To Use Themes Which Require Less CPU Resources

Some window frame themes load image files to draw the window frame. Other themes use simpler techniques to draw the window frame.

The default theme is Crux. Crux loads image files, and can be slow on systems with limited CPU resources. To reduce CPU usage, use one of the following window frame themes:

• Atlanta

• Esco

The following window frame themes also use less CPU resources than Crux:

• AgingGorilla

• Bright

• Metabox

Metabox does not work well with inverse desktop themes such as HighContrastInverse. Use Atlanta with inverse desktop themes.

To change the window frame theme, run the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/metacity/general/theme theme-name

For example, to use Atlanta, run the following command:

# gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/metacity/general/theme Atlanta

Alternatively, users can choose Applications -> Desktop Preferences -> Theme, then select the appropriate theme.

You can use the Metacity Theme Viewer to measure the performance of a window frame theme, and to preview the theme. To start Metacity Theme Viewer, use the following command:

# metacity-theme-viewer theme-name

For example, to measure the performance of Atlanta and preview Atlanta, run the following command:

# metacity-theme-viewer Atlanta