[SOLVED - bought a used gamer pc] CPU running 97% while teaching on zoom, anything I can do to lighten the load?

[tellymandeus]

Hi,

Still teaching on zoom because I'm in Japan.....and one issue I have that makes teaching on zoom harder than it needs to be is that my computer gets a bit strained by zoom, OBS for the virtual camera, browser for my whiteboard app (miro.com), etc.... I have a little desklet to keep me informed and CPU is pretty much up in the 95+ range quite a lot of the time.

Is there anything I can do to lighten the CPU load? Obviously I'm shutting everything I don't need (no extraneous browser windows etc), is there maybe anything running in the background that I could shut down?

I did toy with the idea of a lighter install, but looking into it it seemed cinnamon is fairly light-ish anyway so I wouldn't be saving enough to make the hassle of another install worth it. I even looked at super-light stuff like crunchbang but it seems those are not really necessary with todays much faster machines....(something I seem to be disproving....)

Of course I could buy a newer faster computer, but i really don't want to do that...

if anyone has any suggestions I'd be grateful, but it's not a crucial issue: it all basically works, it's more like if it was working a tad faster the teaching-on-zoom experience would be a little less gruelling....

thanks!

[Moem]

Cinnamon is the heaviest DE that comes with Mint. You could try Xfce or MATE. The fact is that Zoom is just a hippo among applications.

[spamegg]

Please give us information about your install by entering this command in a terminal:

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inxi -Fxpmrz

Click </> from the mini toolbar above the textbox where you type your reply
and then place your cursor between the code markers and paste the results of the
command between the code markers like this: [code]Results[/code].

[tellymandeus]

thanks for the help, here you go:

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System:    Host: simon-Inspiron-11-3158 Kernel: 4.15.0-140-generic x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.5.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.9 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu4)
           Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: laptop System: Dell product: Inspiron 11-3158 serial: N/A
           Mobo: Dell model: 0T9T2H v: A00 serial: N/A
           UEFI: Dell v: 01.07.00 date: 04/06/2016
Battery    BAT0: charge: 40.6 Wh 147.2% condition: 27.6/40.6 Wh (68%)
           model: Sanyo DELL 4K8YH57 status: Full
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i3-6100U (-MT-MCP-) 
           arch: Skylake rev.3 cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9199
           clock speeds: max: 2300 MHz 1: 500 MHz 2: 500 MHz 3: 500 MHz
           4: 500 MHz
Memory:    Using dmidecode: root required for dmidecode
Graphics:  Card: Intel Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520] bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@59.98hz, 1920x1080@60.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 520 (SKL GT2)
           version: 4.6 Mesa 20.0.8 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1f.3
           Card-2 Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920
           driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 001-006
           Card-3 Samson Q2U handheld mic with XLR
           driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 001-011
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-140-generic
Network:   Card: Intel Wireless 3165 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: wlp1s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 3128.7GB (59.3% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_SSD_CM87 size: 128.0GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Silicon size: 1000.2GB
           ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: HDCR size: 1000.2GB
           ID-4: USB /dev/sdd model: HD size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 60G used: 43G (76%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4
           ID-2: /boot/efi size: 496M used: 43M (9%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-3: /media/simon/ptbl_003 size: 917G used: 581G (67%)
           fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1
           ID-4: /media/simon/poweredHDD size: 932G used: 497G (54%)
           fs: fuseblk dev: /dev/sdc1
           ID-5: /media/simon/ptbl_001 size: 932G used: 605G (65%)
           fs: fuseblk dev: /dev/sdd1
           ID-6: swap-1 size: 4.28GB used: 1.21GB (28%)
           fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 52.0C mobo: 25.0C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/alex-p-aegisub-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/alex-p/aegisub/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/alex-p/aegisub/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/audio-recorder-ppa-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/audio-recorder/ppa/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/audio-recorder/ppa/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-earth-pro.list
           deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/earth/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/inkscape_dev-stable-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/inkscape.dev/stable/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/inkscape.dev/stable/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kdenlive-kdenlive-stable-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kdenlive/kdenlive-stable/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/kdenlive/kdenlive-stable/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/obsproject-obs-studio-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/obsproject/obs-studio/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/obsproject/obs-studio/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/linuxmint/packages tara main upstream import backport
           deb http://ftp.riken.jp/Linux/ubuntu bionic main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://ftp.riken.jp/Linux/ubuntu bionic-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://ftp.riken.jp/Linux/ubuntu bionic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-security main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ bionic partner
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pj-assis-testing-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/pj-assis/testing/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/pj-assis/testing/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sebastian-stenzel-cryptomator-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/sebastian-stenzel/cryptomator/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/sebastian-stenzel/cryptomator/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teams.list
           deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/ms-teams stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/trebelnik-stefina-subtitlecomposer-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/trebelnik-stefina/subtitlecomposer/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/trebelnik-stefina/subtitlecomposer/ubuntu bionic main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntuhandbook1-audacity-bionic.list
           deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntuhandbook1/audacity/ubuntu bionic main
           deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntuhandbook1/audacity/ubuntu bionic main
Info:      Processes: 244 Uptime: 1 day Memory: 1820.9/3802.1MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.5.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.201) inxi: 2.3.56

[tellymandeus]

I tried mint XFCE but there were various weird issues, in the end I gave up on it, at least in my experience it's not nearly a polished Mint as CInnamon

I agree Zoom is a hippo, it's good that it works but heavvvvvyyyyyyyyy

For context, I'm currently logging about 20 hours a week on zoom, it's absolutely gruelling, anything that could make it easier is a good thing....

[spamegg]

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CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i3-6100U (-MT-MCP-) 
Graphics:  Card: Intel Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520]

Yeah... this is a weak CPU/GPU for what you are doing with it. For such heavy media use, you should get a powerful, proper desktop PC, not a dual core laptop. Just OBS alone can be a CPU eating monster if you are streaming at a high quality.

[tellymandeus]

aaaahhhh...just what I didn't want to hear.....

Ok thanks, I doubt a new PC is in the budget right now but now I know I can at least start mulling it as an option....

what kind of spec should I be looking for in this hypothetical new desktop pc (I'll be installing Mint)?

[spamegg]

I don't know for sure, you can probably search for "desktop PC for Zoom/OBS" to see some recommendations.
I would say at least a 4 core, 8 threads CPU, and definitely a dedicated graphics card (it doesn't have to be too powerful, midrange should be enough).

[tellymandeus]

ok cheers, yes I'll have a google, mostly hypothetical at this point, but I do have a couple of projects on the go (podcast, youtube) that might also benefit from a more powerful setup, so I will probably look into this.

In the meantime, zoom is doable, it's just far from optimal, hopefully not too much longer, tho given the situation in japan right now I'm not expecting to get back to the classroom this semester....9 more weeks, oh well....

[tellymandeus]

so it turns out that my wonderwife's old unused work laptop is i7, so I installed mint on it and am giving it a try, tho so far while running OBS and zoom I'm pretty much getting the same performance issues.....to be honest tho the whole system feels incredibility sluggish, not sure why, I've now moved back to my laptop and performance is much better despite the far inferior spec....

here's my systme info:

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System:    Host: simon-dynabook-T75-NW Kernel: 4.15.0-144-generic x86_64
           bits: 64 gcc: 7.5.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.9 (Gtk 3.22.30-1ubuntu4)
           Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: laptop System: TOSHIBA product: dynabook T75/NW v: PT75NWP-BHA serial: N/A
           Mobo: Type2 - Board Vendor Name1 model: Type2 - Board Product Name1 v: Type2 - Board Version serial: N/A
           UEFI: INSYDE v: 1.90 date: 10/08/2014
Battery    BAT1: charge: 0.0 Wh 0.4% condition: 12.8/45.0 Wh (29%)
           model: LGC PA5186U-1BRS status: Charging
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i7-4510U (-MT-MCP-) 
           arch: Haswell rev.1 cache: 4096 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 10375
           clock speeds: max: 3100 MHz 1: 798 MHz 2: 798 MHz 3: 798 MHz
           4: 798 MHz
Memory:    Using dmidecode: root required for dmidecode
Graphics:  Card: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.02hz, 1920x1080@60.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 4400 (HSW GT2)
           version: 4.5 Mesa 20.0.8 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 8 Series HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 Intel Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0
           Card-3 Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920
           driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 002-004
           Card-4 Samson Q2U handheld mic with XLR
           driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 002-009
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-144-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Wireless 3160 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 07:00.0
           IF: wlp7s0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCIE Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 3000 bus-ID: 08:00.0
           IF: enp8s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 3000.6GB (39.9% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MQ01ABD1 size: 1000.2GB
           ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: HDCR size: 1000.2GB
           ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: Silicon size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 907G used: 24G (3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1
           ID-2: /boot size: 705M used: 156M (24%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-3: /boot/efi size: 511M used: 6.7M (2%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-4: /home/simon size: 907G used: 24G (3%) fs: ecryptfs dev: N/A
           ID-5: /media/simon/ptbl_003 size: 917G used: 589G (68%)
           fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc1
           ID-6: /media/simon/poweredHDD size: 932G used: 497G (54%)
           fs: fuseblk dev: /dev/sdb1
           ID-7: swap-1 size: 8.51GB used: 0.00GB (0%)
           fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-3
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 64.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/linuxmint/packages tara main upstream import backport
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-security main restricted universe multiverse
           deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ bionic partner
Info:      Processes: 261 Uptime: 29 min Memory: 2333.2/7895.4MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.5.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.201) inxi: 2.3.56 

anyone any thoughts??

[Petermint]

Cinnamon? Cinnamon can use a GPU to make graphics faster. MATE and Xfce do everything with the CPU, the same as Cinnamon without a GPU. Cinnamon will be the right choice if your new machine has any sort of graphics chip.

Your CPU is not much different to mine and mine runs Cinnamon fine. The only thing I did was switch effects off, something I do in every OS including Windows. Select Preferences, Effects, and switch everything off. With effects off and no GPU, Cinnamon uses about the same resources as MATE.

[DisturbedDragon]

I notice on both you are running the current 4.15 kernel. Have you tried the current 5.4 or 5.8 kernel?

[Moonstone Man]

... to be honest tho the whole system feels incredibility sluggish, not sure why ...

I am sure why. The moment you push a machine to do things it was never bought for is the moment that you get the issues you are now experiencing. I seriously doubt that any of your machines were ever intended to run OBS and Zoom. The fix for these issues is not wonderment at why things are sluggish; the fix is a new machine that is capable of doing what you want it to do.

Hoping for miracles with under-powered hardware is just wasting time and energy.

[tellymandeus]

I notice on both you are running the current 4.15 kernel. Have you tried the current 5.4 or 5.8 kernel?

sorry to be dim but how would I go about upgrading? of is that just system update?

the fix is a new machine that is capable of doing what you want it to do.

I thought the i7 would be better, still underpowered? I recognise that buying a new machine would be optimal, but I don't really have the budget for that right now, especially as this whole teaching-on-zoom thing is (I very much hope) a temporary situation - likely continuing up to summer vacation in august, tho I'm expecting to be back to the classroom from next semester (october)

[Moonstone Man]

I thought the i7 would be better, still underpowered?

That's because of Intel's marketing. An i7 on a laptop is a very far cry from an i7 on a desktop, and the two should not be confused. The only thing that you can realistically do without spending money is to try the Mint xfce edition. If that doesn't improve things then the only option left is the one you can't currently afford, in which case you will just have to put up with the sluggishness because you're pushing the machines well beyond what they were probably purchased for. Nothing else can be done.

[Petermint]

I thought the i7 would be better

Your i7 is not much more powerful than your i3 and both are far less powerful than my i5. Weird.

Sort of like the economy 16 cylinder Cadillac where 12 cylinders are in boxes in the trunk.

The laptop version of many processors have all the cores and threads slowed down artificially. The laptop manufacturer might then use cheaper cooling, forcing the cpu into thermal slowdown. If you are looking at a replacement laptop, some of the gaming laptops with twin fans will have heaps of speed and lots of noise when those turbines fire up.

[tellymandeus]

I thought the i7 would be better

Your i7 is not much more powerful than your i3 and both are far less powerful than my i5. Weird.

Sort of like the economy 16 cylinder Cadillac where 12 cylinders are in boxes in the trunk.

The laptop version of many processors have all the cores and threads slowed down artificially. The laptop manufacturer might then use cheaper cooling, forcing the cpu into thermal slowdown. If you are looking at a replacement laptop, some of the gaming laptops with twin fans will have heaps of speed and lots of noise when those turbines fire up.

huh. weird. ok then.....well zoom on my original laptop has been improved after I installed an unofficial desktop client for miro.com (previously to this I was running it in a browser). It7s not zippy, but it is better. I just turned off all effects in cinnamon so hopefully that will also help.

I tried xfce mint (while resurrecting old machines for my kids to use) , seemed to work on one machine but went a bit weird on a second (reverted from the mint theming to stock xfce) but I guess I could have another look.

Does anyone think i could eke out a bit more performance by installing something super lightweight like antiX or bunsenlabs? or would gains be negligible on the scale I'm working at? And also, would there be other drawbacks to that (for example ability to run the software I need etc )? I've messed around with a few (puppy, maybe a few others) years ago when I first started looking into linux, but settled on mint and haven't looked back.

I will look into a desktop or gaming laptop, more for future reference at this point, tho to be honest that's more relevant to if I thought streaming would be a permanent part of my working arrangements, which could happen if I take my internet-based activities in that direction (I recently started a podcast and do a bit of youtube) but I don't have any firm plans in that direction at present (I quite like my day job, current zoom arrangements notwithstanding).

anyway thanks for any more thoughts, the help so far is much appreciated!

[Pjotr]

Like others, I recommend the Xfce edition of Mint. Of Mint 20.1, so the latest.

In that Mint 20.1 Xfce, apply these safe speed tweaks:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... -mint.html

[DisturbedDragon]

I notice on both you are running the current 4.15 kernel. Have you tried the current 5.4 or 5.8 kernel?

sorry to be dim but how would I go about upgrading? of is that just system update?

To update your kernel open Update Manager, go to view and then Linux Kernels. On the left pane you will see the kernel main versions. Select 5.4 or 5.8 then scroll to the top which will be the latest supported version. Click Install. Once this is done, reboot and the computer will automatically boot the the newest installed kernel.

Once it boots back up run some tests, maybe even open driver manager to see if any new drivers are offered.

If the new kernel works better, run

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sudo apt autoremove

to remove the older kernels. If the new kernel does not work or introduces an issue to the system, reboot and select the previous kernel in the grub menu. Go back to the kernel list and remove the new kernel.

You can install from both the 5.4 and 5.8 kernel series at the same time, then just use the grub menu to switch between for testing.

[tellymandeus]

thanks DisturbedDragon for that helpful explanation, I had no idea that existed, I'll try that out.

And thanks Pjotr that's a remarkable guide, looks like there's lots of small tweaks I can make.

Looks like the consensus is xfce mint, I'll probably try out the latest version on that i7 machine and see how it goes. Sometime next week tho, I'm trying to get away from my computers for the weekend...(typing this notwithstanding)

thanks again!