Switching to Ubuntu

Yes, the title is correct, I’m switching to Ubuntu. Don’t you hate snaps and GNOME? Yes, but I always say change your Linux install to what you want. Don’t like something? Change IT!

[notfavorite]

I really love your channel! Keep it up Chris!

[XoaGray]

I'm actually not real surprised by this, Ubuntu has been pretty good to me on laptops and while there are some things about it that might be a little less optimal than other OS's the overall experience has been pretty great as far as I'm concerned.

[prowler]

Thanks for the info. I'm not an experienced Linux user but it's interesting that some tweaks will lower power usage in a laptop.

[mercuriete]

With laptop-mode-tools you can configure the governor when unplugged from the wall.
You can control the times the hard disk cache is writing back to disk, giving the opportunity to suspend the HD more frequently.

[duser]

What we need to do here is understand what Ubuntu is doing to get this efficiency and try to replicate it using the same tools.
On my Fedora install, I get 12-13W on idle according to powertop. So yeah, Ubuntu's doing some good work here.

Just btw, there is a way for new 20xx series and up Nvidia GPUs to power off if they detect no program is utilizing them. Let me try and find the guide I saw

[draoi]

Everyone goes back to Ubuntu eventually. In my case Kubuntu.

[kr]

truely unexpected. It would be interesting to see how low one could get the power consumption without (noticably) limiting the usability. I'd be looking forward to a video showing how to limit e.g. CPU cores and frequencies

[remigoldbach]

The package laptop-mode does help for battery life. It’s installed by default on Ubuntu.

[mserica]

You talked about the discrete graphics not completely shutting down when powering off the system on Windows... is that a result of fast startup being enabled?

[almasayap]

Thank You! You're doing a great job! It would be really interesting to know your opinion about OpenSUSE distro and specifically about Regata OS.

[artmcteagle]

hey Chris, thanks! The last few days, for the life of me I couldn't remember (getting old) that handy terminal command which gives you system info and bingo - <neofetch> right there in the thumbnail!

[markh.]

Chris Titus...Man, Myth, and Legend!
...
I've seen some power management issues in various distros; some apparently had very little control built in, or were not well designed to take full advantage. I never measured the wattage, but since my laptop is normally plugged in, I was more concerned about system load tying up the CPUs. Ubuntu is an improved Debian (Debian is so fixated on stability they're perpetually obsolete). If I can get some of the MX tools to work in Kubuntu that might be the ultimate distro for my daily use, since I'm migrating to KDE anyway.

[mh-jwgr]

I don't suppose you'll read this Chris, but have a look on GitLab for Supergfxctl. Integrated / Hybrid switching with just a logout, not reboot. Ryzen 9 5900HS / GTX1650 laptop here, with Fedora 37 / KDE Spin ~5w idle at desktop in either Hybrid or Integrated. Supergfxctl also supports a switch from Integrated to VFIO mode (without even logging out), if you wish to pass the dGPU through to a Windows VM.

[polgzz]

Chris, I use optimus-manager to do that. I can disable dedicated GPU completely WITHOUT reboot, and it is instantaneous (it logs you out, and have to log in, but it doesn't take a few seconds like you have to weight, and then reboot). Then mi laptop discharges at around 6.5w (AMD 5800h CPU). Try it out.

[donaldmickunas]

Hey Chris,

You make a good point. Ubuntu server is probably similar to Debian server. I have an old HP Pavilion laptop. That would be a great test case. It might be useable. THANKS.

[suninlaw]

Not sure why this is hard to believe, but I enjoyed the video and your reaction to a polished OS behaving, well, more polished.

[solutionroute]

Early in 2022 I had a quick look at this issue when deciding whether to put Fedora (pretty power hungry) or Arch on an aging Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) and Arch easily won at the time. That said all my other machines run Void Linux and all I've done to tweak power usage is install tlp; with that, on battery, dwm or even Gnome 42 currently running on my laptop, a Dell Latitude 7420, moves to ~ 2.45 watts at idle (no typing) while watching powertop, and 5.21W right now while typing this note. That's with dozens of Chrome tabs open, vscode, a few terminals... basically usual daily use conditions. I'd put Void on the Surface Pro but I'm too lazy to build Linux for Surface for it. I'm getting superb use time on batter on the Dell BTW. I will buy another.

[blackmennewstyle]

Did you try play with the CPUFrequencyScaling on Debian? Maybe some watts saving are left there :$

[nspeak]

I dunno if it's because of some other package I'd installed already or not, but I'm running Nobara (for now) on a Sys76 Lemur Pro and powertop is showing under 8W discharge at the moment. Can't complain about that. Still kinda tempted to do the minimal rebuild thing but I'd have to test whether it made more sense to start with Ubuntu or Fedora I guess.

[ivanmaglica]

Hi to All! My bet would be CPU scaling governor. I use powersave with turbo boost on when i'm pluggend in to power (to keep fans from spinning). When i'm on battery i'm on powersave with turbo boost off.