I've been running Linux Mint Cinnamon on four computers after the Windows 11 update disaster. While three of them work perfectly fine, I'm experiencing weird freezing issues on my old XPS 8300 with a GTX 650. Sometimes it even boots into what looks like a safe mode with an XFCE desktop. I've reformatted this machine multiple times, but I keep encountering different problems that I didn't have with Windows 10 or my other Mint installations. I'm seriously considering ditching Mint for this computer, but before I go back to Windows, could switching to a different distro resolve these freezing issues?
3 Answers
You might want to take a look at using older Nvidia drivers. Some users have had success with that. Just make sure they are compatible with your hardware before proceeding. While you’re at it, check your system logs as they might hint at what’s going wrong.
If you’re dealing with older hardware like yours, consider trying MX Linux. It has an Nvidia Driver Installer that can help you stick with the necessary 470xx drivers, plus it uses XFCE by default, which is lighter and should run smoother on your system. Many have said it feels like a throwback to the good old Windows 7 days!
You might also try AntiX. It's specifically designed for older hardware and could be a good fit for you. It’s worth a shot if you want to avoid going back to Windows.
Yeah, I've looked into the logs, and they often can provide insights on driver conflicts or hardware issues. It's worth the effort!