I've been experiencing random freezes on my Linux setup, where the mouse cursor stops responding. I initially thought it might be a GPU issue, so I swapped my GeForce 1660 Super for a new AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, but no luck. My Windows 10 installation on a separate drive runs perfectly fine with the same RAM. I want to make Linux work, but I'm stumped! I've installed Linux numerous times on various systems, and this is the only one that has these frustrating freezes. I have an AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and 128GB of RAM, and I'm wondering if reducing the RAM could help. It seems to work fine with Windows. I have a 650 Watt Bronze PSU; would an upgrade to 850Watts be wise? I'm currently trying out Linux Mint as my distribution.
5 Answers
If you're using Wayland as your display protocol, that could be part of the issue. It has been known to cause some instability with certain hardware setups. You might want to switch to X11 to see if that improves your situation.
It sounds like the RAM might be the issue. Windows has a way of covering up RAM problems better than Linux. Try moving your RAM sticks around or even test with half of them installed. It could be something as simple as that. Also, consider down-clocking or undervolting your RAM; it might help with stability. If none of that works and your GPU is fine, check if you're running a new CPU that needs a newer kernel for better support.
Just to confirm, what desktop environment are you using? When the mouse stops moving, is the keyboard still responsive? You could try switching to a TTY with Ctrl + Alt + F3 (or any F1 to F7). If you can access it, run 'top' to see what's consuming your CPU and memory.
Have you checked your logs? Running commands with 'journalctl' or 'dmesg' might reveal what's happening. Those logs can often give clues about underlying issues. You can also perform a search with grep for any error messages that might be related to the display manager.
Definitely run a Memtest86 on your RAM to ensure it's functioning correctly. Also, check the temperature of your CPU with something like Psensor—it might be overheating. And don't forget to consider stress testing with tools like OCCT; it could help identify if there are any underlying issues.
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