<para>This chapter describes how to improve the performance of
the GNOME Desktop.</para>
</highlights>
<sect1 id="performance-1">
<title>Introduction to Improving Performance</title>
<indexterm>
<primary>performance, improving</primary>
<secondary>introduction</secondary>
</indexterm>
<para>This chapter lists several preferences whose
settings you can change to improve the performance of the GNOME Desktop. You
can use the <command>gconftool-2</command> command to set values for preferences
for users. The example commands in this chapter show how to set values in
the user configuration source.</para>
<para>You can also use the <literal>--direct</literal> and <literal>--config-source</literal> options to set mandatory values or default values for preferences.
You can also use the <command>gconftool-2</command> command in a script to
set the values of many preferences. For more information on the <command>gconftool-2</command> command and the options that are available with the
command, see <xref linkend="gconf-0"/>.</para>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="performance-8">
<title>Reducing CPU Usage</title>
<indexterm>
<primary>performance, improving</primary>
<secondary>reducing CPU
usage</secondary>
</indexterm>
<indexterm>
<primary>reducing</primary>
<secondary>CPU usage</secondary>
</indexterm>
<indexterm>
<primary>CPU usage</primary>
<secondary>reducing</secondary>
</indexterm>
<para>This section describes preferences that
you can set to reduce CPU usage by the GNOME Desktop. </para>
<sect2 id="performance-3">
<title>To Use Theme Options Which Require Less CPU Resources</title>
<indexterm>
<primary>themes</primary>
<secondary>window frame options</secondary>
<tertiary>and CPU usage</tertiary>
</indexterm>
<indexterm>
<primary>themes</primary>
<secondary>and CPU usage</secondary>
</indexterm>
<para>Some window frame theme
options load image files to draw the window frame. Other options use simpler
techniques to draw the window frame.</para>
<para>The Crux window frame option loads image files, and can be slow on systems
with limited CPU resources. To reduce CPU usage, use one of the following
window frame options: </para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para>Atlanta</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Esco</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<para>The following window frame options also use less CPU resources than
Crux:</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para>AgingGorilla</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Bright</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Metabox</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<note>
<para>Metabox does not work well with inverse controls options such
as HighContrastInverse. Use Atlanta with inverse controls options.</para>
</note>
<para><indexterm><primary>themes</primary><secondary>window frame options</secondary><tertiary>changing</tertiary></indexterm>To change the window
frame theme option, run the following command: </para>
<para>Alternatively, users can use the <application>Menus & Toolbars</application>
preference tool to deselect the <guilabel>Show icons in menus</guilabel> option.</para>
</sect2>
<sect2 id="performance-6">
<title>To Reduce CPU Usage by Turning Off the Splash Screen</title>
<indexterm>
<primary>splash screen</primary>
<secondary>and CPU usage</secondary>
</indexterm>
<para>By default, when users log in to the desktop environment,
a splash screen is displayed. Icons are displayed on the splash screen while
the user logs in. You can turn off the splash screen to reduce CPU usage during
login. </para>
<para><indexterm><primary>splash screen</primary><secondary>turning off</secondary></indexterm>To turn off the splash screen, run the following command:</para>
<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Show text in icons</guilabel>
preference.</para>
</listitem>
</orderedlist>
</entry>
</row>
<row>
<entry valign="top">
<para>
<literal>show_directory_item_counts</literal>
</para>
</entry>
<entry valign="top">
<para>Specifies when to show the number of items in folders.
To never show the number of items in folders, run the following command:</para>
<para>Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:</para>
<orderedlist>
<listitem>
<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Count number of items</guilabel>
preference.</para>
</listitem>
</orderedlist>
</entry>
</row>
<row>
<entry valign="top">
<para>
<literal>show_image_thumbnails</literal>
</para>
</entry>
<entry valign="top">
<para>Specifies when to show thumbnails of image files.
To never show thumbnails, run the following command:</para>
<para>Alternatively, users can perform the following steps:</para>
<orderedlist>
<listitem>
<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Show thumbnails</guilabel>
preference.</para>
</listitem>
</orderedlist>
</entry>
</row>
<row>
<entry valign="top">
<para>
<literal>preview_sound</literal>
</para>
</entry>
<entry valign="top">
<para>Specifies when to preview the content of sound files.
To never preview the content of sound files, run the following command:</para>
<para>Alternatively, users can perform the following
steps:</para>
<orderedlist>
<listitem>
<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a file manager window, then choose <guilabel>Preview</guilabel>.</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Select an option for the <guilabel>Preview sound files</guilabel>
preference.</para>
</listitem>
</orderedlist>
</entry>
</row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</informaltable>
</sect3>
<sect3 id="performance-10">
<title>To Turn Off the Side Pane, Toolbar, and Location Bar</title>
<indexterm>
<primary>file manager</primary>
<secondary>side pane, turning off</secondary>
</indexterm>
<para>The file manager includes preferences that enable
you to turn off the side pane and the toolbar. To improve file manager performance,
turn off the side pane and the toolbar.</para>
<para>To turn off the side pane, run the following command: </para>
<para>You can also turn off the location bar. Users can use the <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>L</keycap></keycombo> keyboard shortcut to display a location bar
when required. </para>
<para><indexterm><primary>file manager</primary><secondary>location bar, turning
off</secondary></indexterm>To turn off the location bar, run the following