166MB of apparent free RAM isn't the problem. There are several GB used for buffers/cache, so they count as free. As soon as the kernel needs more than those 166MB, that memory being used for cache will be discarded and used.

I agree with all the others blaming Gnome3. I personally don't like Gnome3 and I either use XFCE on my company-mandated laptop or Cinnamon on my personal laptop.

Mauro
https://www.maurosouza.com - registered Linux User: 294521
Scripture is both history, and a love letter from God.

Em ter., 8 de jun. de 2021 às 11:13, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk <talk@gtalug.org> escreveu:

| From: Chris Aitken via talk <talk@gtalug.org>

| owner@owner-HP-Compaq-8000-Elite-CMT-PC:~$ free -h

Which model of HP-Compaq-8000-Elite computer is this?
What's the processor?
Do you have a video card?

The GPU built into old Intel processors is not really great for gnome.

My superstitious understanding is:
- gnome's compositor uses 3d graphics primitives.
- the i915(?) video driver emulates them in software.
- the result is quite sluggish
I'm not sure of this -- I haven't needed to know.

All this is needlessly wasteful. If you don't need gnome, consider
running a different desktop. Unfortunately, KDE is no better.

A new video card could solve this, but they are unreasonably expensive
these days, especially when you are upgradding an old machine.
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