How to optimize 12.10 to get the most performance from my hardware

First install the fglrx driver , to get max performance of graphics card. Probably the HDMI port will work too.

Then , I don't think you want tweaks for a system like that.. your system is strong enough to make Ubuntu flying..

If you want , you can install a lighter desktop environment like "gnome-session-fallback" and login from there..but again , I don't think you need it.

To install the fglrx driver open a terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) and apply the commands below one by one

sudo apt-get install --reinstall linux-headers-$(uname -r)
sudo apt-get install fglrx fglrx-amdcccle
sudo amdconfig --initial

and then reboot your system. Then you can open catalyst control center if you want to tweak some settings from there.

To install the gnome-fallback ,

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

after the installation finish , reboot and select from the login screen the "gnome-classic" or "gnome-classic(no effects)". The no effects environment is for MAX performance.

Thanks

Set vm.swappines to 2, this will keep applications in RAM more and use swap less. Also you can put your web cache to tempfs to speed up web browsing. I recommend the proprietary ati driver. If you also use a light desktop like XFCE it will give a more responsive OS.

Oh , and I forgot .. , you said GAMES .. check out Steam For Linux ... and come to play TF2.. :-)

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Valve#Installation_on_12.10_.28Quantal.29_64_bit

If you like counterstrike, play urban terror. The Penumbra series is very worth the cash

Thanks guys for the speedy reply.

After installing tge fglrx drivers and rebooting my system is now hanging on a black screen and wont start. It has a list of services its starting and its juat hanging there.

Is there a way to access terminal during boot so I can revert to.the original xorg driver?

I'm just going to reinstall ubuntu from a live usb. The installer notified me it would attempt to keep documents and applications where possible. Then I'm going to try all the games and other things you guys suggested minus the fglrx driver. Thanks, I will let you know how it turned out/ how the games were etc.

If you hold SHIFT at boot, you can select recovery mode then root and get a recovery console you can type commands into.

   actionparsnip: Thanks, my system is back to the way it was now. I would like to use the proprietary driver, but I don't want to get the boot hang again. I'm having issues using the open source driver. The screen flashes when installing programs in terminal, overheating, and poor battery life (1.5 hours). HDMI causes the TV/Moniter screen to flash.