Ubuntu Version:
24.04.2 LTS
Desktop Environment (if applicable):
GNOME
Problem Description:
Whenever I leave my computer idle for too long, it often suffers a major frame rate drop after I come back, making it extremely hard to use the computer. The only way I’ve managed to be able to fix this is by restarting it.
This has happened with games running in the background, but also when it’s just a browser.
What other info should I provide to help solve this issue?
When you wake the machine it’s almost certainly dropping into a
power-saving mode that caps the GPU/CPU, so every window redraw feels
sluggish until you reboot.
Quick things to try
# When the slowdown appears, run:
powerprofilesctl
# Does it say "power-saver"? Switch back to balanced:
powerprofilesctl set balanced
GNOME 46 sometimes comes back from screen-blank in power-saver even on
AC power; frames jump back to normal the moment you switch the profile.
# 2. If you have an NVIDIA card:
sudo apt install nvidia-settings
nvidia-settings # → PowerMizer → set "Prefer Maximum Performance"
NVIDIA’s driver can also stick at the lowest clock after DPMS sleep.
If that helps, make it permanent
Disable automatic power-saver on AC:
/etc/power-profiles-daemon.conf with default=balanced).Stop GNOME from blanking the screen:
Settings - Power - “Blank Screen” - Never
(then lock the screen manually when you walk away).
Still slow? Grab a few facts
inxi -CG
journalctl -b | grep -iE 'drm|gpu|nvidia' | tail -n 30
Post that info along with whether you’re on Wayland or X11 and someone can
dig further. Nine times out of ten, though, flipping the power profile or
GPU clock brings the frame rate right back.