Discussion, talk and tips
https://forum.puppylinux.com/
I am currently running Bookworm Pup 32-bit on a Dell dimension 2300, a 23-year-old computer.
The OS is running at a high CPU most of the time is constantly hanging at 100%, I have 768 megs of RAM but it's only using like 200 megs which is respectable.
the CPU is an intel Celeron running at 1.4 gigahertz.
any help would be useful thanks
.
PS:I am triple-booting this with xp and Deabin
Does this CPU usage ever go down?
After several minutes of operation?
Is this only with a BookwormPup32 that you have not added any software to?
If no.
What software was added?
yeah down to 50 percent when left idle.
mostly the lightbrowser uses a ton.
it's a default installation mostly. I think I have Classicube installed.
the CPU only has 1 core, would that matter
yeah down to 50 percent when left idle.
That seems very high.
This is with it booted to the desktop and no programs running?
If yes.
I am not in BookwormPup32 right now.
Should be a program (Process or Task Manager) in the menu ->System that will show what is running and CPU usage.
See what it shows that could be using all this CPU.
Note:
Take a Shot program can be used to make an image of just a Window and can post it as an attachment.
The image you posted is very hard to read and is fuzzy.
I have 768 megs of RAM but it's only using like 200 megs which is respectable.
I think this may be your problem. Not much ram to work with and Bookworm without a swap file uses zram which uses even more of your ram.
Likely your system is out of ram and trying very hard to page swap.
Can you add any more ram?
zram should make RAM use function as if RAM was about double the size.
But it does need to use CPU cycles to do it.
the computer has a gpu, how would i configure that. i think right now its using the intgrated gpu witch might have to do with the cpu usage, also how can i do a full install instead of a frugal one
@guineapig / @bigpup :-
Bigs, my guess is it's a CPU 'issue'.....mostly related to age. From the model and year of manufacture, it's even older than my anciente Inspiron lappie was.....and my guess is this is running a P3-gen Celeron (probably the desktop variant; despite a mobile version being available, Dell wouldn't have used it in those days).
It's a lack of CPU instructions. This thing wouldn't even have had SSE2s; we're here probably looking at SSE-only....
EDIT:- Nope, my bad. Seems this actually had a P4; it's quite possible somebody swapped this out for the Celeron at some point during its lifetime. So, then; that gives SSE2s.....but still desperately slow. Watching paint dry would be more exciting...
The Inspiron used to run flat-out all the time with Tahrpup.....and that was a much older, far lighter Pup. It's good fun seeing what ancient hardware is still capable of, but you DO need to be sympathetic to the age of the components.
Something more lightweight might be more suitable for the OP.
Mike. 
It might be beneficial to use pfix=nocopy in a computer like this to increase free RAM and reduce swapping of any kind, and also recompress all SFSs with zstd. If storage is super slow (reading less data is still slow) to the point compression ratio doesn't matter, maybe even lz4 and lzo can be good options. xz is definitely the worst option, it can be CPU intensive and slow.
sure i can try out tar pup
using tahr pup and its running at about 15-20% when idle, thanks mikewalsh
@guineapig :-
Ah, you're welcome. I suggested it 'cos it used to run like a champion on the old Dell (around the same sort of age as yours). OK, I had a full 2 GB DDR1 in mine, and I think my P4 was a 2.6 GHz or 2.8 GHz......I forget now, but summat like that. But CPU speed made no noticeable difference with the P4s. A 3.4 GHz ran just as slow as a 1.4!
And the advantage with Tahrpup is that it's about the oldest, most lightweight Pup I know that'll still run an up-to-date browser. I maintain a copy myself on this big HP desktop rig, just for fun; I have a bit of a soft spot for Tahrpup, 'cos it was the first Linux distro I found where absolutely everything worked, OOTB, with no messing about.
You've got the choice of either Firefox - mainline OR ESR - Seamonkey, or Palemoon. Tahrpup's happy with any of those. (Oh; nearly forgot. The re-worked 32-bit Midori is also a viable option nowadays, so that gives you a total of 5 browsers to choose from!)
Stick with it for a bit. I think - like many of us - you'll realise just HOW sweet Tahrpup really is after you've spent a bit of time with her.
Mike.
Now you know why there are several Puppy versions offered to try.
You give up too quickly.
I bet we could still get the CPU usage down in BookwormPup32 with a little tweaking.
But sometimes it is all about what works best for the hardware.
Adding any software to Tahrpup(32bit) may be an issue if the software needs newer versions of the dependency files and programs.
how can i do a full install instead of a frugal one
Puppy Linux is designed to operate as a frugal install.
Do not get hung up on the name.
It is still the complete operating system, just installed in a special way.
Frugal name was used, because of it's ability to take up as little space and not require completely using a drive partition.
Some of the features of Puppy Linux only work as a frugal install.
Here is info on it:
Frugal installs:
Can be put on any partition any format, any type storage device.
They load more of Puppy into RAM. (runs programs faster)
Easier to backup, because all changes, settings are in the save. The core Puppy files never change. Only what is in the save changes. All you have to do is copy the save to have a backup.
If Puppy really gets messed up. Just delete the save and replace it with the backup save.
You can easily load or unload SFS program packages.
This lets you use a program without actually installing it to Puppy. You will have to use this option to fully understand it.
All of Puppy is placed in a directory (folder).
You can have many Puppies on one partition.
All completely separate from the other.
All in different directories (Linux term for folder).
One thing about Tahrpup 6.0.5 (I assume you are using the 32bit one)
There are some updates for it.
After you make a save file or folder and boot using it.
Quickpet (icon on desktop)
Run Quickpet ->Info -> Tahrpup updates
This will download and install the updates.
Keep doing this until it reports nothing new being done. (there were several updates and it may not get all of them in one check)
Reboot making sure the save is updated, so now it is using the changes.
I have 768 megs of RAM
You do need to have a swap file or swap partition to help with the low amount of RAM.
In a terminal (console)
Code: Select all
freeDoes it give any info about swap being available?