nVidia and Video anomalies with GTK3 apps, who to yell at?

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AVLinux
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nVidia and Video anomalies with GTK3 apps, who to yell at?

#1 Post by AVLinux »

Hi,

I'm back with my nVidia 4080 Super saga...

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System:
  Kernel: 6.11.7-1-liquorix-amd64 [6.11-11~mx23ahs] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0 parameters: audit=0
    intel_pstate=disable BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.11.7-1-liquorix-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro
    threadirqs quiet splash
  Desktop: Enlightenment v: 0.25.4 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: AVL_MXE_BASE-25-PR1_x64
    Greatest Hits October 2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Gigabyte product: X399 AORUS PRO v: N/A serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Gigabyte model: X399 AORUS PRO-CF serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends
    v: F3a date: 11/30/2021
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: enlightenment driver: X: loaded: nvidia
    gpu: nvidia display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3840x2160 s-dpi: 154 s-size: 633x361mm (24.92x14.21") s-diag: 729mm (28.69")
  Monitor-1: DP-0 res: 3840x2160 hz: 60 dpi: 154 size: 632x360mm (24.88x14.17")
    diag: 727mm (28.64") modes: N/A
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 550.142 renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER/PCIe/SSE2
    direct-render: Yes
Boot Mode: UEFI
I am currently using the current driver (550.142) manually installed from the nVidia website but whatever Driver I use have have Video anomalies (Folders flashing and disappearing in Thunar, drop down lists flickering etc.) but this seems to be related to GTK3 applications (Thunar, YAD file chooser, Synaptic File Manager).

While I'm aware my DE (Enlightenment: the DE people love to hate!) is not commonly used and not supported on MX it seems to not be affected, it's apps and dialogs don't flicker and all compositing works as expected and the clarity of the text and widgets is on par with Windows. While it seems it might be an 'unknown' factor if Enlightenment was the problem here wouldn't it show the Video quirks within it's own applications? If it isn't the DE then is there any logical reason that GTK3 apps in particular are acting up? Have any nVidia Users here had something similar happen and can share any wisdom? Is it possible some nVidia Control Panel settings are causing this? I can screencapture the Video quirks if that would be useful. Or is the only option to wait for the Linux Drivers to catch up..?

This is my main production machine where AVL is built and it is a dual boot with Windows 10 where the nVidia card not only works but it has literally knocked hours off encoding and rendering times. These Video quirks are very offputting to the point where I may need to move my build setup to a much weaker and slower Thinkpad with no such issues.

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dolphin_oracle
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Re: nVidia and Video anomalies with GTK3 apps, who to yell at?

#2 Post by dolphin_oracle »

I would look at compositor settings. I know that on xfwm4 certainnshadow settings will make plank draw a line across the entire desktop. I imagine other compositors may have quirks. Such quirks we’ll may not show up with the environments own applications but could show up elsewhere.

Is guess.
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FYI: mx "test" repo is not the same thing as debian testing repo.

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AVLinux
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Re: nVidia and Video anomalies with GTK3 apps, who to yell at?

#3 Post by AVLinux »

Hi, happy new year and thanks for taking pity on me (again!)

Here are the E compositor settings, any of these terms stand out?
shot-2025-01-01_17-50-02.jpg
I have tried disabling 'flipping' in the nVidia Control Panel and it seems to have improved (happens less frequently) but there are still some glitches when cycling through directories.
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CharlesV
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Re: nVidia and Video anomalies with GTK3 apps, who to yell at?

#4 Post by CharlesV »

Using xfce, I have found that having VBlank set to auto can give me some headaches when I use xfwm as my compositor, and usually I have to run in GLX mode. However... once in a while, all window title bars disappear and I have to toggle this setting to auto, let it recover and then I can go back to GLX.

I have also found compton usually works well, but there again once in a while I can get some weird 'remnants' left over.

Honestly... compiz seems to be the best compositor I have found, but it is heavy and many years ago I had some serious issues with some apps. (I have not run it except for experimental on MX - but it did seem to be decent.)
*QSI = Quick System Info from menu (Copy for Forum)
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AVLinux
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Re: nVidia and Video anomalies with GTK3 apps, who to yell at?

#5 Post by AVLinux »

@CharlesV @dolphin_oracle

Hmmm,

I think you guys are onto something with the Compositor/OpenGL theory. Enlightenment allows for openGL compositing or 'Software' compositing so you get some Desktop effects either way but the openGL option is noticeably smoother. Anyway switching openGL off and selecting 'Software' seems to have improved the disappearing folders thing but it will take some time to confirm.
shot-2025-01-02_17-19-50.jpg
If you guys are telling me that various nVidia cards are even flaky with XFCE4 compositing on occasion I probably shouldn't have invested in this card in 20/20 hindsight, the performance boost on Windows is great but I'm trying to move all of the Pro workflow to Linux not make Windows work even better...lol. And even with this 'SUPER' card Davinci Resolve is a bugfest, it should be renamed 'Davinci Explodes' . I naively thought the biggest issue with nVidia on Linux was that they pulled driver support on cards that weren't that old I didn't think that the state of the art situation was that the 'official' Linux drivers will just be plain janky with your DE.. My AMD 6750XT never gave any compositing issues on Enlightenment, KDE or XFCE4... :mad:

Lesson: NEVER EVER modify a working hardware setup to accommodate a software application, regardless of how tempting the hype... look at me and learn! :rolleyes:
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CharlesV
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Re: nVidia and Video anomalies with GTK3 apps, who to yell at?

#6 Post by CharlesV »

Personally... I have had VERY good performance and working machines from nvidia. They CAN certainly be finicky, and on several cards / machines I have had to tweak and play until I found "the sweet spot"... BUT.. on 20 to 30 machines I have built and support with NVidia cards / controllers .... all have been very workable.

Honestly, I have never had a video card that didnt have some damn quirk to it - linux OR Windows, but I typically dont buy really high end cards either. The two very high end cards I bought quite long time ago had serious issues in many things - AMD and NVidia and I decided no more High End / First gen video cards ;-/ Now, all I buy are cards that are at least a year old, and typically mid-range.

And.. in my experience, Intel and Nvidia are the controllers I like and have better luck with.
*QSI = Quick System Info from menu (Copy for Forum)
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*Please check the solved checkbox on the post that solved it.
*Linux -This is the way!

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