I'm currently using KDE Plasma and while I have no major complaints, I've heard that some desktop environments (DEs) are more resource-efficient. I'm curious about the potential performance boost I'd get if I switched to something like LXQt. What features might I have to give up in the process? I'm on CachyOS, which defaults to Wayland, and I've read that while KDE Plasma performs well on Wayland, LXQt is better on X11. Would the performance benefits from using a lighter DE be offset by the Wayland vs. X11 situation? I've also been told that using a window manager can save even more resources—how much can I expect to save there?
5 Answers
Honestly, if you’re not facing any performance issues, don’t fix what isn’t broken. Switching DEs is more about what works for you and your preferences than just raw performance.
From my experience, switching to LXQt didn’t really change performance much. If you're RAM-starved, it could help significantly, but otherwise, KDE is more lightweight than people think. I've sometimes found my idle memory usage in Plasma lower than XFCE's.
If you're running decent hardware, the performance difference between KDE and LXQt is likely minimal. If you're not experiencing any slowdowns or issues with your current setup, it might not be worth complicating things just for a slight gain. But if you ever find yourself low on RAM with Plasma, LXQt could definitely help.
Totally agree! Unused RAM just sits there, and if you’re not having issues, it’s best not to fix what isn’t broken.
I enjoy using LXQt because it's quite minimalistic. However, I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners unless you're keen on tinkering. If your hardware isn't struggling, the difference is negligible. But for underpowered machines, you might prefer LXQt or XFCE for a smoother experience; both come with their own pros and cons in terms of customization and resource usage.
Exactly! If you’re into gaming, Wayland should offer better performance than X11, but LXQt can help if your machine is on the lower end.
Switching to a window manager can save a ton of resources, and they offer an extreme level of customization! They generally don’t come with features like taskbars or desktop icons, but you can easily add those in. My favorite is Pekwm, but if you're looking for features out of the box, Hyprland is a solid choice, just keep in mind that it has some visual effects that may use extra resources.
Yeah, I've heard window managers are super lightweight! But I do enjoy having some desktop features.
That’s interesting! My Plasma pulls more RAM at startup compared to other DEs, so it feels heavier to me.