In this article, we will discuss several methods to fix slow performance issues on Ubuntu 20.04 with the GNOME desktop. This guide is intended for users who have experienced sluggish performance on their GNOME desktop and are looking for ways to improve it.
Understanding the Problem
The GNOME desktop is known for its simplicity and user-friendly interface. However, some users have reported slow performance on Ubuntu 20.04 with the GNOME desktop. This could be due to various reasons such as high-resolution screens, outdated system or drivers, or power-saving modes.
Method 1: Disable Fractional Scaling and Reduce Screen Resolution
One of the common causes of slow GNOME performance is the use of high-resolution screens. If you are using a high-DPI screen, you might experience sluggish performance due to the high demand on system resources.
To fix this, you can disable Fractional scaling and reduce the screen resolution. To do this, navigate to Settings > Displays. Here, turn off the Fractional Scaling option and reduce the screen resolution to a lower setting.
Method 2: Increase Text Size Using gsettings Command
Another method to improve GNOME performance is to increase the text size. This can be done using the gsettings command. Open the Terminal and type the following command:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface text-scaling-factor 1.25This command sets the text scaling factor to 1.25. The org.gnome.desktop.interface text-scaling-factor is a configuration key in GNOME that controls the text size. By increasing the text size, you can reduce the demand on system resources, thus improving performance.
Method 3: Update and Upgrade System, Install Latest NVIDIA Driver
Sometimes, slow GNOME performance can be caused by an outdated system or drivers. To fix this, you can update and upgrade your system and install the latest NVIDIA driver.
To update and upgrade your system, open the Terminal and type the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgradeThe sudo apt update command updates the list of available packages and their versions, but it does not install or upgrade any packages. The sudo apt upgrade command installs newer versions of the packages you have.
After updating and upgrading your system, you can install the latest NVIDIA driver by typing the following command:
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-460This command installs the NVIDIA driver version 460. Make sure to replace 460 with the latest version available.
Method 4: Disable WiFi Powersave Mode
If you are experiencing slow performance and WiFi disconnection issues, it might be due to the WiFi powersave mode. To disable this mode, open the Terminal and type the following command:
sudo sed -i 's/wifi.powersave = 3/wifi.powersave = 2/' /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/default-wifi-powersave-on.confThis command changes the WiFi powersave mode from 3 (enabled) to 2 (disabled) in the default-wifi-powersave-on.conf file.
Method 5: Reinstall Default NVIDIA Driver
If all else fails, you can try reinstalling the default NVIDIA driver. To do this, open the Terminal and type the following command:
sudo apt install --reinstall xserver-xorg-video-nouveauThis command reinstalls the xserver-xorg-video-nouveau package, which is the default NVIDIA driver.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed several methods to fix slow GNOME performance on Ubuntu 20.04. These methods include disabling Fractional scaling and reducing screen resolution, increasing text size using the gsettings command, updating and upgrading the system and installing the latest NVIDIA driver, disabling WiFi powersave mode, and reinstalling the default NVIDIA driver.
Remember, these solutions may not work for everyone. If you are still experiencing slow performance after trying these methods, it is recommended to seek further assistance.
To access the Settings menu in GNOME on Ubuntu 20.04, click on the Activities button in the top-left corner of the screen, then type "Settings" in the search bar and click on the "Settings" icon that appears.
To check your current screen resolution in Ubuntu 20.04, you can go to the Settings menu, click on "Displays", and the current resolution will be displayed under the "Resolution" section.
To open the Terminal in Ubuntu 20.04, you can press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T. Alternatively, you can search for "Terminal" in the Activities menu and click on the Terminal icon that appears.
To find out your current NVIDIA driver version, you can open the Terminal and run the command nvidia-smi. This will display information about your NVIDIA graphics card, including the driver version.
Yes, you can revert the changes made in the Terminal commands by undoing the specific command that was executed. For example, if you changed the text scaling factor using the gsettings command, you can reset it to the default value by running the command gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface text-scaling-factor.
