Hey everyone! My friends and I are transitioning to Linux, and I've chosen Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop. While I like it initially, I've been facing some frustrating issues that I can't seem to resolve. I hope someone out there can lend a hand!
Firstly, I'm dealing with mixed refresh rate monitors. I switched from X11 to Wayland to combat severe screen tearing, and while that has improved smoothness, now apps like Steam and Firefox are flickering heavily. Some elements freeze up including the URL bar and my taskbar, making them unresponsive at times.
Secondly, my Ethernet connection often just drops off the map after I switch between operating systems. It doesn't show up in ifconfig or lspci anymore. The only way I've found to restore connectivity is by unplugging my computer and doing a cold boot, which is super inconvenient.
I'm really interested in making Linux my go-to OS for gaming and content creation despite these hurdles, but these problems are hard to overlook. I'm wondering if I should consider a different distro or a clean reinstall as I might have messed something up. I'd love any advice or tips based on your experiences!
5 Answers
I've got mixed refresh rate monitors too. I chose to just set both to 60Hz as it was simpler, but I get it if you want to keep them running at their full potential. Why compromise when you switched to Linux for better performance?
Cinnamon on Wayland can be hit or miss. I had a similar experience. You might want to look at switching to an Arch-based distro like CachyOS, which is performing really well for me. They've got a solid bootloader that saves you if updates go wrong. As for the monitor situation, I understand the pain, but settling both to 60Hz can sometimes make life simpler, even if it feels like a compromise.
I've been using Mint for years without any major issues, but mixed refresh rate setups can be troublesome. The switch to Wayland can introduce new bugs since it’s still relatively fresh in Linux. It’s more about the compatibility of the display server, and since Wayland isn't fully mature yet, it may not play nicely with everything. You might want to consider trying a distro like CachyOS or even sticking to an older version of X11.
Check if Fast Startup in Windows is enabled! It can leave your hardware in odd states and may affect your Ethernet connection when you swap back. Turning it off might resolve those connection issues you mentioned.
If you're looking to game on Linux, you might want to try out Nobara or Bazzite. They're specifically designed for that purpose and are based on Fedora, so they come with a bunch of useful tweaks pre-installed. Mint is good, but might not be the best for your gaming needs, especially with newer hardware.
True! Nobara is aimed at gamers, while Bazzite feels more like a console OS. Mint is solid for general use, but for gaming, you might find more success with those options.
Exactly! I'm not downgrading my 180Hz monitor just for ease. I want to maximize everything Linux offers!