Does the package function fine once opened ? Is the opening time really
important ?

Post by Miguel
I thought that linux is lighter and faster than Windows.

I've used both Linux and Windows here on a similar spec system.
Linux runs fine here.

I also have some low spec machines, such as P120 with 64Mb RAM or an AMD 400
with 128Mb RAM.

Linux is much quicker than Windows on the lower spec machines.

Post by Miguel
I also heard that chipset VIA is not that great on LINUX is that true??

I run Via chipsets ok. However, you may want to install an ATI Radeon 9000
video card (supported under a 2.6 kernel).

The onboard sound on a Via board does not sound as good as some other cards.

Post by Miguel
any ideas on what can be done to improve performance
this my ps aux what processos I don't need to run??

I would recommend installing debian, and get rid of the KDE desktop suite.

I run a minimalist installation here using X with icewm.

Its excellent on all machines.

Regards,

Mark.

--

Mark Hobley
393 Quinton Road West
QUINTON
Birmingham
B32 1QE

Reply to: markhobley at hotpop dot do_not_type_this_bit com

http://markhobley.yi.org/

Grant Diffey

2005-02-28 02:53:58 UTC

Permalink

Post by Mark Hobley

Post by Miguel
What can I do to improve preformance I start openoffice in win and on
Linux takes 3 a 4 seconds more to open.

Does the package function fine once opened ? Is the opening time really
important ?

Yeah to normal people application opening time and desktop booting time is
something they notice and that is important to them..

One answer to discrepancy above is that windows may be pre-linking the
binaries to reduce call overhead this can reduce load time by as much as
40% it's also possible that he hasn't enabled DMA on his disks.

Because libraries are always loaded in the same location you can remove the
indirect calls by modifying the binary to point directly to the address
that the library function has been loaded at. there is a tool called
prelink which does this for linux

Post by Mark Hobley

Post by Miguel
I thought that linux is lighter and faster than Windows.

I've used both Linux and Windows here on a similar spec system.
Linux runs fine here.
I also have some low spec machines, such as P120 with 64Mb RAM or an AMD
400 with 128Mb RAM.
Linux is much quicker than Windows on the lower spec machines.

new linux is faster than new windows yes. new linux is probably slower than
old windows I haven't tested. A 32MB P5 class machine with win98 and
office98 is gonna fly compared to a modern mandrake or SUSE. Win98 isn't
as good but it is faster I'd bet.

Post by Mark Hobley

Post by Miguel
I also heard that chipset VIA is not that great on LINUX is that true??

I run Via chipsets ok. However, you may want to install an ATI Radeon 9000
video card (supported under a 2.6 kernel).

Did you miss the topic where it says LAPTOP? or did the thread diverge?

Post by Mark Hobley
The onboard sound on a Via board does not sound as good as some other cards.

it's almost the worst sound chipset in existance.. no wait there's the
EMU10K that's worse.

Post by Mark Hobley
I would recommend installing debian, and get rid of the KDE desktop suite.
I run a minimalist installation here using X with icewm.

1980 called and wants it's user interface back. but X with icewm is great
but most users expect stuff like pluging in a usb drive / camera to pop up
a dialog saying you just pluged in a whatever what do you want to do with
it.

Post by Mark Hobley
Its excellent on all machines.

Except the ones that arn't supported at all...

--
All software sucks all hardware sucks.

Morten Juhl Johansen

2004-12-30 22:25:53 UTC

Permalink

Actually, OOo is kind of a heavy program - I use AbiWord for all lighter
tasks. With regards to SuSE - as others have said: KDE is heavy. I have
used Fluxbox to make it much faster - well, right now I run Gnome because
Ubuntu Gnome 2.8 is just beautiful. But on my 600 MHz, 32 MB RAM laptop I
run the Libranet distro with Fluxbox and OpenBox - and they are extremely
fast.
Of all the distributions I have tried, SuSE is the most sluggish one.

./MJJ

Miguel

2005-01-06 23:45:27 UTC

Permalink

Post by Morten Juhl Johansen

I desactived kpowersave as sugested by a friend and it really is fast now...

I'm haveing another problem on suse 9.2 I'm trying to install my
Wireless PCMCIA card SMC2835w card.

I tryied ALMOST EVERYTHING can't get it blinking the link light..