Use swap less and speed up Ubuntu?

**pretty_whistle** · January 22nd, 2013

I have Ubuntu 12.04.

Can I do this to speed things up?

Use swap less frequently. It will enable faster switching between applications:

sudo sysctl vm.swappiness=10

And edit /etc/sysctl.conf and add the line at the end of the file to set it automatically at boot time:

vm.swappiness=10

**tgalati4** · January 22nd, 2013

Open a terminal, post the output of:

Code:

free

What processor are you running?

**pretty_whistle** · January 22nd, 2013

Originally Posted by tgalati4

Open a terminal, post the output of:

Code:

free

What processor are you running?

Processor? How do I find that out?

**pretty_whistle** · January 22nd, 2013

I found it. Processor info:

Dual Core AMD Athlon QL-62.

**pretty_whistle** · January 22nd, 2013

Output of free:

**mcduck** · January 23rd, 2013

Originally Posted by pretty_whistle

Output of free:

You have plenty of free memory, and are not using swap at all. Adjusting swappiness value wouldn't have any effect on your computer's performance.

**pretty_whistle** · January 23rd, 2013

Originally Posted by mcduck

You have plenty of free memory, and are not using swap at all. Adjusting swappiness value wouldn't have any effect on your computer's performance.

Thanks.

That's what I thought.

**tgalati4** · January 23rd, 2013

If the desktop manager response is too slow, then change desktop managers. Try Linux Mint Mate 64-bit with a Live DVD and see if the response is any better.

I agree with the others, if you are not using swap, then changing swapiness is not going to have any effect.