Improve performance in Ubuntu

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

This is an index of threads on how to get the best performance out of your Ubuntu machine.

Warning: These tutorials may cause harm to your system if you do not follow them correctly. Please remember to carefully follow and read the guides. Thank you.

Use InitNG as a replacement for standard Init.

Speed up Firefox

Custom compile a new kernel. You can also use this tutorial.

Make sure DMA is enabled.

Use Prelink to make applications start faster.

Pick the kernel that's right for your processor.

Disable uneeded services from starting.

Use Swiftfox, a faster Firefox for Intel and AMD processors.

Tweak your ext3/reisers filesystem for enhanced performance.

Clean up unnecessary files

XML Optimization Thanks to orvils for the link and informmation.

Tips from me:
Install preload "sudo apt-get install preload."
Use the latest drivers for your video card.
Use XFCE as your Desktop Enviroment.
Use Abiword instead of Open Office

[GoA]

How is the preload application used? Does it work automatically?

[elemental666]

Before doing anything to tweak the perfomance of my ubuntu install, I'd like to get some benchmarks so I can see what kind of performace increase I'm getting. So how does one go about getting these benchmarks?

[bluevoodoo1]

Originally Posted by elemental666 Before doing anything to tweak the perfomance of my ubuntu install, I'd like to get some benchmarks so I can see what kind of performace increase I'm getting. So how does one go about getting these benchmarks?

Here's a video card related one...
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=157429

It's still in development, but it's pretty neat.

[elemental666]

Thanks blue, I"ll check it out...

Also, found this HOwto to get me started... just in case anyone else feels the same...

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Benchmarking-HOWTO.html

[ago]

Consider also runit instead of initng

http://smarden.org/runit/
http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?s...26252&from=rss

[JSchwage]

What about better alternatives to OpenOffice? I've actually noticed it takes longer for OO to start up than Firefox on my old Compaq Presario 1200. I think you should mention Scribus or something similiar.

[itomeshi]

Originally Posted by JSchwage What about better alternatives to OpenOffice? I've actually noticed it takes longer for OO to start up than Firefox on my old Compaq Presario 1200. I think you should mention Scribus or something similiar.

Why not just tweak OpenOffice? The default memory management settings literally throttle OpenOffice into oblivion.

Open up writer, and go to Tools > Options. Go to memory in the sidebar.

Set number of undo steps to 30-40 max, have it use 64MB or more (128, if your system can afford it (at least 512mb total ram) helps greatly), boost memory per object to 5.0 MB.

Need a visual example? Try http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffi...ory/index.html, which I found via Google.

I wouldn't do the JRE trick that page mentions unless you REALLY never use those aspects. Still, the memory tweak alone is an impressive boost.

[JSchwage]

Originally Posted by itomeshi Why not just tweak OpenOffice? The default memory management settings literally throttle OpenOffice into oblivion. Open up writer, and go to Tools > Options. Go to memory in the sidebar. Set number of undo steps to 30-40 max, have it use 64MB or more (128, if your system can afford it (at least 512mb total ram) helps greatly), boost memory per object to 5.0 MB. Need a visual example? Try http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffi...ory/index.html, which I found via Google. I wouldn't do the JRE trick that page mentions unless you REALLY never use those aspects. Still, the memory tweak alone is an impressive boost.

The only problem is that I'm on an old AMD K6 with 192MB of RAM. OO takes about 20 seconds to fully load. I'm not as much worried about how much memory it's using when it's actually loaded.

[itomeshi]

Originally Posted by JSchwage The only problem is that I'm on an old AMD K6 with 192MB of RAM. OO takes about 20 seconds to fully load. I'm not as much worried about how much memory it's using when it's actually loaded.

On my Centrino 1.4Ghz, 512MB of RAM, etc., it normally takes about 10-12 seconds to load. After this, it is about 3-4. Even if you can only boost it wo 32 or 48 (from 19), it will help.

How do web-based word processors (like Writely) or stand alone solutions like AbiWord perform on your machine?