Archlinux / Ubuntu

Enfield

Enfield

Enfield

Soldato
Joined
8 Nov 2003
Posts
7,409
Location
UK
Hi

I have been using Archlinux for about a year now, maybe even longer. I only really used my computer for E-mail and browsing the Internet.

I also have Ubuntu on another hard drive and I can't help but notice how slow it is compared to Archlinux!

Arch boots up in about 30 seconds flat whereas Ubuntu takes closer to two minutes. Even when it is up and running it is constantly doing something in the background because you can hear the hard drive spinning, random freezes when browsing and just generally sluggish opening programs.

I don't understand why they are so different in terms of speed! Can anyone explain?

P.s I have followed a couple of websites which tell you how to speed it up and remove the rubbish but didn't really make much of a noticeable difference.
 
Well basically ubuntu isnt optimised to go fast, just be able to do everything (like windows with plug n play) which makes it slow as it does loads of scanning to check if everything is there (on boot).

Arch doesnt assume you change things too often so has one set list for booting and is thus faster in that area.

In the desktop area again ubuntu has pretty much everything you can shake a stick at loaded at once, useful if you dont know what your doing but not fast, when with arch you only have the stuff you want/need installed so theres less faffing about with extra stuff on it.

If you want even faster id try getting a gentoo install done one day just for having a completly stripped down and customised kernel can be even faster (and you can knock quite a few things off the boot process that you wont be using). Wouldnt recmmend trying this unless your really bored though as gentoo seems to be a bit broken at the mo....
 
ubuntu has a lot more programs running, and has a huge number of packages installed. Arch is built to be slim-lined, with a focus on speed. Everything that is installed is specifically installed by the user, and nothing extra is there to slow it down.
 
OK.

Is there a way to install Ubuntu without all the rubbish that comes with it? I like Ubuntu because it doesn't seem to randomly break like Arch and there seems to be more support for it. Just the other day my mouse randomly stopped working, then I done an update about a week later and it worked again! Strange.
 
You complain, yet,
I like Ubuntu because it doesn't seem to randomly break like Arch and there seems to be more support for it.
Click to expand...
You have to take the rough with the smooth.

Arch is faster because it installs bugger all and you have to do everything by hand.
Ubuntu does have more processes running because it installs everything but the kitchen sink.

If you get the alternate CD and do a text mode install you can start off ubuntu like Arch. more or less.
 
yashiro said:
You complain, yet,

You have to take the rough with the smooth.

Arch is faster because it installs bugger all and you have to do everything by hand.
Ubuntu does have more processes running because it installs everything but the kitchen sink.

If you get the alternate CD and do a text mode install you can start off ubuntu like Arch. more or less.
Click to expand...

It has it ups and downs!
 
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