KDE4 slow on old machine

[Norman Carver]

One of my students just installed MDV2009.1
on an older desktop machine, and was telling
me that KDE appears subjectively significantly
slower than Gnome or XP on that machine (e.g.,
when starting apps or moving windows around).
I have not noticed such behavior, but I am using
2009.1 on only much faster, modern machines.  Has
anyone else noticed this?  Any settings changes
one can make to KDE4 to affect this?

Also wondered why this might be so?  I thought
a goal for KDE4 was to be faster/less RAM and able
to run on handhelds, etc.  Guess it uses vector
graphics in places instead of bitmaps, so that will
probably take some CPU cycles.  Perhaps this is a
graphics issue?  Didn't get all the details, but
this is a 5+ yr old machine with an Nvidia graphics
card in it.  Can find out more details if of interest.
Norm

[Diego Bello]

On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 5:23 PM, Norman Carver<carver@...> wrote:

> One of my students just installed MDV2009.1
> on an older desktop machine, and was telling
> me that KDE appears subjectively significantly
> slower than Gnome or XP on that machine (e.g.,
> when starting apps or moving windows around).
> I have not noticed such behavior, but I am using
> 2009.1 on only much faster, modern machines.  Has
> anyone else noticed this?  Any settings changes
> one can make to KDE4 to affect this?
>
> Also wondered why this might be so?  I thought
> a goal for KDE4 was to be faster/less RAM and able
> to run on handhelds, etc.  Guess it uses vector
> graphics in places instead of bitmaps, so that will
> probably take some CPU cycles.  Perhaps this is a
> graphics issue?  Didn't get all the details, but
> this is a 5+ yr old machine with an Nvidia graphics
> card in it.  Can find out more details if of interest.
> Norm
>

I think that KDE 4 is slower due to all the fancy things it  has to
look better. I had to disable Compiz on my old Athlon XP 2600+ because
it was very slow with it. Fancy things may include: plasmoids, complex
desktop themes.

Also, applications get heavy with each new version, so the more
applications you use, the slower the computer will be.

I think KDE3 is faster, but that's a totally diferent desktop than KDE 4.

Until I upgrade my machine, I'm seriously thinking on switching to
XFCE or something like that.

Cheers!

--
Diego Bello Carreño

[Kenneth Marcy]

On Monday 29 June 2009 14:23:26 Norman Carver wrote:
<snip>
> Has anyone else noticed this?

Yes, others have reported slower performance from KDE4.

> Any settings changes one can make to KDE4 to affect this?

Turn off, and don't enable, graphics candy that is not necessary. Rotating
cubes with many screens look cool, but take resources and time. Along the
same lines, don't load at boot-up, and perhaps uninstall, software that is
not used frequently, if at all. The Beagle database, for example.

> Also wondered why this might be so? <snip>

In addition to too much software being loaded, it also may be the case that
there is not enough RAM in the machine, especially if the video card shares
system RAM. 32-bit machines can hold up to 4 GB RAM; Linux can use 2 GB
comfortably. Especially if the machine is a laptop, but otherwise, too, it's
a good idea to have a swap partition at least as large as the amount of RAM
installed. With low activity levels and modest amounts of software loaded,
swap activity may be modest, especially with more RAM added. However, being
prepared for more swap activity for applications, for video, and for laptop
suspend and resume situations is a good idea.


Ken

[Renaud (Ron) Olgiati]

As an aside, and before I bother downloading it, does 2009.1 have a KDE3
metapackage ?
 
Cheers,
 
Ron.
--
        Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
          It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
                                           -- William Pitt the younger
                                   
                   -- http://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org --

[Gary Montalbine]

Renaud (Ron) OLGIATI wrote:
> As an aside, and before I bother downloading it, does 2009.1 have a KDE3
> metapackage ?
>  
> Cheers,
>  
> Ron.

Yes. task-kde3. It works.

Gary

[Kenneth Marcy]

On Wednesday 01 July 2009 12:57:55 Gary Montalbine wrote:
> Renaud (Ron) OLGIATI wrote:
> > As an aside, and before I bother downloading it, does 2009.1 have a KDE3
> > metapackage ?
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Ron.
>
> Yes. task-kde3. It works.

There is more installation verbiage at the MandrivaUsers.org site:

http://mandrivausers.org/lofiversion/index.php/t83894.html 


Ken

[Renaud (Ron) Olgiati]

On Wednesday 01 July 2009, my mailbox was graced by a missive
 from Gary Montalbine <gmontalbine@...> who wrote:

> Renaud (Ron) OLGIATI wrote:
> > As an aside, and before I bother downloading it, does 2009.1 have a KDE3
> > metapackage ?

> Yes. task-kde3. It works.

Ta, then I'll give 2009.1 a try, using KDE3.
 
Cheers,
 
Ron.
--
          Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.
             They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our
                  country and our people, and neither do we.
                            -- President George W. Bush, Aug. 5, '04
                                   
                   -- http://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org --

[Gary Montalbine]

Kenneth Marcy wrote:

> On Wednesday 01 July 2009 12:57:55 Gary Montalbine wrote:
>> Renaud (Ron) OLGIATI wrote:
>>> As an aside, and before I bother downloading it, does 2009.1 have a KDE3
>>> metapackage ?
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Ron.
>> Yes. task-kde3. It works.
>
> There is more installation verbiage at the MandrivaUsers.org site:
>
> http://mandrivausers.org/lofiversion/index.php/t83894.html 
>
>
> Ken

OOPs Ron. My eyes were seeing 2009.1. My mind was thinking 2009. I don't
know about 2009.1.

Sorry, Gary

[Renaud (Ron) Olgiati]

On Wednesday 01 July 2009, my mailbox was graced by a missive
 from Gary Montalbine <gmontalbine@...> who wrote:

> OOPs Ron. My eyes were seeing 2009.1. My mind was thinking 2009. I don't
> know about 2009.1.

OK, no wackies, thanks anyway.
 
Cheers,
 
Ron.
--
                 Windows is not an answer, it is a question;
                            and the answer is NO !
                                   
                   -- http://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org --