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Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 4:30 am
by gpaladin
Hi,
Newly installed MX Linux.
While using Firefox system slows down to a standstill. Can only move the mouse, but barely.
Waiting doesn't improve the situation.
Any tips?
Code: Select all
System: Host: <filter> Kernel: 5.6.0-2-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.6.0-2-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet
splash
Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.14.5 wm: kwin_x11 dm: SDDM Distro: MX-19.2_KDE_x64 patito feo August 16 2020
base: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Machine: Type: Desktop System: Dell product: OptiPlex GX620 v: N/A serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 6 serial: <filter>
Mobo: Dell model: 0HH807 serial: <filter> BIOS: Dell v: A07 date: 03/31/2006
CPU: Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Pentium D bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Netburst Smithfield family: F (15)
model-id: 4 stepping: 7 microcode: 3 L2 cache: 1024 KiB
flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 bogomips: 11171
Speed: 2793 MHz min/max: N/A Core speeds (MHz): 1: 2793 2: 2793
Vulnerabilities: Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Vulnerable
Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion
Type: mds status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT disabled
Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
Type: spec_store_bypass status: Vulnerable
Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Full generic retpoline, STIBP: disabled, RSB filling
Type: srbds status: Not affected
Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics: Device-1: Intel 82945G/GZ Integrated Graphics vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
chip ID: 8086:2772
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: intel compositor: kwin_x11 resolution: 1280x1024~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 945G v: 1.4 Mesa 20.0.7 direct render: Yes
Audio: Device-1: Intel 82801G AC97 Audio vendor: Dell OptiPlex GX620 driver: snd_intel8x0 v: kernel bus ID: 00:1e.2
chip ID: 8086:27de
Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.6.0-2-amd64
Network: Device-1: Broadcom Limited NetXtreme BCM5751 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express vendor: Dell OptiPlex GX620
driver: tg3 v: 3.137 port: e8a0 bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 14e4:1677
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: Local Storage: total: 372.58 GiB used: 34.36 GiB (9.2%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Kingston model: SA400S37240G size: 223.57 GiB block size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B
speed: <unknown> serial: <filter> rev: B1D2 scheme: MBR
ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Seagate model: ST3160812AS size: 149.01 GiB block size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B
speed: <unknown> serial: <filter> rev: H scheme: MBR
Partition: ID-1: / raw size: 98.57 GiB size: 96.52 GiB (97.92%) used: 21.93 GiB (22.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
Sensors: Message: No sensors data was found. Is sensors configured?
Repos: No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/atom.list
1: deb [arch=amd64] https://packagecloud.io/AtomEditor/atom/any/ any main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster main contrib non-free
2: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
1: deb https://ftp.arnes.si/mirrors/mxlinux/packages/mx/repo/ buster main non-free
2: deb https://ftp.arnes.si/mirrors/mxlinux/packages/mx/repo/ buster ahs
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/various.list
Info: Processes: 191 Uptime: 16h 20m Memory: 1.94 GiB used: 1.14 GiB (58.7%) Init: SysVinit v: 2.93 runlevel: 5
default: 5 Compilers: gcc: 8.3.0 alt: 8 Shell: quick-system-in running in: quick-system-in inxi: 3.0.36
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 4:40 am
by JayM
Welcome. I'd say the problem is because your computer and processor are very old, and Firefox plus KDE Plasma plus modern websites with all of their back-end scripts and things are simply overwhelming your system's ability to process everything, especially the websites.
I suggest that instead of MX-KDE you install the regular MX-19.2 (with Xfce and Fluxbox), then after installing log out and switch to Fluxbox as your user interface. Then I would follow the suggestions
here for making even Fluxbox use less memory, and I would install and use a lighter "weight" web browser such as SeaMonkey or Falkon.
Another alternative that would work well, or at least OK, on that computer is MX's sister-distribution, antiX Linux, particularly the full version:
https://antixlinux.com/. (You would still want to use a lighter browser than Firefox even with antiX.)
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:00 am
by JayM
Another issue is that you have just 2GB of RAM and no swap partition. When your memory becomes highly utilized your system has nothing else to use, which it would have if there was some swap.
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:10 am
by kangburra
I have MX KDE but with Chromium on a Chromebook with 2GB RAM and it's sluggish but usable.
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:36 am
by JayM
kangburra wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:10 am
I have MX KDE but with Chromium on a Chromebook with 2GB RAM and it's sluggish but usable.
But does your Chromebook have a Pentium D processor from 2005?
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 7:04 am
by gpaladin
Yes, you are all right. It is an old machine, and I could probably use a lighter distro. The thing is, I like MX Linux especially in combination with KDE. I don't mind it being sluggish a little, just that it doesn't freeze. I am writing this now using Waterfox and it is better. Thanks for the help so far!
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 8:41 am
by kangburra
JayM wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:36 am
But does your Chromebook have a Pentium D processor from 2005?
No, but it was unusable with Firefox so a different browser makes a world of difference. Also XFCE to KDE made no visible difference to program usability. I have been an XFCE fan for some time but this KDE is remarkably good.
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:59 pm
by mg979
My issue is similar, I have the same on an old laptop I'm currently using, but just running MX from live USB with persistance (but no swap).
Is there a way to tell Firefox or any process to use at most a certain amount of RAM? It's ok if Firefox freezes if I can still kill it.
Code: Select all
System: Host: mx1 Kernel: 4.19.0-9-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/antiX/vmlinuz quiet splasht nosplash lang=it_IT
tz=Europe/Rome persist_all
Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 tk: Gtk 3.24.5 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm4 dm: LightDM 1.26.0
Distro: MX-19.2_x64 patito feo May 31 2020 base: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Machine: Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 52152AG v: Lenovo B570e serial: <filter>
Chassis: type: 10 v: 0.1 serial: <filter>
Mobo: LENOVO model: Emerald Lake v: FAB1 serial: <filter> UEFI: LENOVO v: 44CN43WW
date: 10/27/2011
Battery: ID-1: BAT0 charge: 27.3 Wh condition: 28.2/46.4 Wh (61%) volts: 12.0/11.1
model: SMP L09M6Y02 type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Unknown
CPU: Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i3-2328M bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Sandy Bridge family: 6 model-id: 2A (42) stepping: 7 microcode: 2F
L2 cache: 3072 KiB
flags: avx lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 17562
Speed: 800 MHz min/max: 800/2200 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 798 2: 798 3: 798 4: 798
Vulnerabilities: Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Vulnerable
Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion
Type: mds
status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT vulnerable
Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
Type: spec_store_bypass status: Vulnerable
Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Full generic retpoline, STIBP: disabled, RSB filling
Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics: Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics
vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0116
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
resolution: 1366x768~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Sandybridge Mobile v: 3.3 Mesa 18.3.6 compat-v: 3.0
direct render: Yes
Audio: Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:1c20
Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.19.0-9-amd64
Network: Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Lenovo
driver: ath9k v: kernel port: efa0 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 168c:002b
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Lenovo
driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 2000 bus ID: 03:00.0 chip ID: 10ec:8168
IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: Local Storage: total: 480.24 GiB used: 1.73 GiB (0.4%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST9500325AS size: 465.76 GiB block size:
physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s rotation: 5400 rpm serial: <filter>
rev: LVM1 scheme: MBR
ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Sony model: Storage Media size: 14.48 GiB
block size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B serial: <filter> rev: PMAP scheme: MBR
Partition: ID-1: / raw size: N/A size: 2.97 GiB used: 1.73 GiB (58.3%) fs: overlay
source: ERR-102
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 54.0 C mobo: 45.0 C
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos: No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster main contrib non-free
2: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
1: deb http://it.mxrepo.com/mx/repo/ buster main non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sublime-text.list
1: deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/various.list
Info: Processes: 264 Uptime: 42m Memory: 3.77 GiB used: 1.33 GiB (35.4%) Init: SysVinit
v: 2.93 runlevel: 5 default: 5 Compilers: gcc: 8.3.0 alt: 8 Shell: bash v: 5.0.3
running in: quick-system-in inxi: 3.0.36
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 10:12 pm
by JayM
mg979 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:59 pm
My issue is similar, I have the same on an old laptop I'm currently using, but just running MX from live USB with persistance (but no swap).
Is there a way to tell Firefox or any process to use at most a certain amount of RAM? It's ok if Firefox freezes if I can still kill it.
Code: Select all
System: Host: mx1 Kernel: 4.19.0-9-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/antiX/vmlinuz quiet splasht nosplash lang=it_IT
tz=Europe/Rome persist_all
Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 tk: Gtk 3.24.5 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm4 dm: LightDM 1.26.0
Distro: MX-19.2_x64 patito feo May 31 2020 base: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)
Machine: Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 52152AG v: Lenovo B570e serial: <filter>
Chassis: type: 10 v: 0.1 serial: <filter>
Mobo: LENOVO model: Emerald Lake v: FAB1 serial: <filter> UEFI: LENOVO v: 44CN43WW
date: 10/27/2011
Battery: ID-1: BAT0 charge: 27.3 Wh condition: 28.2/46.4 Wh (61%) volts: 12.0/11.1
model: SMP L09M6Y02 type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Unknown
CPU: Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i3-2328M bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Sandy Bridge family: 6 model-id: 2A (42) stepping: 7 microcode: 2F
L2 cache: 3072 KiB
flags: avx lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 17562
Speed: 800 MHz min/max: 800/2200 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 798 2: 798 3: 798 4: 798
Vulnerabilities: Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Vulnerable
Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion
Type: mds
status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT vulnerable
Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
Type: spec_store_bypass status: Vulnerable
Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Full generic retpoline, STIBP: disabled, RSB filling
Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics: Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics
vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0116
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
resolution: 1366x768~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Sandybridge Mobile v: 3.3 Mesa 18.3.6 compat-v: 3.0
direct render: Yes
Audio: Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:1c20
Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.19.0-9-amd64
Network: Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Lenovo
driver: ath9k v: kernel port: efa0 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 168c:002b
IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Lenovo
driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 2000 bus ID: 03:00.0 chip ID: 10ec:8168
IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: Local Storage: total: 480.24 GiB used: 1.73 GiB (0.4%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST9500325AS size: 465.76 GiB block size:
physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s rotation: 5400 rpm serial: <filter>
rev: LVM1 scheme: MBR
ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Sony model: Storage Media size: 14.48 GiB
block size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B serial: <filter> rev: PMAP scheme: MBR
Partition: ID-1: / raw size: N/A size: 2.97 GiB used: 1.73 GiB (58.3%) fs: overlay
source: ERR-102
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 54.0 C mobo: 45.0 C
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos: No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian buster main contrib non-free
2: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates main contrib non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
1: deb http://it.mxrepo.com/mx/repo/ buster main non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sublime-text.list
1: deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/various.list
Info: Processes: 264 Uptime: 42m Memory: 3.77 GiB used: 1.33 GiB (35.4%) Init: SysVinit
v: 2.93 runlevel: 5 default: 5 Compilers: gcc: 8.3.0 alt: 8 Shell: bash v: 5.0.3
running in: quick-system-in inxi: 3.0.36
As you are not using MX-KDE please start a new topic in the appropriate forum or subforum. (See the forum rules linked in my signature.)
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 10:44 pm
by entropyfoe
gpaladin,
Yes, here is a tip.
I run firefox, and I use noscript to prevent a bunch of advertising and tracking scripts run. By blocking those you save a lot of ram. My wife runs an MX machine with firefox and WITHOUT noscript, and mostly with the browser she can fill up 15 G of RAM ! Then as you describe with only few hundred Meg free, the mouse starts getting jerky.
Fire up a terminal, run top.
You will see what programs are using the most memory. You can kill them if they are "Web content". You may lose a tab sometimes, but often these are scripts and advertising, videos etc, which will let you still browser.
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:09 am
by Mauser
I would recommend you get more RAM which will help the speed of that computer since it's running an older CPU. I have a similar CPU in my laptop computer but I have 4 GB RAM which I plan on upgrading to 8 GB RAM. I run XFCE on that one. The other alternative is to try running XFCE or run ANTIX.
Re: Firefox freezes the system - the mouse barely moves
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:17 am
by Stevo
You can also install a good ad blocker extension for Firefox so it doesn't waste bandwidth and memory displaying those. I use Ublock Origin along with the antiX ad block thingy in the repo. And limit the number of open tabs. But a lighter browser in addition to those is also a good idea...maybe Pale Moon in addition to the other suggestions?