NVIDIA drivers causing Problems 2022
In recent times, NVIDIA’s newer drivers, specifically version 455 and subsequent releases, have been causing concerns amongst the Linux community. A prevalent bug has been identified that causes random system freezes, impacting not just Arch Linux but also its derivatives like Manjaro. However, reports suggest that this isn’t limited to Arch-based systems alone.
The Problem:
Users reported that after updating to the problematic NVIDIA driver versions, they experienced unexpected system freezes. In some cases, this was especially prominent after performing high I/O activities. This posed serious issues for many, hindering their daily tasks and causing disruptions. A significant number of users also reported their games freezing briefly when performing actions such as changing the volume or forcing a game to close.
Interestingly, the system freeze issue isn’t just restricted to Arch and its variants. Users from different distros, including Pop OS 20.04, have also raised concerns about encountering similar problems.
Possible Solutions:
For those plagued by this issue, the recommended course of action currently is to downgrade to driver version 450 or even 440, which seems to circumvent the freezing problem. While this might be a temporary fix, users are hopeful for an official patch to address the bug in the newer versions.
It’s worth noting that the release of the 460.32.03 driver has presented mixed results amongst the community. While some have found it to eliminate the freezing issue, others still encounter problems. Furthermore, with the introduction of the 460 driver, a memory allocation bug from the previous version was fixed, but another random null pointer dereference was discovered. Users still experiencing problems with this driver might indeed just be the unfortunate few.
A Shift in the Wind?
There’s also been a notable shift in sentiment in the community towards NVIDIA, with several expressing their intentions to shift to AMD the next time they upgrade. Their frustrations aren’t solely based on this recent hiccup but stem from longer-term dissatisfaction with NVIDIA’s driver support and standards conformity, especially in the Linux ecosystem. For instance, there are references to the Sway WM requiring a specific flag (--my-next-gpu-wont-be-nvidia) to launch on NVIDIA cards due to the company’s non-conformity to specific standards.
On the other side, some defend NVIDIA, mentioning that while they do follow standards, it might not be the usual ones everyone expects. Regardless of the defense, it’s evident that the company’s recent drivers’ issues have left a sour taste for many.
Conclusion:
The random freeze issue in NVIDIA’s recent driver updates underlines the challenges in ensuring seamless software updates, even for major corporations. As the Linux community rallies to find workarounds and solutions, the broader sentiment indicates a growing preference for AMD, at least in certain circles. This could serve as a lesson for NVIDIA to ensure rigorous testing and better integration with the diverse Linux ecosystem. However, users are advised to keep a close eye on NVIDIA’s official channels for updates and patches that might address this prevailing issue.
