News Overview
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” shows generally improved performance compared to Ubuntu 23.10 across a range of laptops with different CPU architectures (AMD Ryzen, Intel, ARM).
- The upgrade to GNOME 46 brings visual refinements and new features, while the Linux 6.8 kernel provides hardware enablement and performance improvements.
- The performance improvements are varied across laptops, with some showing more significant gains than others, and some benchmarks showing regressions.
🔗 Original article link: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Laptops
In-Depth Analysis
The article details a performance comparison of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” versus Ubuntu 23.10 on several different laptops. The testing focused on performance benchmarks using the Phoronix Test Suite to evaluate CPU, GPU, disk I/O, and other system performance metrics.
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Hardware: The laptops tested featured a diverse range of processors, including AMD Ryzen (7840U, 7735U, 5700U), Intel (Core i7-1255U, Core i5-1235U, Celeron N5105), and an ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3. This wide variety helps in assessing the performance improvements across various architectures.
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Software: The key changes in Ubuntu 24.04 are the update to GNOME 46, which offers visual and functional enhancements to the desktop environment, and the inclusion of the Linux 6.8 kernel. The kernel updates are essential for hardware support and often bring performance optimizations.
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Benchmark Results: The results show a mixed bag. Many tests saw improvements, ranging from marginal increases to significant gains depending on the laptop and the specific benchmark. However, there were also instances of performance regressions in certain tests on some systems. For example, some encoding and compilation tests showed decreased performance in some instances. Specific examples include the “Timed PHP Compilation” benchmark showing regression on certain laptops.
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Methodology: Phoronix uses its own test suite for benchmarking, offering a standardized and automated way to measure performance. This ensures consistency across the tests and allows for easier comparisons between different systems and software versions. The tests are repeated several times to minimize the impact of random variations.
Commentary
The article suggests that Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” is a worthwhile upgrade for many users, especially those with newer hardware that can benefit from the Linux 6.8 kernel. The gains are not universal, however, and some users might experience performance regressions in specific workloads. This emphasizes the importance of benchmarking your own system after upgrading to identify potential issues and tailor the system configuration accordingly. The wide range of devices tested also demonstrates that there is no single universal result, and the upgrade impact depends on the user’s hardware. It’s also worth noting that this testing was done on the initial release of 24.04 and that subsequent updates might further improve performance or address regressions. The results are encouraging but should not be taken as a guarantee for all devices.