System Chugs when Under Load. Nvidia Graphics Issue?

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Ubuntu Version:
Example: 24.04 LTS

Desktop Environment (if applicable):

Standard Ubuntu Xorg

Problem Description:

When I open a program, or a program I’m in experiences a heavy transient load, my system chugs: i.e., the framerate drops, and I can see the mouse cursor jump around; text input lags, etc.,

I was told on IRC and Matrix and the threadiverse that this was most likely a graphics driver issue. Is that the case? What can I try to resolve it?

Relevant System Information:
Nvidia Geforce GTX 980 with the proprietary recommended drivers (-535)

Dual Monitor Setup

intel integrated graphics as the other graphics processor.

Screenshots or Error Messages:
Screen Recording of nvtop while Steam opens up.

What I’ve Tried:

  • Switch to -580 series drivers and the Graphics PPA (this lead to screen tearing)
  • Install Ubuntu 25.10 and wayland; the graphics chugging was more pronounced.
  • Clean dust out of the computer case. No difference.

Any and all suggestions are welcome!

1 Like
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Sounds like Optimus [1] issue. Have you tried forcing to use only 980 and see if the “chugging” persists?

1: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA_Optimus

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SOLUTION: sudo prime-select nvidia

CONTEXT:

I can try to disable the intel iGPU and use only nVidia. Should I make the edits the ArchWiki suggests, or is there a “ubuntu way” to do this?

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA_Optimus#Use_NVIDIA_graphics_only

for one, this doesn’t exist /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia-drm-outputclass.conf and there is no package provided /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia-drm-outputclass.conf

According to this, it is necessary to only run one command, sudo prime-select nvidia https://askubuntu.com/questions/1255049/use-dedicated-gpu-only-on-laptop-running-ubuntu-20-04

I am trying this and restarting. I have noticed one of the main apps that “chugs” is the Files browser, if that is a notable clue.

Well, after a restart, there is no more chugging that I can see. Thank you for the solution!

1 Like
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Unfortunately replying again, as the “chugging” is happening again, but less bad than before using sudo prime-select nvidia.

I verified that nvidia was indeed being used:

$ prime-select query
nvidia

Not sure what more to do. Are there any system diagnostics that would reveal problems that would cause the mouse/system to drop framerate?

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Based on the symptoms you described (cursor jumps, input delay, frame drops when opening applications), this looks like the desktop compositor getting blocked when the GPU is under load.

A few things worth checking:

• Whether the system is running in PRIME on-demand mode

• Whether the issue still occurs with a single monitor

• Whether the NVIDIA driver is handling the desktop composition

Multi-monitor setups with NVIDIA on Xorg sometimes cause frame pacing issues.

I see the problem on Nvidia Forum, Because the problem is very common