# RAM usage versus KUbuntu **URL:** \ **Category:** Plasma\ **Created:** [June 24, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300 "2026-06-24T15:01:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![UncleSpellbinder](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/unclespellbinder/32/127055_2.png) [@UncleSpellbinder](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/UncleSpellbinder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/21 "2026-06-25T13:51:49Z")
> [@purpleflame](#): > > Question: How does EndeavourOS with KDE Plasma reduce RAM usage versus KUbuntu by a whole GB? … KUbuntu uses so much more RAM than the rest. I might just have to opt for LUbuntu for the extra head room, but I still want to use the better theming of KDE Plasma if I can. I am open to suggestions. > > `KUbuntu: ~2.3 GB` > `EndeavourOS: ~1.3 GB` > `LUbuntu: ~0.7 GB` > `XUbuntu: ~0.7 GB` After reading your whole original post, I’m not sure if your question is ISP-related or RAM-related. So, I’ll operate under the assumption that it’s RAM-related, hence the RAM portion of the quote. I’ve always been one of those people who subscribes to that old saying; _“Unused RAM is wasted RAM.”_ KUbuntu at 2.3 GB should be nothing to be concerned about unless your machine has only 4GB to deal with. Even on a machine with 8GB, you should be just fine. If you have 16GB or more, it doesn’t matter at all, IMHO ---
**Author:** ![mbod](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/mbod/32/16833_2.png) [@mbod](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/mbod)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/22 "2026-06-25T15:53:45Z")
> [@winnyace](#): > > Sooo… all of them? Literally all companies, no matter the sector, at some point, will be tempted to bite the forbidden apple if they are on the verge of losing profit. There are so many VPN services that just route your traffic their data centers to snatch up your traffic and sell it, for example. Brave Software has a track record of doing questionable at best decisions as well. > > What guarantees that Proton, Mullvad, Tuta or any other respected privacy respecting company will not, at some point, drink the kool-aid and get hundreds more in profit? If your main argument is going to be “but these respected companies”, so what? I had people in my life that I’ve respected that simply put their foot inside my dingleberries and told me to go frick myself. The amount of people that cheat on their romantic partners is extremely high in some areas and in general is whole lot more than zero. We’re evil bastards, down to our core, because we have been hardwired for survival, no matter the moral and value ethics implications such decisions might have. This is off-topic in the thread, I am just answering because I feel to clarify a few things and then let it rest. I am mainly concerned about companies who openly communicate that their business case is to sell the data they capture from their users, namely google with their email services, their search engine, their DNS service and other services. User data is the product they sell. That is legal and that is public knowledge. But my concern is not about criminal activities of companies like “Proton, Mullvad, Tuta or any other respected privacy respecting company” that you mentioned. They are all located in Europe and subject to legal framework in Europe: GDPR. If they cheat on their users regarding data privacy it is a legal offense. That is a totally different subject. ---
**Author:** ![dalto](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/dalto/32/5577_2.png) [@dalto](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/dalto)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/23 "2026-06-25T16:52:15Z")
> [@winnyace](#): > > What guarantees that Proton, Mullvad, Tuta or any other respected privacy respecting company will not, at some point, drink the kool-aid and get hundreds more in profit? If your main argument is going to be “but these respected companies”, so what? At least where I am, I know my ISPs are not only selling my data but collecting and using it in ways which I am highly uncomfortable with. Does using a reputable VPN provider provide an absolute guarantee that won’t happen? No. But there is much, much better chance of that. Especially if I am careful which legal jurisdictions those VPNs operate from. It is also much easier to switch VPN providers than it is to switch ISPs. In many areas, the ability to switch ISPs is severely limited. ---
**Author:** ![winnyace](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/winnyace/32/135698_2.png) [@winnyace](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/winnyace)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/24 "2026-06-25T16:59:50Z")
The EU isn’t a perfect utopia legally. Loopholes can be found and tried with enough ingenuity and enough lobbying. Let’s end this here. Hopefully OP actually returns with anything besides just random numbers thrown. ---
**Author:** ![winnyace](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/winnyace/32/135698_2.png) [@winnyace](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/winnyace)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/25 "2026-06-25T17:01:01Z")
You do you. I don’t trust anybody anymore, quite frankly, and I just don’t care. The amount of mall ninjas within this space and my own infighting with my intern demons is frankly too great for me to give a shit about this anymore. ---
**Author:** ![purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/purpleflame)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/26 "2026-06-26T13:05:54Z")
Good morning. Looks like I sparked some lively debate. It gives me good food for thought. Talking to my ISP, in the end, they do not say much; just that it got blocked so it got blocked. Like they trust their blocker quite a bit. It could be that I need to say some better words to speak to a more engineer person. 🤷‍♂️ I do not know how much I want to bark up this tree. I installed KUbuntu and installed EOS then ran `free -m` right after initial login with the results below. I left XUbuntu and LUbuntu out of it to save time and since I wanted to keep using KDE Plasma. ```bash kubuntu@kubuntu:~$ free -m total used free shared buff/cache available Mem: 7749 1466 925 269 5584 5282 Swap: 0 0 0 eos@eos:~$ free -m total used free shared buff/cache available Mem: 7747 1329 5022 193 1853 6418 Swap: 0 0 0 ``` Since the used amounts are not really that different, it looks like I must have been running something and forgotten about it. The ISP discussion was lively and gives me good food for thought. I am not sure whose post to mark as the solution. For me, I am moving on to continue with the rest of my setting up. Thank you all 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Archie1](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/archie1/32/111095_2.png) [@Archie1](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/Archie1)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/27 "2026-06-27T01:51:58Z")
Did changing the DNS server help in getting the update done? ---
**Author:** ![purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/purpleflame)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/28 "2026-06-27T02:19:53Z")
I have not tried that since I do not know how yet. However, I just borrow the internet at work which updates without blocking. ---
**Author:** ![1093i3511](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/1093i3511/32/102376_2.png) [@1093i3511](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/1093i3511)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 5:45am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/29 "2026-06-27T05:45:37Z")
Well, the buff/cache values do differ significantly. Which may need some investigation. But could be addressed on the KUbuntu install. On the EOS install it looks unproblematic. Other than that, you don’t have a Swap space ? If I’m not mistaken, a swap partition or a swap file, both would show up with their respective size in total / free. No clue in which way ZRam or Zcache would show up via `free -m` if that is what you’re using. On a system with 8gb only, I would totally recommend to set up a swap space. Even on systems with more system memory. SWAP spaces aren’t outdated, they are still essential. In terms of your ISP blocking mirrors, there should be plenty or mirrors and I would definitely look into [rate-mirrors](https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/rate-mirrors/) for instance it supports the Arch as well as the EOS mirrors. But both mirrorlists have to be taken care off seperately. Blocked mirrors by your ISP would be skipped and marked unreachable, excluded from your mirrors effectively. Other than that, you could consider the use of a VPN. As those may bypass the ISPs restrictive policies. ---
**Author:** ![cactux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/cactux/32/134907_2.png) [@cactux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/cactux)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 11:19am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/30 "2026-06-27T11:19:34Z")
> [@purpleflame](#): > > ```auto > kubuntu@kubuntu:~$ free -m > total used free shared buff/cache available > Mem: 7749 1466 925 269 5584 5282 > Swap: 0 0 0 > > eos@eos:~$ free -m > total used free shared buff/cache available > Mem: 7747 1329 5022 193 1853 6418 > > ``` The fact that you are seeing more buff/cache in Kubuntu does not necessarily mean that something is missconfigured. The relevant info is given by the size of the available memory. The kernel will drop the cache whenever there is a need. Also there maybe other factors in play. Like how many services and daemons start in Kubuntu for example. Those may access many files at start up which later are kept in cache. EOS, being minimal and close to Arch, starts less services at startup. This may be one possible explanation. You could compare by having a look at: ```auto systemd-analyze blame systemctl list-unit-files --state=enabled systemctl --type=service --state=running ``` Also, `cat /proc/meminfo` will give more fine-grained info. ---
**Author:** ![mbod](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/mbod/32/16833_2.png) [@mbod](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/mbod)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/31 "2026-06-27T12:27:44Z")
> [@1093i3511](#): > > Well, the buff/cache values do differ significantly. Which may need some investigation. > But could be addressed on the KUbuntu install. On the EOS install it looks unproblematic. From my point of view unused RAM is a waste of money. If a system is using more RAM on buffer/cache instead of letting it sit unused it is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/purpleflame)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/32 "2026-06-27T13:35:42Z")
[1093i3511](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/1093i3511), I did see the rate-mirrors tools (Arch and EOS) on the welcome program. I did use both. Afterward, I looked at both the Arch and EOS mirrorlist files. Neither had the offending mirror listed yet my ISP still sent a malware alert/block for that mirror. I am not sure how or why. Even if another mirror routes to the “bad” one, the data is still coming back from that other one. I have not had issues with needing swap so I just have stopped bothering with it. [cactux](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/cactux), Thanks for the additional diagnostics information. With that posted result, there was ~0.1GB difference between the two used memories which I am not really worried about. [mbod](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/mbod), I am not worried about unused RAM as my number crunching will use plenty. I learned on and used Ubuntu for many years. Then I found Arch and liked it (and the AUR). With my ISP issue, I thought I could make KUbuntu work while just keep using the package scripts anyway (adjusting for package names). I already learned that I can swap Wayland back to X11 (better nvidia support) on KUbuntu. I made this thread since I thought there was some magic 1GB of RAM that EndeavourOS was saving and thus was providing for my number crunching. ---
**Author:** ![Mellow](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/mellow/32/137692_2.png) [@Mellow](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/Mellow)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/33 "2026-06-27T19:10:31Z")
> [@purpleflame](#): > > I already learned that I can swap Wayland back to X11 (better nvidia support) on KUbuntu. Just a heads up, I don’t know how long that will still be possible, as KDE will drop X11 support soonish. Depending on when Kubuntu will drop this version (ver. 6.8) you may sooner or later have to either get along with Wayland, or find a different solution ---
**Author:** ![Bink](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/bink/32/87216_2.png) [@Bink](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/Bink)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 12:58am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/34 "2026-06-28T00:58:49Z")
> [@purpleflame](#): > > [1093i3511](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/1093i3511), I did see the rate-mirrors tools (Arch and EOS) on the welcome program. I did use both. Afterward, I looked at both the Arch and EOS mirrorlist files. Neither had the offending mirror listed yet my ISP still sent a malware alert/block for that mirror. I am not sure how or why. The act of speed testing that mirror with rate-mirrors, even if it wasn’t ultimately selected, was likely sufficient to trigger the alert at the ISP. I’d suggest you can simply ignore the alert. ---
**Author:** ![Dinomonster](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/dinomonster/32/137219_2.png) [@Dinomonster](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/Dinomonster)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:48am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/35 "2026-06-28T05:48:23Z")
> I already learned that I can swap Wayland back to X11 (better nvidia support) on KUbuntu. Kubuntu 26.04 is full Wayland, but X11 is still in the repos, although it’s no longer officially supported. It’s interesting that you have this experience, @purpleflame, because my experience is completely other way around. But most important thing is that everything works. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@purpleflame](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/purpleflame)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 10:29pm UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/36 "2026-06-28T22:29:44Z")
Thanks for the heads up, [Mellow](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/mellow). I will keep it in mind; probably go for LXQt. [Bink](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/bink), Maybe I can ignore it for now. I am not sure if it is a long term solution. [Dinomonster](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/dinomonster), Thanks for the heads up on losing X11 support too. Maybe our usecases are different enough to explain the differing experiences? O.o ---
**Author:** ![Bink](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/bink/32/87216_2.png) [@Bink](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/Bink)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/37 "2026-06-30T00:53:31Z")
> [@purpleflame](#): > > [Bink](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/bink), Maybe I can ignore it for now. I am not sure if it is a long term solution. If you know which mirror is causing your ISP to send you a “malware alert/block”, you can add it to your `/etc/hosts` file, causing any attempt by your system to contact that server, to fail quietly on your computer. The lookup for that domain and attempts to connect to that server never leave your computer. To do it, edit your `/etc/hosts` file: ```auto sudo nano /etc/hosts ``` Add a line like this, replacing `some-arch-mirror.com` with the actual mirror’s domain name: ```auto 127.0.0.1 some-arch-mirror.com ``` So for example, the mirror `https://ftp.energotel.sk/pub/linux/arch/$repo/os/$arch` in your `/etc/hosts` file would look like this (domain only): ```auto 127.0.0.1 ftp.energotel.sk ``` The address `.127.0.0.1` is **your computer**. So in effect, it’s saying look for this domain on your computer, which will fail (as expected), and of course, the lookup will never leave your computer triggering an alert at your ISP. ---
**Author:** ![coffeejohn](https://forum.endeavouros.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@coffeejohn](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/coffeejohn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 9:30am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/38 "2026-06-30T09:30:54Z")
i,m am so impressed after recent update/upgrade my kde plasma de went from 928mb at idle down to 820mb on both my lenovo thinkpads,a little higher on the 7th x1 carbon but almost 780mb idle on the t490s,i mean this is kde plasma,i have not had it this good since i was running arco using a window manager,thanks EndeavourOS team,its nice to have good news for a change ---
**Author:** ![r0ckhopper](https://forum.endeavouros.com/user_avatar/forum.endeavouros.com/r0ckhopper/32/51768_2.png) [@r0ckhopper](https://forum.endeavouros.com/u/r0ckhopper)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2026, 9:56am UTC](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300/39 "2026-06-30T09:56:14Z")
> [@coffeejohn](#): > > 7th x1 carbon A wonderful machine 👍 [Previous page](https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/ram-usage-versus-kubuntu/80300.md?page=1)