How To Fix Slow Performance on Ubuntu 20.04

If you’re a user of Ubuntu 20.04 and you’re experiencing slow performance, you’re not alone. Many users have reported similar issues, but the good news is that there are several potential solutions you can try. In this article, we’ll walk you through these solutions step-by-step.

Reverting to the Default Drivers

One of the most common causes of slow performance in Ubuntu 20.04 is the use of proprietary Nvidia drivers. If you’ve installed these drivers and are experiencing slowness, you can try reverting to the default drivers.

To do this, go to Software & Updates and then navigate to Additional Drivers. From there, select the option to use X.Org X Server instead of the proprietary Nvidia drivers.

This essentially shifts the responsibility of graphics rendering from the proprietary drivers (which may not be optimized for your setup) to the X.Org X Server, which is a public, open-source solution.

Disabling Secure Boot

Secure Boot is a feature that checks if your drivers are signed. Some users have reported improved performance after disabling Secure Boot in the BIOS. However, it’s important to understand the potential implications and risks of disabling Secure Boot before proceeding.

To disable Secure Boot, you’ll need to access your BIOS settings. The exact method for doing this varies depending on your computer’s manufacturer, but it often involves pressing a specific key (like F2, F12, or Del) during startup.

Once you’re in the BIOS settings, look for the Secure Boot option and disable it. Remember to save your changes before exiting the BIOS.

Checking GPU Driver Installation

If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, it’s important to ensure that the GPU driver is installed properly. If it’s not, your system may default to using an embedded Intel graphics solution, which can cause performance issues.

To check your GPU driver installation, you can use the nvidia-smi command in the terminal. This command provides information about your NVIDIA GPU and the associated driver.

If the nvidia-smi command doesn’t return any information, or returns an error, it’s likely that your GPU driver isn’t installed correctly. In this case, you can try reinstalling the driver using the sudo apt install nvidia-driver-440 command.

Checking CPU Frequency Scaling

If everything on your system is consistently slow or choppy, it could be due to your CPU being down-clocked and frequency scaling not working correctly.

To check your CPU speed, you can install tools like “CPU Power Manager” for Gnome or “Intel P-state and CPUFreq Manager” for KDE. These tools allow you to adjust your CPU speed and check if frequency scaling is working properly.

Consider a Different Installation Method

If you’re still experiencing slow performance after trying the above solutions, you might want to consider a different installation method. Some users have reported that installing Ubuntu 19.10 and then doing a release upgrade to Ubuntu 20.04 resolved their performance issues.

To do this, you’ll need to download the Ubuntu 19.10 ISO, install it, and then upgrade to Ubuntu 20.04 using the sudo do-release-upgrade command.

Remember to back up your data before proceeding with this method, as it involves a complete reinstallation of your operating system.

Conclusion

Slow performance on Ubuntu 20.04 can be frustrating, but there are several potential solutions you can try. Whether it’s reverting to the default drivers, disabling Secure Boot, checking your GPU driver installation, adjusting your CPU speed, or considering a different installation method, one of these solutions is likely to resolve your performance issues.

Remember to research and understand the potential implications of any changes you make to your system before implementing them. And, as always, make sure to back up your data before making any major changes to your system.