I'm currently using Linux Mint 21.3 with a 6.8.0-94-generic kernel and X11 display driver. I have an Intel i915 and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060. Recently, I've faced issues where chromium-based applications (like Brave, Chrome, and Discord) cause my laptop to freeze, forcing me to use the 'raise the elephant' command to recover. I've tried different NVIDIA drivers and modes without much luck. Instead of randomly switching drivers, I'm considering changing distros that are known for better stability with hybrid Intel/NVIDIA setups. Also, I have some other minor issues like the Dell logo showing up twice during boot after the Linux Mint logo, getting logged out when I launch Steam through the app menu with the NVIDIA GPU, and occasional graphics stutter while scrolling web pages. I'm open to any distro, particularly one with solid community support.
3 Answers
Chromium-based browsers can have video decoding issues due to VAAPI not being exposed correctly, which can lead to CPU fallback. Firefox tends to handle this better. You might want to give Firefox a try; if your system lags with it too, check the settings under about:config to ensure 'gfx.webrender' is set to true.
It sounds like your issues may be more hardware-related than distro-specific. Most mainstream distros support NVIDIA without much hassle, but you might need to install the driver manually, which is typically well-documented. The dual Dell logo during boot is normal for many systems when switching from BIOS to OS control; it's not a flaw. If you're still struggling, consider testing out a live USB of popular distros like Pop_OS or Fedora to see how they handle your graphics setup before making a permanent switch.
I've read that some users find that Pop_OS works better for NVIDIA graphics than others, including Mint, so that could be worth a shot. It's really about finding what works best for your specific hardware configuration. Community support on forums is also pretty solid for those distros!
Related Questions
Can't Load PhpMyadmin On After Server Update
Redirect www to non-www in Apache Conf
How To Check If Your SSL Cert Is SHA 1
Windows TrackPad Gestures