Introduction

I recently reviewed Pop!_OS 22.04 after using it for a long time. I loved it, but I wanted to try something else long-term and ended up choosing Ubuntu 22.04 — specifically the Xubuntu flavor with XFCE.

Whenever I install a fresh OS, there are a few things I always do to make sure the system feels snappy, performs well in games, and (on laptops) gets the best possible battery life.

Before starting any of the steps below, I strongly recommend doing a full system upgrade

Install the Liquorix Kernel

Liquorix is an enthusiast Linux kernel optimized for desktop responsiveness, low-latency audio/video work, and reduced frame-time jitter in games.

The stock Ubuntu kernel is a general-purpose kernel that has to work well on both desktops and servers. Liquorix takes the same Linux kernel source and applies desktop-focused patches and build options. The result feels noticeably snappier, especially under heavy load or when alt-tabbing quickly in games.

Installing it on Ubuntu/Debian is one command:

Bash

curl 'https://liquorix.net/install-liquorix.sh' | sudo bash

Reboot afterward and you’ll be running the new kernel.

Add the Latest Graphics Drivers

For Nvidia users:

Bash

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y nvidia-driver-560 libvulkan1 libvulkan1:i386

For AMD or Intel users (Kisak’s PPA – latest Mesa):

Bash

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-vulkan-drivers:i386

Even on an older LTS release, this gives you the newest open-source drivers and Vulkan support.

Lower Swappiness

Pop!_OS sets vm.swappiness=10 by default (swap is only used when RAM is ~90% full). Ubuntu/Xubuntu defaults to 60, which is far too aggressive for desktop use.

Change it permanently:

Bash

sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf

Add this line at the end:

text

vm.swappiness=10

Save and exit. The change applies immediately or on next reboot.

Install Essential Utilities

These are the tools I install on every fresh setup:

• Redshift – blue-light filter
• Flameshot – best screenshot tool
• AppImageLauncher – integrates AppImages into your menu
• Gamemode – massive FPS improvements in many games
• TLP – essential for laptops (often doubles battery life)

Bash

sudo apt install redshift flameshot appimagelauncher gamemode tlp tlp-rdw

(Enable TLP if needed: sudo tlp start)

Install Your Favorite Everyday Apps

My personal picks:

• Brave Browser (privacy-focused Chromium)
• VLC (preferably via AppImage/Flatpak/Snap to avoid heavy Qt dependencies on XFCE)
• LibreOffice

Create Handy Aliases

Open your .bashrc:

Bash

nano ~/.bashrc

Add some useful aliases at the bottom, for example:

Bash

alias apply_filter='redshift -O 1900'
alias update='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y'
alias please='sudo $(history -p !!)'    # rerun last command with sudo

Reload the file:

Bash

source ~/.bashrc

Customize the Look & Feel (Optional)

Xubuntu + XFCE is extremely customizable. I run a very minimal setup and control almost everything with keyboard shortcuts. You can configure them in Settings → Window Manager and Settings → Keyboard → Application Shortcuts.

Conclusion

The three biggest performance wins — Liquorix kernel, latest graphics drivers, and low swappiness — make a dramatic difference. Real-world example: Life is Strange: True Colors jumped from ~23 FPS with stuttering on stock settings to a smooth 40+ FPS after applying these changes.

If you’re getting random lags or freezes on Xubuntu/Ubuntu, try these steps first. They solve a surprising number of issues.

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