I'm using an older laptop with Linux Mint XFCE, but I'm running into issues where some apps won't open because they require X11. I'm considering switching to Wayland, but I noticed that KDE and GNOME tend to use a lot of RAM, which makes me hesitant. How much RAM do typical window managers (WMs) use? Should I stick with XFCE and X11, or would a switch be beneficial?
4 Answers
I’m currently using AwesomeWM, and my system typically runs at about 700MB of RAM usage. I’ve tried Hyprland and found it to be similar in usage. If you’re looking into options that support Wayland, you might want to check out options like Sway or Qtile as well, which are pretty lightweight.
What are your laptop's specs? That could help determine the best course of action for your situation.
X11 is really on its way out, so it's worth thinking about a change eventually. If you like XFCE and can manage with X11 for now, sticking with it might work for you. Just keep an eye on XFCE's Wayland support since it’s coming along. You can check out their roadmap for updates!
The average RAM usage for window managers varies, but generally, you’re looking at around 400MB to 1GB. If you want to save on RAM, consider using WMs like Sway or i3wm instead of full desktop environments like XFCE. And by the way, KDE isn’t much heavier than XFCE, so don't worry about that too much. Also, if you're on an older system, zRAM can be a lifesaver, so it’s worth checking out!
Thanks for the heads-up!