mx 23 heavy on ram usage

[dotw]

I installed mx 23 xfce on my pc but it is heavier on system resources despite being based on debian. on the other hand, i got linux mint 21.2 xfce installed on the same device but it is lighter on ram usage compared to mx 23 xfce. mx 23 uses approx 650+ MB on idle and even when using different apps mx 23 xfce still uses more than lm 21.2 xfce when exactly the same apps are open. My question is: is not debian supposed to be lighter than ubuntu based distros? then why is it not in this case?

[Eadwine Rose]

Please post your Quick System Info using Copy for forum, thanks.

[dotw]

Please post your Quick System Info using Copy for forum, thanks.

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-12-amd64 [6.1.52-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-12-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23_x64 Libretto July 31  2023 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Pro 3330 MT v: N/A serial: <superuser required>
    Chassis: type: 3 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Foxconn model: 17A0 v: 2.10 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: AMI v: 8.09
    date: 10/22/2013
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i3-3240 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Ivy Bridge gen: core 3 level: v2
    built: 2012-15 process: Intel 22nm family: 6 model-id: 0x3A (58) stepping: 9 microcode: 0x21
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 tpc: 2 threads: 4 smt: enabled cache: L1: 128 KiB
    desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB L2: 512 KiB desc: 2x256 KiB L3: 3 MiB desc: 1x3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2327 high: 2894 min/max: 1600/3400 scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 2894 2: 1925 3: 1597 4: 2894 bogomips: 27139
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX unsupported
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines, IBPB: conditional, IBRS_FW, STIBP: conditional, RSB
    filling, PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-7 process: Intel 22nm built: 2012-13 ports: active: HDMI-A-1
    empty: DP-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0152 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22") s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 model: Acer KA222Q H serial: <filter> built: 2023
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102 gamma: 1.2 size: 478x260mm (18.82x10.24") diag: 544mm (21.4")
    ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 4.2 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 2500 (IVB GT1)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard 6
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1c20 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-12-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 05:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 577.55 GiB used: 11.11 GiB (1.9%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Lexar model: SSD NS10LT 120GB size: 111.79 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 0.2 scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Seagate model: ST500DM002-1BD142 size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter>
    rev: HP74 scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 18.63 GiB size: 18.16 GiB (97.52%) used: 11.11 GiB (61.2%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sdb9 maj-min: 8:25
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 572 MiB size: 570.8 MiB (99.80%) used: 288 KiB (0.0%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sdb10 maj-min: 8:26
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2196 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2185 libs: 1146 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 11
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
Info:
  Processes: 201 Uptime: 1m wakeups: 1 Memory: 7.64 GiB used: 934.6 MiB (11.9%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12 Client: shell wrapper
  v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

[dotw]

i also experience some stutters in mx 23 which I do not at all in linux mint xfce

[asqwerth]

Your system is an old one (2013). What kernel version are you using on Mint 21? Sometimes with older hardware, the newest kernel may not work as well.

Did you compare what behind-the-scenes programs are open in both Mint 21 and MX23 when you first boot up and login? Check with Task Manager.

I say this because MX usually has a lot of thing started upon login, eg conky, which would affect the RAM consumption. However, that does not appear to affect its responsiveness and quickness (in running programs).

[dotw]

What kernel version are you using on Mint 21?

the information below are copied from linux mint

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-83-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.4.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.18.1
    tk: Gtk 3.24.33 wm: xfwm dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 21.2 Victoria base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Hewlett-Packard product: HP Pro 3330 MT v: N/A
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 3 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Foxconn model: 17A0 v: 2.10 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: AMI v: 8.09
    date: 10/22/2013
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: Intel Core i3-3240 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Ivy Bridge rev: 9 cache:
    L1: 128 KiB L2: 512 KiB L3: 3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3098 high: 3393 min/max: 1600/3400 cores: 1: 2574 2: 3076 3: 3349 4: 3393
    bogomips: 27139
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: i915 v: kernel ports: active: HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:0152
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 compositors: 1: xfwm v: 4.18.0 2: Compton v: 1 driver:
    X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96
  Monitor-1: HDMI-1 mapped: HDMI-A-1 model: Acer KA222Q H res: 1920x1080 dpi: 102
    diag: 544mm (21.4")
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 2500 (IVB GT1) v: 4.2 Mesa 23.0.4-0ubuntu1~22.04.1
    direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1c20
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-83-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 05:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168
  IF: enp5s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 577.55 GiB used: 38.54 GiB (6.7%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST500DM002-1BD142 size: 465.76 GiB speed: 3.0 Gb/s
    serial: <filter>
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Lexar model: SSD NS10LT 120GB size: 111.79 GiB speed: 3.0 Gb/s
    serial: <filter>
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 40.14 GiB used: 26.88 GiB (67.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb7
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 399.2 MiB used: 6.1 MiB (1.5%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda2
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 1.91 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 dev: /dev/sdb6
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
  Hub-2: 1-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 8087:0024
  Device-1: 1-1.3:3 info: Logitech M105 Optical Mouse type: Mouse driver: hid-generic,usbhid
    rev: 2.0 speed: 1.5 Mb/s chip-ID: 046d:c077
  Device-2: 1-1.4:4 info: Logitech Keyboard K120 type: Keyboard,HID driver: hid-generic,usbhid
    rev: 1.1 speed: 1.5 Mb/s chip-ID: 046d:c31c
  Hub-3: 2-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
  Hub-4: 2-1:2 info: Intel Integrated Rate Matching Hub ports: 6 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 8087:0024
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8 C mobo: 27.8 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2364 apt: 2331 flatpak: 33
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb http: //packages.linuxmint.com victoria main upstream import backport
    2: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list
    1: deb http: //repository.spotify.com stable non-free
Info:
  Processes: 247 Uptime: 1h 21m Memory: 7.64 GiB used: 3.28 GiB (43.0%) Init: systemd v: 249
  runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 11.4.0 alt: 11/12 Client: Unknown python3.10 client inxi: 3.3.13

[j2mcgreg]

@dotw

The difference is that you have a swap partition in Mint and swap is absent in MX. You can set up a swap file in MX after the fact and here's how:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/ ... -debian-11

[Charlie Brown]

The moment you took the info:

Memory: 7.64 GiB used: 3.28 GiB (43.0%)

Probably the browser was open :)

[wdscharff]

No wonder, the 5.x kernels were a good 100MB "more economical" than the 6-x series.
By massive optimization in the autostart, so only load what you really need, possibly also try alternative kernels from Liquorix or xanmod, but can save a lot again.
With my MX 23/Fluxbox I need with the current xanmod/liquorix kernel after booting just ~280MB. With xfce it would be (at least that was in earlier test times so) about 100-150mb more, so around max 450mb.
You have to do a bit to optimize the system to your needs.


Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[baldyeti]

Which tool atre you using to check memory usage ? There have been changes to how libproc2 measures memory. htop shouldn't be affected and report similar figures between bullseye or bookworm running on the same HW. Can you try using htop on Mint and MX23 ?

htop-memory.png