Update Linux Related Blog Posts

- Update screenshot of dwm-flexipatch setup
- Add solution I found for system freezing on oryp7
- Replace "customizability" with "ArchWiki" in reasons for using Arch
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Sravan Balaji
2021-12-07 14:49:58 -05:00
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<h1>System76 Oryx Pro 7 Review</h1> <h1>System76 Oryx Pro 7 Review</h1>
<!-- Author & Date/Time --> <!-- Author & Date/Time -->
<p class="lead">Updated on August 27, 2021</p> <p class="lead">Updated on December 7, 2021</p>
<!-- Preview Image --> <!-- Preview Image -->
<div class="blog-cover"> <div class="blog-cover">
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@
target="_blank" target="_blank"
>btrfs</a >btrfs</a
> >
rather than the default (ext4 I think) so I could take snapshots and rather than the default (ext4) so I could take snapshots and backup
backup my data with my data with
<a href="https://github.com/teejee2008/timeshift" target="_blank" <a href="https://github.com/teejee2008/timeshift" target="_blank"
>Timeshift</a >Timeshift</a
>. >.
@@ -191,18 +191,25 @@
href="https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/system76-power/" href="https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/system76-power/"
target="_blank" target="_blank"
>system76-power AUR package</a >system76-power AUR package</a
>, now works. I eventually decided on Garuda because it implements a >), now works. I eventually decided on Garuda because it implements
lot of the customizations I usually do in my vanilla Arch installs a lot of the customizations I usually do in my vanilla Arch installs
anyways (e.g. btrfs, zen kernel, chaotic-aur, backups w/ timeshift, anyways (e.g., btrfs, zen kernel, chaotic-aur, backups w/ timeshift,
easy options to enable gaming tweaks, etc.). The easy options to enable gaming tweaks, etc.).
</p>
<p>
I started with the
<a href="https://www.gnome.org/" target="_blank">GNOME</a> <a href="https://www.gnome.org/" target="_blank">GNOME</a>
edition immediately ran into crashing and system break issues, so I edition since I was used to it from Pop!_OS. Unfortunately, I
tried the KDE Dragonized edition. It looks pretty nice and uses immediately ran into crashing and system break issues. This led me
to try the KDE Dragonized edition because it looks pretty nice and
uses
<a href="https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/" target="_blank" <a href="https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/" target="_blank"
>KDE plasma</a >KDE plasma</a
> >
instead of GNOME. After still encountered freezing issues, I instead of GNOME. After running KDE for a while, I felt like I
switched to the wanted something that is more easily customizable and lightweight. I
decided to dive into the realm of standalone window managers with
the
<a href="https://i3wm.org/" target="_blank">i3</a> <a href="https://i3wm.org/" target="_blank">i3</a>
edition, but replaced i3 with edition, but replaced i3 with
<a href="https://xmonad.org/" target="_blank">Xmonad</a> <a href="https://xmonad.org/" target="_blank">Xmonad</a>
@@ -211,8 +218,50 @@
replaced it with replaced it with
<a href="https://github.com/bakkeby/dwm-flexipatch" target="_blank" <a href="https://github.com/bakkeby/dwm-flexipatch" target="_blank"
>dwm-flexipatch</a >dwm-flexipatch</a
>. Now, performance is amazing and I haven't encountered the major >. Now, performance is amazing and I absolutely love the keyboard
freezing issues that I had with GNOME and KDE. based workflow I have configured.
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
<a name="reducing-fan-noise-and-application-freezing"
>Reducing Fan Noise & Application Freezing</a
>
</h2>
<p>
One major complaint I had with the laptop was the loud fan noise and
random application freezing. After some experimentation and
searching, I finally found a solution. Switching to the performance
profile using
<a href="https://github.com/pop-os/system76-power" target="_blank"
>system76-power</a
>
immediately resolved both issues. Just run
<code> sudo system76-power profile performance </code> in a terminal
or use
<a
href="https://github.com/pop-os/gnome-shell-extension-system76-power"
target="_blank"
>gnome-shell-extension-system76-power</a
>
if you are running GNOME.
</p>
<p>
I also found that using a custom kernel improved general system
performance and thermals. I'm currently using the
<a
href="https://github.com/Frogging-Family/linux-tkg"
target="_blank"
>linux-tkg</a
>
kernel with PDS scheduler which is available as a pre-compiled
binary in the
<a href="https://aur.chaotic.cx/" target="_blank">chaotic-aur</a>
package
<a href="https://pkgs.org/download/linux-tkg-pds" target="_blank"
>linux-tkg-pds</a
>.
</p> </p>
<hr /> <hr />
@@ -239,11 +288,10 @@
>. >.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
Gaming performance is amazing! Recently got Yakuza: Like a Dragon Gaming performance is amazing! I can run Yakuza: Like a Dragon at
on Steam. It runs at around 70 to 80 fps with all the settings around 70 or 80 fps with all the settings turned up to the max. I
turned up to the max. I love that I can use my favorite operating love that I can use my favorite operating system without having to
system without having to compromise too much on gaming compromise too much on gaming performance.
performance.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
Love the keyboard backlighting and color changing on the fly. Love the keyboard backlighting and color changing on the fly.
@@ -297,25 +345,14 @@
Battery life is really bad when the discrete graphics card is on Battery life is really bad when the discrete graphics card is on
(as expected). Maybe a little more than an hour a time, sometimes (as expected). Maybe a little more than an hour a time, sometimes
more depending on how willing I am to lower CPU frequency and more depending on how willing I am to lower CPU frequency and
stuff. As a desktop replacement, that is to be expected through. stuff. As a desktop replacement type laptop, that is to be
expected through.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
Mouse click buttons are not great. Regularly left click on Fans can get really loud at times, especially when pushing the GPU
something in GNOME and nothing happens. "Tapping" with the in games. I often have to turn up my speakers or wear noise
mousepad works very reliably though. cancelling headphones. This is an understandable physical
</li> limitation of thin and light gaming laptops though.
<li>
Fans can get really loud at times, especially when gaming. I often
have to turn up my speakers or wear noise cancelling headphones.
This is an understandable limitation with gaming laptops though.
Using a custom kernel solved a lot of my complaints with the
thermals and fan noise though. Now the fans don't turn on as
often. When they do, they don't ramp up to the maximum speed, so
noise is kept to a reasonable level.
</li>
<li>
Random freezing is kind of an issue, but is generally resolved by
using a custom kernel.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
While the display itself is great, I really wish the hinge would While the display itself is great, I really wish the hinge would
@@ -330,16 +367,16 @@
<h2><a name="conclusions">Conclusions</a></h2> <h2><a name="conclusions">Conclusions</a></h2>
<p> <p>
It may seem that the cons outweigh the pros, but this is only in It may seem that the cons outweigh the pros, but this is only
number and because I am really nitpicking. The things this laptop because I am really nitpicking. The things this laptop gets right
get right (e.g. gaming, refresh rate, switchable graphics, general (e.g., gaming, refresh rate, switchable graphics, general
performance) are much more important to me than the other things. performance) are much more important to me than the other things
Regarding price, you are definitely paying a premium for first-class (e.g., mic / webcam quality). Regarding price, you are definitely
linux support, but it is well worth it in my opinion. I do not want paying a premium for first-class linux support, but it is well worth
to use Windows anymore and I am happy to pay extra if it means it in my opinion. I do not want to use Windows anymore and I am
supporting a company that promotes and sells Linux computers and happy to pay extra if it means supporting a company that promotes
having a device that can be easily upgraded down the line. Overall, and sells Linux computers and having a device that can be easily
I am very happy with my purchase. upgraded down the line. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase.
</p> </p>
<hr /> <hr />

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@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
<h1>Switching from Windows to Linux</h1> <h1>Switching from Windows to Linux</h1>
<!-- Author & Date/Time --> <!-- Author & Date/Time -->
<p class="lead">Updated on August 27, 2021</p> <p class="lead">Updated on December 7, 2021</p>
<!-- Preview Image --> <!-- Preview Image -->
<div class="blog-cover"> <div class="blog-cover">
@@ -136,16 +136,15 @@
like the best option because I could literally build my OS from the like the best option because I could literally build my OS from the
ground up. I essentially have complete control over which packages ground up. I essentially have complete control over which packages
get installed on my system. This means there is a steep learning get installed on my system. This means there is a steep learning
curve and things can break if you are not careful, but the curve and things can break if you are not careful. If you can get
<a href="https://wiki.archlinux.org" target="_blank">ArchWiki</a> over the initial difficulties, you will find an amazing Linux
is possibly the greatest Linux resource I have ever seen. The main desktop experience. The main reasons I decided on Arch are:
reasons I decided on Arch are:
</p> </p>
<ul> <ul>
<li> <li>
<b>Rolling Release</b>: I don't have to re-install my OS every 6 <b>Rolling Release</b>: I don't have to re-install my OS every 6
months. My system and the kernel get updated through my package months. My system and the kernel get updated through a simple
manager. package manager command.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
<b>Package Management</b>: Pacman and AUR helpers (e.g. <b>Package Management</b>: Pacman and AUR helpers (e.g.
@@ -164,21 +163,30 @@
<a href="https://snapcraft.io" target="_blank">snap</a>, <a href="https://snapcraft.io" target="_blank">snap</a>,
<a href="flathub" target="_blank">flatpak</a>, or <a href="flathub" target="_blank">flatpak</a>, or
<a href="https://appimage.org" target="_blank">AppImage</a>. While <a href="https://appimage.org" target="_blank">AppImage</a>. While
these are great in that they can run on any Linux distro, they these universal package formats are great in that they can run on
don't integrate into the system as well as I would like. AppImages any Linux distro, they don't integrate into the system as well as
have to be updated manually and don't integrate well with the I would like. AppImages have to be updated manually and don't
desktop experience by default. Flatpaks are sandboxed integrate well with the desktop experience by default. Flatpaks
applications, which means they require manual intervention to are sandboxed applications, which means they require manual
access certain parts of the OS. The main issue I found here was intervention to access certain parts of the OS. The main issue I
with theming. For lots of open source applications, they may not found here was with theming. For lots of open source applications,
have a snap, flatpak, or AppImage package, but they almost always they may not have a snap, flatpak, or AppImage package, but they
have an AUR package. This means it is extremely rare to have to almost always have an AUR package. This means it is extremely rare
manually install any application or program on my system. to have to manually install any application or program on my
system.
</li> </li>
<li> <li>
<b>Customizability</b>: Everything on my system was either <b>ArchWiki</b>: The
installed by me or a dependency for something I installed. There <a href="https://wiki.archlinux.org/" target="_blank">ArchWiki</a>
is little to no bloatware. is by far the best source of linux documentation I have found on
the internet. It has clear and well written information on pretty
much any topic you may be interested in and any issue you may
encounter. On other distros, you generally have to resolve issues
yourself or search for solutions on random message boards without
really understanding what the different components of your OS do.
By reading the ArchWiki, I feel like I have gained a much better
understanding of how my computer works and how to approach
resolving any issues I may have.
</li> </li>
</ul> </ul>
<p> <p>