Performance Issues Running IntelliJ IDEA on Low-Spec AMD Laptops

Hello everyone,

I've been using IntelliJ IDEA for a while now, and while it's a fantastic IDE with powerful features, I’ve noticed some performance issues when running it on lower-end devices. The main problem is high memory usage, which causes slowdowns, especially when working on larger projects. Code completion and indexing take longer than expected, and sometimes the entire application freezes for a few seconds, making it difficult to maintain a smooth workflow.

I recently tried running IntelliJ IDEA on an Ideapad 1 AMD Laptop, and the experience was quite challenging. The IDE consumed a significant amount of RAM, causing frequent lags. Even after adjusting the performance settings, disabling unnecessary plugins, and allocating more heap memory, I still faced delays when switching between files or running background processes. According to discussions on IntelliJ IDEA Support, many users have reported similar issues, particularly on low-end AMD laptops. Some have suggested tweaking JVM options and reducing indexing frequency, but results seem to vary depending on system configuration.

To address these performance problems, I came across a few potential solutions:

1. Increase the IDE’s Memory Allocation: Adjusting the heap size by navigating it can help. Allocating more RAM may reduce lag and improve overall responsiveness.
2. Disable Unnecessary Plugins and Features: Many background processes consume resources. Turning off features you don’t use, such as unnecessary inspections and plugins, can help.
3. Switch to a Lighter Theme and Editor Settings: Reducing animations, disabling unnecessary UI elements, and using a simple color scheme may slightly improve performance.
4. Optimize Your JDK Configuration: Some users have reported that using a different JDK version (such as OpenJDK instead of JetBrains Runtime) can lead to better performance.
5. Use Power Mode and External Cooling: Ensuring your laptop is plugged in and using a cooling pad can prevent CPU throttling, which might be affecting performance.

If you’re also experiencing performance issues with IntelliJ IDEA on an Ideapad 1 AMD Laptop, please share your experience and any optimization tips you have found helpful. Any additional insights would be greatly appreciated!

4o