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On a UNIX based system (e.g. Linux), why the user interface or the system itself can slow down by an incredible amount even if the CPU usage is below 10% and there is no disk activity?

Could it be a bug in the operating system?

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Note: this question is general on purpose, i.e. not related to any specific case. It is intended to know if it is normal for an OS to be unresponsive even if its resources are available. For the same question related to a specific case, see this link.

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I don't get your question. Do you have any measures to prove this incredible amount of slow down? I certainly don't feel the slow down in my machine. Provide more info if you can. – Nima Jun 22 '12 at 8:48
Can you please edit your question and ask about your specific problem? At the moment it is extremely vague and cannot be answered. – Informaficker Jun 22 '12 at 9:00
@Nima: I do not have any precise measures, but when e.g. a directory window takes a minute to open there has to be something wrong. Other symptoms are a periodically unresponsive system, a non fluid mouse pointer, ... – Pietro Jun 22 '12 at 9:32
@Pietro This is definitely a specific issue to your system. Unless you can provide more information (Hardware you have, Distro you use, Since when this problem has appeared etc) I don't think anyone can give you a good answer. – Nima Jun 22 '12 at 9:34
@WalterMaier-Murdnelch: the question is vague for two reasons: 1) The symptoms are vague, i.e. all I can detect is a slow down of the system. 2) Being vague it can apply to a range of situations that maybe others have already met. – Pietro Jun 22 '12 at 9:36
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closed as not constructive by Nifle, Paul, techie007, Mokubai, ChrisF Jun 22 '12 at 12:35

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