Ubuntu now uses the deadline IO scheduler

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/ source/linux/ bug/1008400

Also applies in Precise, which I'm using ATM.

Boot speed seems a bit faster, and the system is more responsive when installing packages. OTOH swapping now causes a lot of lag (though I was able to avoid that by increasing vm.page-cluster to 5). In general it's an improvement IMO, though it doesn't solve the bigger issue of Unity being a pig.

The most notable effect of this, though, is that the update-apt-xapian-index misfeature is effectively fixed; the process now runs for a much shorter time, and does not impair desktop performance as much.

 

For most people, the change is irrelevant.
Won't make any difference most of the time.
Mrk

 

Deadline is also the default on Linux Mint.

apparently, it's good to use Deadline if you are using a SSD, instead of noop or cfq

 

Phoronix did a test of IO schedulers about a year ago. I use CFQ on rotating drives and deadline on SSDs, no perceptible difference to me.

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=linux_iosched_2012&num=1

 

Au contraire, effectively fixing the apt-xapian-index problem is big IMO.

 

And how many people noticed any difference ?

 

It'll make a larger difference for mobile users, but everyone should notice things 'happening' somewhat faster. CFQ doesn't make as much sense for a phone/desktop OS.