I'm surprised this is being debated. Look at Google: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=linux+high+io+desktop&oq=linux+high+&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j69i64l2.1936j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
You will clearly see that high enough IO will harm desktop responsiveness. Surely all of these people aren't making it up? -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/131094 Title: Heavy Disk I/O harms desktop responsiveness Status in The Linux Kernel: Fix Released Status in The Linux Mint Distribution: New Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Bug description: Binary package hint: linux-source-2.6.22 When compared with 2.6.15 in feisty, heavy disk I/O causes increased iowait times and affects desktop responsiveness in 2.6.22 this appears to be a regression from 2.6.15 where iowait is much lower and desktop responsiveness is unaffected with the same I/O load Easy to reproduce with tracker - index the same set of files with 2.6.15 kernel and 2.6.22 kernel and the difference in desktop responsiveness is massive I have not confirmed if a non-tracker process which does heavy disk i/o (especially writing) replicates this yet - will do further investigation soon To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/linux/+bug/131094/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
