What Commands to Use to Make Your Garuda Linux Faster

Garuda Linux is an Arch-based rolling release distribution that has gained popularity in the Linux community for its performance and unique features. However, as with any operating system, there are always ways to optimize its performance and make it even faster. In this blog post, we will explore some commands that you can use to make your Garuda Linux even faster.

1. Update your system regularly

The first and most important step to ensure a fast and smooth experience on Garuda Linux is to keep your system up to date. This is because updates not only bring new features and bug fixes, but they also include performance improvements. To update your system, open the terminal and use the command:

sudo pacman -Syu

This command will synchronize your package repositories and update all the packages on your system.

2. Enable ZRAM

ZRAM is a compressed swap space in the RAM, which can significantly improve the performance of your system by reducing the need for swapping to the hard drive. Garuda Linux has ZRAM enabled by default, but if you have disabled it, you can enable it by using the following command:

sudo systemctl enable zramswap

This will enable ZRAM on your system and make your system more responsive.

3. Use a lightweight desktop environment

Garuda Linux offers a variety of desktop environments to choose from, including KDE Plasma, GNOME, and Xfce. While KDE Plasma and GNOME are known for their feature-rich and visually appealing interfaces, they can also be resource-hungry, which can impact the performance of your system. If you want to make your Garuda Linux faster, consider switching to a lightweight desktop environment like Xfce or LXQt. These desktop environments are lightweight and offer a snappy experience, especially on low-end hardware.

4. Utilize the power of systemd

systemd is a system and service manager for Linux, and it can be used to optimize the boot process and improve system performance. To enable systemd on your system, use the following command:

sudo systemctl enable --now systemd-readahead-collect.service

This will enable systemd to collect information about the files and services that are accessed during the boot process and preload them into the memory, resulting in faster boot times.

5. Try out different CPU schedulers

The CPU scheduler controls how processes are scheduled and executed on your system's CPU. Garuda Linux comes with the Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS) enabled by default, but you can experiment with different schedulers to find the one that works best for your system's hardware. Some popular alternatives include the Brain Fuck Scheduler (BFS) and the MuQSS scheduler, both of which can be installed and enabled using the following commands:

sudo pacman -S linux-zen

sudo systemctl enable --now linux-zen-sched

While these schedulers may not make a noticeable difference on high-end systems, they can significantly improve performance on low-end systems.

6. Clean up your system regularly

Over time, your system can become cluttered with temporary files, cache, and other unnecessary data, which can slow down your system. To keep your system clean and optimized, use the following commands:

sudo pacman -Scc

This command will remove all the cached packages from your system, freeing up some disk space.

sudo pacman -Rs $(pacman -Qdtq)

This command will remove all the packages that are no longer needed by your system.

7. Use an SSD

If you are using a traditional hard drive, consider switching to a solid-state drive (SSD). SSDs are significantly faster than HDDs, and they can significantly improve the overall performance of your system. Garuda Linux has a built-in tool called Garuda Gamer that can help you migrate your system to an SSD easily.

In conclusion, Garuda Linux is a fast and efficient operating system, but with these commands, you can make it even faster and smoother. By keeping your system up to date, utilizing the power of systemd, and using lightweight components, you can optimize the performance of your Garuda Linux and have a seamless experience. Give these commands a try and see the difference they make in your system's speed and responsiveness.