Slow multi-tasking

bkanuka · n00b Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 40

I don't understand it. I was just about to give a sales pitch to my family to convince them to have one linux-only computer in the house, and now my gentoo has slowed down. The main problem is multi-tasking and starting programs. When something is running, emerge and the like, the computer is really slow. I can't even move the mouse. I havn't really had any major changes except for installing vmware tools and then uninstalling it, so something might have been left behind, and I installed samba.
I don't really know what other info to give you. Everything should be pretty standard.

hardcore · l33t Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 626 Location: MSU, MI

What kernel are you using? Have you monitored top when all this goes on? What are your hardware specs?
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Ateo · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:06 am Post subject:

Check top when this happens. I had the same issue. Turned out to be superkaramba perl script (to check my IMAP server for new messages) which would consume my CPU 100%++ when the script couldn't connect to the IMAP server.

bkanuka · n00b Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 40

Kernel: gentoo-2.6.12

Specs:
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ 2.16GHz
512MB DDR Memory (probably should get more)
nVidia GeForce 5500 w/ 256MB
MSI K7N2 Delta2-Platinum nVidia Motherboard

The CPU runs at around 40-45 degrees celsius. Every other temperature is really low, like 20-30 degrees.

I don't have anything running that I don't need, and that is pretty mininmum. Stuff like apache, samba, dansgaurdian, hald, vixie-cron. This doesn't have anything to do with the network though.

I don't know what you mean by monitoring top.

Thanks for the help.

bkanuka · n00b Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 40

Alright, this is really getting to me. Its not even about multi-tasking anymore. I used to be able to run at least two emerges, and still use other programs smoothly on other desktops. Now it's just crap. The mouse jumps and programs take so long to open. It even froze once. I just need a little insight into some files I could look at, or some tests I should run. Windows is so much faster. I it. Tell me ANYTHING!!
Please!?

silk.odyssey · n00b Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 54

I am having the same/similar problem. What can i do to diagnose the problem?

Sangeki · Apprentice Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 186

You can run the command "top" in a terminal and see if there's a Process that takes to much resources.

Also check if you have DMA enabled.

silk.odyssey · n00b Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 54

I followed the hdparm wiki how-to and that and the system runs a lot faster now. It seems also DMA support was not enabled. Here are a few tests.

Before: