My Laptop keeps randomly freezing and after the freeze the only option is a hard shutdown. Sometimes the mouse cursor continues to work but am unable to double click/open anything. Then the mouse pointer freezes and the whole GUI seems frozen.
MacBook Pro I just installed Ubuntu LTS 24.04.3 with NVIDIA video card.
Welcome to Ubuntu Discourse 
You have not used the support template nor provided us with nearly enough information to try and help you.
By the way, I deleted your duplicate post in another topic (which also had little information).
Please provide the following information:
syslog or use sudo dmesg to look for cluesnvidia-smiinxi with sudo apt install inxi and post the output of inxi -FxxxzWhen you post the output back here in a reply, highlight the output and wrap with code tags using either </> in the composer or Ctrl+E from the keyboard.
Thanks
MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2010 model
2.53 MHz Intel Core I5 2 core processor
8 GB 1067 MKz DDR3 Memory
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 288 MB
Nvidia GeForce GT 330 M PCIe
Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS Desktop 64 Bit
Noble Numbat OS Version
dmesg output:
<[ 383.444739] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 383.444757] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 383.444786] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 383.444791] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 383.444849] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 383.444854] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 383.444890] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 383.444895] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 383.444945] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 383.444951] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 397.380353] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 397.380372] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 397.380401] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 397.380407] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 397.380453] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 397.380458] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 397.380498] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 397.380503] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 397.380554] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 397.380560] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 485.444453] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 485.444471] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 485.444498] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 485.444503] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 485.444565] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 485.444571] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 485.444623] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 485.444635] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 485.444745] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 485.444750] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 490.253251] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 490.253269] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 490.253298] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 490.253303] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 490.253327] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 490.253331] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 490.253353] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 490.253357] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 490.253381] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: DATA_ERROR 00000012 [RT_LINEAR_WITH_ZETA]
[ 490.253386] nouveau 0000:01:00.0: gr: 00100000 [] ch 6 [000f4c8000 gnome-shell[2897]] subc 3 class 8597 mthd 0d78 data 00000004
[ 507.627439] audit: type=1400 audit(1764727745.206:890): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" class="file" profile="snap.proton-mail.proton-mail" name="/sys/fs/cgroup/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/snap.proton-mail.proton-mail-e6772a51-d672-4190-9706-b9d87d7c839e.scope/memory.max" pid=4911 comm=50726F746F6E204D61696C requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1000 ouid=1000
[ 507.627461] audit: type=1400 audit(1764727745.206:891): apparmor="DENIED" operation="open" class="file" profile="snap.proton-mail.proton-mail" name="/sys/fs/cgroup/user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/snap.proton-mail.proton-mail-e6772a51-d672-4190-9706-b9d87d7c839e.scope/memory.high" pid=4911 comm=50726F746F6E204D61696C requested_mask="r" denied_mask="r" fsuid=1000 ouid=1000>
inxi -Fxxxz output:
System:
Kernel: 6.14.0-36-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.3.0
clocksource: tsc
Desktop: GNOME v: 46.0 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: gnome-shell
tools: gsd-screensaver-proxy dm: GDM3 v: 46.2 Distro: Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS
(Noble Numbat)
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: Apple product: MacBookPro6,2 v: 1.0
serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10 v: Mac-F22586C8
serial: <superuser required>
Mobo: Apple model: Mac-F22586C8 v: MacBookPro6,2
serial: <superuser required> uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: Apple
v: 99.0.0.0.0 date: 06/13/2019
Battery:
ID-1: BAT0 charge: 57.2 Wh (96.3%) condition: 59.4/75.2 Wh (79.0%)
volts: 12.3 min: 10.9 model: SMP bq20z451 type: Li-ion serial: N/A
status: full cycles: 348
CPU:
Info: dual core model: Intel Core i5 M 540 bits: 64 type: MT MCP
smt: enabled arch: Westmere rev: 2 cache: L1: 128 KiB L2: 512 KiB L3: 3 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 1330 high: 1463 min/max: 1197/2528 boost: enabled cores:
1: 1463 2: 1463 3: 1197 4: 1197 bogomips: 20216
Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel
arch: Gen-5.75 ports: active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,VGA-1
bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0046 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: NVIDIA GT216M [GeForce GT 330M] vendor: Apple driver: nouveau
v: kernel arch: Tesla pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: LVDS-2
empty: DP-2 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0a29 class-ID: 0300 temp: 65.0 C
Device-3: Apple Built-in iSight driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 2-1.1:3 chip-ID: 05ac:8507 class-ID: 0e02
serial: <filter>
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6
compositor: gnome-shell driver: gpu: i915,nouveau display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: Apple Color LCD res: 1440x900 dpi: 111
size: 331x207mm (13.03x8.15") diag: 390mm (15.4") modes: 1440x900
Monitor-2: LVDS-2 model: Apple Color LCD res: 1440x900 dpi: 111
size: 331x207mm (13.03x8.15") diag: 390mm (15.4") modes: max: 1440x900
min: 640x350
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel crocus drv: nvidia nouveau platforms:
device: 0 drv: nouveau device: 1 drv: crocus device: 2 drv: swrast gbm:
drv: nouveau surfaceless: drv: nouveau wayland: drv: nouveau x11:
drv: nouveau
API: OpenGL v: 4.5 compat-v: 2.1 vendor: mesa v: 25.0.7-0ubuntu0.24.04.2
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVA5 device-ID: 10de:0a29
display-ID: :0.0
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:3b56
class-ID: 0403
Device-2: NVIDIA GT216 HDMI Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0be2 class-ID: 0403
API: ALSA v: k6.14.0-36-generic status: kernel-api
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
Device-1: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5764M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3
v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: N/A bus-ID: 02:00.0
chip-ID: 14e4:1684 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Device-2: Broadcom BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Apple AirPort Extreme
driver: wl v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 03:00.0
chip-ID: 14e4:4353 class-ID: 0280
IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
Device-1: Apple Bluetooth Host Controller driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 1-1.1.3:8 chip-ID: 05ac:8218
class-ID: fe01
Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 2 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 2.1
lmp-v: 4 sub-v: 422a hci-v: 4 rev: 34e class-ID: 6c010c
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 19.74 GiB (4.2%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Crucial model: CT500MX500SSD1 size: 465.76 GiB
speed: 3.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 020 scheme: GPT
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 456.35 GiB used: 19.72 GiB (4.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
ID-2: /boot/efi size: 1.05 GiB used: 21.2 MiB (2.0%) fs: vfat
dev: /dev/sda1
Swap:
ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 4 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
file: /swap.img
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 49.9 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 65.0 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
Memory: total: 8 GiB available: 7.68 GiB used: 1.75 GiB (22.8%)
Processes: 251 Power: uptime: 8m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform Init: systemd v: 255 target: graphical (5)
default: graphical
Packages: 1671 pm: dpkg pkgs: 1637 pm: snap pkgs: 34 Compilers:
gcc: 13.3.0 Shell: Bash v: 5.2.21 running-in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.3.34
In Software & Updates > Additional Drivers, is there a proprietary NVIDIA driver available that you can try?
Or are you able to use only the integrated Intel graphics? It is possible to select whether to use the integrated graphics, discrete GPU, or both, with some low-level configuration applied via GRUB
No proprietary driver is in use for NVIDIA. My system is only using one for the Broadcom 802.11 a/b/g/n card. At least as far as the Software and Updates> Additional Drivers panel shows.
I think it must be using Intel driver and not one for NVIDIA.
nvidia-smi gives the following response:
NVIDIA-SMI has failed because it couldn’t communicate with the NVIDIA driver. Make sure that the latest NVIDIA driver is installed and running.
I’ve been up and running in graphical mode for like 25 minutes checking all of this out and not a single problem so far.
Ok, but does it offer any proprietary driver options for your NVIDIA graphics?
I see it gives a choice to use or not for the Broadcom. I see nothing like that for the NVIDIA. I think the answer is no then.
According to your terminal outputs, it is using both in the default hybrid mode, which IIRC on MacBook Pros of that era means:
nouveau driver)If the integrated Intel graphics is powerful enough for your needs, you could try running with only integrated graphics and disable the NVIDIA GPU. This guide looks like a good starting point for that. But based on my own past experience running a MacBookPro9,1 with Ubuntu:
/etc/grub.d/10_linux to add the outb lines. The outb lines themselves are correct, it does require all 4 outb lines, and it is correct to add them to /etc/grub.d/10_linux as shown, but the exact place in that file where they’re suggesting to add them does not look familiar to me 
GRUB_PRELOAD_MODULES change is necessary in Ubuntu 24.04. I don’t recall ever doing that on my own MacBook Pro, which ran LTS versions of Ubuntu from 14.04 to 20.04.
GeForce GT 330M
One of your issues is that that particular Nvidia chip, the GT 330M, isn’t even supported by any current Nvidia drivers and requires the built-in Nouveau driver to work. Sadly, Nouveau is a reverse-engineered driver and cannot have the performance of proprietary Nvidia drivers.
Nvidia doesn’t even support that older driver, which is why it can no longer be found in the repos.
Basically, you are most certainly going to have performance issues no matter what. I know I experience the same with my 2010 Mac Mini because it, like your Macbook Pro, uses a much older Nvidia chip.
Your MacBook is 15 years old - possibly, the nouveau driver may perform better with a lighter flavour within the Ubuntu family.
Xubuntu 24.04 or Lubuntu 24.04?
Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind.
I was afraid of that!
Have you tried a different desktop session…to test? Installing xfce4 as a package, log off then log into the XFCE session at the login page rather than gnome-shell. Is it different in the stability you see?
Hello and thank you to everyone who helped. It seems like editing GRUB with these lines is working. I’ve used it over the past day or 2 and it’s been rock solid!!!
Glad to hear it. Make sure to mark @halogen2 's post as the solution with the checkbox on the bottom of the post so that others with the same problem can see their solution, and so that the thread can eventually auto-close.
If you need it reopened, you can always reach out to a moderator.
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