[ltp] two questions -- 600E / X / RAM

[Tod Harter]

I've run KDE on machines with as little as 32 MB. That WAS really painfull. 
64 is better, 96 seems OK if you don't run certain HOG programs like 
Netscape/Mozilla. I'd say if you are up at 128 or higher you probably aren't 
too much bound by memory for performance with KDE, though with 128 you will 
still want to watch running too much extra stuff. 

I think even on the fastest machines KDE can sometimes seem a bit slow. Same 
for Gnome. The fact is, despite all RMS and these guys protestations to the 
contrary, commercial software vendors like MS have a huge advantage in 
performance tuning their stuff.

For instance MS VC++ 6.x generates machine code that is between 130% and 200% 
more efficient than GCC 2.9.x does. That means that even with code that is 
identical in basic efficiency, Windows will be almost 2x as zippy on any 
given hardware. Drivers are almost always better for windws as well, since 
vendors actually care about it. 

In addition OSS projects just don't focus on speed and efficiency. KDE 3.0 
has a more optimized startup sequence for instance, and it gains like 200% in 
speed on startup over 2.2.2, with just minor optimization. MS can spend a 
billion $ on optimizing how their desktop starts up. Its a sad fact, but KDE 
is a bit slow, and a bit unstable, and so is Gnome, and its not likely ever 
to change.

If you want a good small window manager, try ICEWM. It is pretty darn memory 
efficient and it has most features you will really need. 

On Tuesday 16 April 2002 11:50, Mark Nye wrote:

> Two--------------------------------
>
> Does anyone have any input on what should be considered a minimum amount of
> memory for running Linux with the KDE desktop?
>
> I started with 64MB, and have recently added another 64MB. The extra
> memory, in conjunction with weeding out my unneeded processes, has made an
> improvement--but the system still seems to be a bit sluggish. WilI I see a
> difference if I add more RAM, or should I be barking up a different tree?
>
> all the best,
> Mark
>
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