D. R. Evans composed on 2026-06-29 10:44 (UTC-0400):
> Following a normal trixie update two or three weeks ago, I have found that I
> have to reboot my main desktop machine every few days because the video
> becomes increasingly riddled with unwelcome artefacts as I use the system.
> The
> artefacts seem to be triggered, or at least made much worse, after watching
> youtube videos or using Google Streetview (in Firefox).
> Linux video nowadays is a mystery to me, so I don't know what I might do to
> address the issue, and suggestions from those who understand these things
> better would be welcome.
> Output from inxi:
> [ZB:tmp] inxi -SGaz
> System:
> Kernel: 6.12.94+deb13-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.0
> clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
> parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/BOOT/debian@/vmlinuz-6.12.94+deb13-amd64
> root=ZFS=rpool/ROOT/debian ro root=ZFS=rpool/ROOT/debian
> Desktop: TDE (Trinity) v: R14.1.7~[DEVELOPMENT] tk: Qt v: 3.5.0 wm: Twin
> v: 3.0 with: kicker tools: avail: i3lock,slock,xss-lock vt: 7 dm: 1:
> LightDM
> v: 1.32.0 2: SDDM note: stopped Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
> Graphics:
> Device-1: NVIDIA GF108 [GeForce GT 430] vendor: Gigabyte driver: nouveau
> v: kernel non-free: series: 390.xx+ status: legacy (EOL~2022-11-22) last:
> release: 390.157 kernel: 6.0 xorg: 1.21 arch: Fermi code: GF1xx
> process: 40/28nm built: 2010-2016 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
> ports: active: HDMI-A-1 empty: DVI-I-1,VGA-1 bus-ID: 04:00.0
> chip-ID: 10de:0de1 class-ID: 0300
> Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
> compositor: Twin v: 3.0 driver: X: loaded: modesetting dri: nouveau
> gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
> Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22")
> s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
> Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 model: VGA TO HDMI built: 2013 res:
> mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 96 gamma: 1.2
> size: 509x286mm (20.04x11.26") diag: 584mm (23") ratio: 16:9 modes:
> max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
...
I've noticed a lot of complaints recently about bad Firefox behavior in Plasma
on
openSUSE forums. It may be worth trying a few days using something other than
Plasma as your DE. I have essentially the same GPU (a later re-release using
Fermi
arch with same GF108 name chip but different ID and branding, likely 28nm
instead
of 40nm):
# inxi -GSaz --vs --za --hostname
inxi 3.3.40-00 (2025-11-25)
System:
Host: k9msi Kernel: 6.12.90+deb13.1-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64
compiler: gcc v: 14.2.0 clocksource: acpi_pm parameters: ro
root=LABEL=<filter> net.ifnames=0 ipv6.disable=1 noresume consoleblank=0
mitigations=off
Desktop: TDE (Trinity) v: R14.1.6 tk: Qt v: 3.5.0 wm: Twin v: 3.0
with: kicker vt: 7 dm: 1: TDM 2: XDM Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GF108 [GeForce GT 630] vendor: Gigabyte driver: nouveau
v: kernel non-free: series: 390.xx+ status: legacy (EOL~2022-11-22) last:
release: 390.157 kernel: 6.0 xorg: 1.21 arch: Fermi code: GF1xx
process: 40/28nm built: 2010-2016 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
ports: active: DVI-I-1,HDMI-A-1 empty: VGA-1 bus-ID: 04:00.0
chip-ID: 10de:0f00 class-ID: 0300 temp: 41.0 C
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.16 compositor: Twin v: 3.0 driver: X:
loaded: N/A unloaded: modesetting alternate: fbdev,vesa dri: nouveau
gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3600x1200 s-dpi: 120 s-size: 762x254mm (30.00x10.00")
s-diag: 803mm (31.62")
Monitor-1: DVI-I-1 pos: right model: Dell P2213 serial: <filter>
built: 2013 res: mode: 1680x1050 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2
size: 473x296mm (18.62x11.65") diag: 558mm (22") ratio: 16:10 modes:
max: 1680x1050 min: 720x400
Monitor-2: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 pos: primary,left model: NEC EA243WM
serial: <filter> built: 2011 res: mode: 1920x1200 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1)
dpi: 94 gamma: 1.2 size: 519x324mm (20.43x12.76") diag: 612mm (24.1")
ratio: 16:10 modes: max: 1920x1200 min: 640x480
...
Note I use Trinity Desktop on the test box with Trixie and that GPU. It's a long
ago fork of KDE3, last updated in April and every 6 months, lightweight on GPU
and
disk space, and plenty fast.
<https://wiki.trinitydesktop.org/Debian_Trinity_Repository_Installation_Instructions>
As a test box, it's never up for as long as one day, much less 4+.
IME, TDE is fully compatible alongside Plasma. If too much bother, likely you
already have installed IceWM or other options available in SDDM's login screen,
while TDE still resembles strongly the KDE of yesteryear.
--
Evolution as taught in public schools is, like religion,
based on faith, not based on science.
Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!
Felix Miata
