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#1 2008-12-05 14:32:06
- wtangerine
- New Member
- Registered: 2008-12-05
- Posts: 3
Armada 1750 running slow
I'm having issues trying to get an old Armada 1750 laptop back to life with linux. Previously, it was running WinXP quite well, so I thought on linux it would be even smoother, which would turn it into fully functional desktop, despite its age. Preferring to stick with Ubuntu, but taking resources in consideration, I installed Crunchbang Intrepid.
The hardware is: P-II processor, UDMA-capable 6GB hard disk, 3D Rage LT Pro AGP-133 video card (should have internal 4 MB memory), 192MB SDRAM (upgraded from original 64MB).
Amazingly, this lightweight Ubuntu-based distro runs terribly slow, much worse than Windoz. Launching a simple terminal emulator takes about 20-25 seconds. Everything seems slow: the hard-disk, the CDROM, the graphics.
Trying to investigate, I came up to an idea that the problem is incorrect system board handling. This system board should run on 66Mhz, as stated here: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Compaq_Armada_1750__17117
Here is my "sudo lshw" output:
description: Computer
width: 32 bits
*-core
description: Motherboard
physical id: 0
*-memory
description: System memory
physical id: 0
size: 191MiB
*-cpu
product: Mobile Pentium II
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 1
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.6.10
size: 350MHz
width: 32 bits
capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 mmx fxsr up
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 0
size: 32KiB
*-cache:1
description: L2 cache
physical id: 1
size: 256KiB
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 03
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: driver=agpgart-intel latency=64 module=intel_agp
*-pci
description: PCI bridge
product: 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1
bus info: pci@0000:00:01.0
version: 03
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: pci bus_master
*-display UNCLAIMED
description: VGA compatible controller
product: 3D Rage LT Pro AGP-133
vendor: ATI Technologies Inc
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
version: dc
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: agp agp-1.0 pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=66 mingnt=8
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 7
bus info: pci@0000:00:07.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master
configuration: latency=0
*-ide
description: IDE interface
product: 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 7.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:07.1
logical name: scsi0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: ide bus_master emulated
configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=64 module=ata_piix
*-disk
description: ATA Disk
product: IBM-DBCA-206480
vendor: IBM
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sda
version: BC4O
serial: HR0HRM08623
size: 6194MiB (6495MB)
capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=2cf52cf4
*-volume:0
description: Windows FAT volume
vendor: IBM 53y
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
logical name: /dev/sda1
version: FAT12
serial: 4153-4945
size: 15EiB
capabilities: primary bootable boot fat initialized
configuration: FATs=2 filesystem=fat label=DIAGS
*-volume:1
description: Extended partition
physical id: 4
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,4
logical name: /dev/sda4
size: 5212MiB
capacity: 5212MiB
capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
*-logicalvolume:0
description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
physical id: 5
logical name: /dev/sda5
capacity: 287MiB
capabilities: nofs
*-logicalvolume:1
description: Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 6
logical name: /dev/sda6
logical name: /
logical name: /dev/.static/dev
capacity: 4769MiB
configuration: mount.fstype=ext3 mount.options=ro,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered state=mounted
*-logicalvolume:2
description: Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 7
logical name: /dev/sda7
logical name: /boot
capacity: 154MiB
configuration: mount.fstype=ext3 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=continue,data=ordered state=mounted
*-cdrom
description: SCSI CD-ROM
product: CD-ROM XM-1902B
vendor: TOSHIBA
physical id: 0.1.0
bus info: scsi@0:0.1.0
logical name: /dev/cdrom
logical name: /dev/scd0
logical name: /dev/sr0
logical name: /media/cdrom0
version: 1218
capabilities: removable audio
configuration: ansiversion=5 mount.fstype=iso9660 mount.options=ro,nosuid,nodev,utf8 state=mounted status=ready
*-medium
physical id: 0
logical name: /dev/cdrom
logical name: /media/cdrom0
configuration: mount.fstype=iso9660 mount.options=ro,nosuid,nodev,utf8 state=mounted
*-usb
description: USB Controller
product: 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 7.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:07.2
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=64 module=uhci_hcd
*-bridge UNCLAIMED
description: Bridge
product: 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 7.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:07.3
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bridge
configuration: latency=0
*-pcmcia:0
description: CardBus bridge
product: PCI1225
vendor: Texas Instruments
physical id: 11
bus info: pci@0000:00:11.0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pcmcia bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=yenta_cardbus latency=176 maxlatency=5 mingnt=192 module=yenta_socket
*-pcmcia:1
description: CardBus bridge
product: PCI1225
vendor: Texas Instruments
physical id: 11.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:11.1
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pcmcia bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=yenta_cardbus latency=176 maxlatency=5 mingnt=192 module=yenta_socket
*-network DISABLED
description: Wireless interface
physical id: 1
logical name: wlan1
serial: <masked>
capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ndiswrapper+net5523 driverversion=1.53+TP-LINK,07/27/2005,1.5.0.10 link=no multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11gIf I read this right, it's showing that system bus runs only on 33 Mhz. Could someone please approve this? And is there a way to get things working as they should? Also, there are some strange messages in dmesg.
Thanks in advance.
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#2 2008-12-05 15:27:10
- snowpine
- #!-a-roo
- Registered: 2008-11-24
- Posts: 2,554
Re: Armada 1750 running slow
Hi Wtangerine, and welcome to the forums!
First off, here is my standard disclaimer: There's a common misconception that Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex (a 2 month old ultra-modern OS) is faster and lighter than Windows XP (a 7 year OS for which your laptop was specifically designed). This simply is not true. If you want fast performance on old hardware, Ubuntu's not even in the top 10. Distros like DSL, Puppy, and SliTaz are specifically designed for older hardware, or if you're feeling brave, try a roll-your-own-ultra-minimal distro like Arch.
OK, with that off my chest, these are the Crunchbang (#!) forums, and #! is awesome, so we're going to try and help you tweak it for your computer. 
Here are some random suggestions, keeping in mind I've never tried installing #! on a computer as old as yours (the oldest I've had any luck with is a 600mhz pentium 3 with 256mb of ram).
1. Install more ram if possible!
2. Go into System->Services/Daemons and uncheck anything you don't need
3. Edit your autostart.sh file (Preferences->Openbox) and comment out anything you don't need by adding a # at the start of the line
4. Use lightweight applications. Forget about Firefox, Thunar, Terminator, etc... you should be browsing the web with Dillo or Elinks, file managing with PCManfm or Rox, terminating with Xterm, etc.
5. Create a swap partition (if you haven't already)
6. Try to solve the 33/66mhz issue... sorry but I can't help with that. 
Finally, there is a Lite version of #! 8.10 under development that includes only the most basic applications. This would be a good base on which to install some of the lightweight applications I listed above. Crunchbang Lite 8.04 already exists if you want to test it out...
Good luck!
(edit) There's a thread on here where people post their system specs. Hope you can post here if you get #! up and running to your satisfaction: http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/post/1064/#p1064
I see there is one other Pentium 2 user, so it can be done!!!
Last edited by snowpine (2008-12-05 15:51:11)
/hugged
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#3 2008-12-06 00:13:54
- wtangerine
- New Member
- Registered: 2008-12-05
- Posts: 3
Re: Armada 1750 running slow
Hi snowpine, thank you for your time!
I must admit being subject to the misconseption you mentioned. Yet, I wasn't expecting miracles to happen. Moreover, I could accept peacefully some decreasement in speed for the privilege of running linux. But what I got is machine in almost unusable state (viewing forum and posting here with Opera is a real torment). The contrast with WinXP (let's put things straight, this lappy made it into stock in 1998, when WinXP wasn't even planned), with antivirus running on it, is most striking.
I chose Ubuntu and am still hoping to stay with it not only for the usual benefits (the community, the variety, the ease, etc.), but also because a friend of mine, who will actually become the "final user" of this machine, have never tried Linux before, and this way it would be much easier for me to guide him through the initial stages of coping with it, as Ubuntu is the only distro I've ever used (yep, I'm a newbie). Anyway, which distro would you suggest, considering all mentioned factors and, probably most important, variety of compiled programs available (one thing I don't enjoy about Linux is the painful process of manual compiling or, worse, manual uninstalling) and a good package manager (one thing I do enjoy is the lightning-speed installation from repos) ? What do you think about WattOS?
1. Install more ram if possible!
For now, there's no intention to invest extra money in this machine.
2. Go into System->Services/Daemons and uncheck anything you don't need
Already done, moreover, I've made some tweaking with a great utility named BUM.
3. Edit your autostart.sh file (Preferences->Openbox) and comment out anything you don't need by adding a # at the start of the line
Did that. I think this helped a bit, altogether with disabling all but two extra terminal emulators (tty's). Additionally, I managed to solve the trouble with incorrect keyboard layout.
4. Use lightweight applications. Forget about Firefox, Thunar, Terminator, etc... you should be browsing the web with Dillo or Elinks, file managing with PCManfm or Rox, terminating with Xterm, etc.
How do you replace Thunar? The usual apt-get remove way? Which one is better: PCManfm or Rox? Dillo or Elinks? Or maybe Kazehakase? Never tried any of these.
What else replacements would you suggest? I am really acquainted only with the standard set of Ubuntu. As for the text editor, I'm already using Leafpad.
How do you change the font in Xterm? The default one looks awful.
Offtopic: is there something like the menu with all installed programs in #!, like in original Ubuntu? Sooner or later, I'll start forgetting what applications I installed, as there is no place they are listed... At least, I didn't manage to discover any. There should be some way to get to it, though, as Synaptic is able to show it.
5. Create a swap partition (if you haven't already)
Swap exists since the installation.
Finally, there is a Lite version of #! 8.10 under development that includes only the most basic applications. This would be a good base on which to install some of the lightweight applications I listed above. Crunchbang Lite 8.04 already exists if you want to test it out...
I'll read about it. However, is Crunchbang Lite stable enough? It sounds like an uncommon and maybe untested branch.
I agree about Crunchbang: it's awesome and elegant!
P.s. For hardware gurus reading this topic: I still need help with the 33/66 Mhz issue.
Edit: I checked up Dillo and Elinks. Guess youtube doesn't come into account Dillo refused to view Gmail, complaining about unknown protocol. Elinks, despite the text-based interface, was actually more approptiate, but I didn't manage to view Hebrew text with it, which is vital. Initially, it was showing it reversed (left-to-right), but after playing a bit with the encoding settings it showed only Gibbrish, and I was unable to undo this. Anyway, IMHO text-based browser might be a fun to play with, but could hardly fit everyday needs of the average user, for whom the box is intended.
Last edited by wtangerine (2008-12-06 09:33:37)
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