High cpu usage on intel core i9 9th gen (about any program can peak my system)

Issues & Assistance
, ,
1

Hi all,

Not sure what started this or how to begin debugging this at all as it is no single program/setting at fault. I did try X11 and Wayland, with similar issues. See my htop images below for details.

System specs:

image
image1222Ă—809 121 KB

System:
  Kernel: 6.13.0-2-cachyos-bore arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-cachyos-bore
    root=UUID=a840e5a0-d1a3-432e-a9a3-27dcb3be0edb rw rootflags=subvol=@
    quiet rd.luks.uuid=2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
    rd.luks.uuid=686e7718-1e79-4df8-bc43-86b3f9f5f883
    resume=/dev/mapper/luks-686e7718-1e79-4df8-bc43-86b3f9f5f883 loglevel=3
    ibt=off
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.2.5 tk: Qt v: N/A wm: kwin_wayland dm: SDDM
    Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Alienware product: Alienware Aurora R9 v: 1.0.14
    serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 3 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: Alienware model: 0T76PD v: A01 serial: <filter> part-nu: 0961
    uuid: 4c4c4544-0036-3010-8035-c4c04f483033 UEFI: Alienware v: 1.0.14
    date: 09/06/2021
Battery:
  ID-1: hidpp_battery_0 charge: 100% condition: N/A volts: 4.2 min: N/A
    model: Logitech G703 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse w/ HERO type: N/A
    serial: <filter> status: full
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i9-9900KS socket: LGA1151 (U3E1) note: check
    bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Coffee Lake gen: core 9 level: v3 note: check
    built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6 model-id: 0x9E (158)
    stepping: 0xD (13) microcode: 0x100
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 8 cores: 8 threads: 16 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 512 KiB desc: d-8x32 KiB; i-8x32 KiB L2: 2 MiB
    desc: 8x256 KiB L3: 16 MiB desc: 1x16 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 4092 min/max: 800/5200 base/boost: 4000/8300 scaling:
    driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave volts: 1.3 V ext-clock: 100 MHz
    cores: 1: 4092 2: 4092 3: 4092 4: 4092 5: 4092 6: 4092 7: 4092 8: 4092
    9: 4092 10: 4092 11: 4092 12: 4092 13: 4092 14: 4092 15: 4092 16: 4092
    bogomips: 127999
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel CoffeeLake-S GT2 [UHD Graphics 630] vendor: Dell
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-9.5 process: Intel 14nm built: 2016-20
    ports: active: none empty: DP-7,HDMI-A-3 bus-ID: 0000:00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:3e98 class-ID: 0380
  Device-2: NVIDIA TU104 [GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER] vendor: Dell
    driver: nvidia v: 570.86.16 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm
    non-free: 550/565.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-01; EOL~2026-12-xx)
    arch: Turing code: TUxxx process: TSMC 12nm FF built: 2018-2022 ports:
    active: none off: DP-2 empty: DP-1,DP-3,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 0000:01:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:1e81 class-ID: 0300
  Device-3: NVIDIA TU104 [GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER] vendor: Dell
    driver: nvidia v: 570.86.16 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm
    non-free: 550/565.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-01; EOL~2026-12-xx)
    arch: Turing code: TUxxx process: TSMC 12nm FF built: 2018-2022 ports:
    active: none empty: DP-4, DP-5, DP-6, HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 0000:02:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:1e81 class-ID: 0300
  Device-4: Realtek NexiGo N660P FHD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-14.4.1:10
    chip-ID: 0bda:0567 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Display: unspecified server: X.Org v: 24.1.4 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.4
    compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: modesetting,nvidia
    unloaded: nouveau alternate: fbdev,intel,nv,vesa dri: iris
    gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch display-ID: :1 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 5120x1440 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1355x381mm (53.35x15.00")
    s-diag: 1408mm (55.42")
  Monitor-1: DP-2 note: disabled model: Samsung LC49G95T serial: <filter>
    built: 2245 res: mode: 5120x1440 hz: 120 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
    size: 1193x336mm (46.97x13.23") diag: 1239mm (48.8") modes: max: 3840x1080
    min: 640x480
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia device: 1
    drv: nvidia gbm: drv: nvidia surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
    inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 vendor: nvidia v: 570.86.16 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER/PCIe/SSE2
    memory: 7.81 GiB
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.303 layers: 5 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA
    GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:1e81 surfaces: xcb,xlib
    device: 1 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER
    driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:1e81 surfaces: N/A device: 2
    type: integrated-gpu name: Intel UHD Graphics 630 (CFL GT2) driver: N/A
    device-ID: 8086:3e98 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 3 type: cpu name: llvmpipe
    (LLVM 19.1.7 256 bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
    surfaces: xcb,xlib
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
    wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 0000:00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a2f0
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA TU104 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f8 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: NVIDIA TU104 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:02:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f8 class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: Realtek NexiGo N660P FHD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-14.4.1:10
    chip-ID: 0bda:0567 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.13.0-2-cachyos-bore status: kernel-api tools: N/A
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: n/a (root, process) with:
    1: pipewire-pulse status: active 2: wireplumber status: active
    3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: Dell driver: ath10k_pci v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:04:00.0
    chip-ID: 168c:003e class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp4s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Dell
    driver: alx v: kernel port: c000 bus-ID: 0000:05:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:e0b1
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp5s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: tailscale0 state: unknown speed: -1 duplex: full mac: N/A
  Info: services: NetworkManager, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-8:5 chip-ID: 0cf3:e007
    class-ID: e001
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
    rfk-block: hardware: no software: no address: <filter> bt-v: 5.0 lmp-v: 9
    status: discoverable: no pairing: no
RAID:
  Hardware-1: Intel SATA Controller [RAID mode] driver: intel_nvme_remap
    v: N/A port: f060 bus-ID: 0000:00:17.0 chip-ID: 8086:2822 rev:
    class-ID: 0104
  Supported mdraid levels: raid0
  Device-1: md127 maj-min: 9:127 type: mdraid level: raid-0 status: active
    state: clean size: 1.82 TiB
  Info: report: N/A blocks: 1953260544 chunk-size: 512k super-blocks: 1.2
  Components: Online:
  0: sdc maj-min: 8:32 size: 931.51 GiB state: active sync
  1: sdb maj-min: 8:16 size: 931.51 GiB state: active sync
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: raw: 11.37 TiB usable: 11.37 TiB
    used: 1.23 TiB (10.8%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 990 PRO 2TB
    size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 4B2QJXD7 temp: 37.9 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes health: PASSED on: 68d 2h cycles: 257
    read-units: 2,335,971 [1.19 TB] written-units: 11,039,867 [5.65 TB]
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Crucial model: CT500MX500SSD1
    family: Micron Client SSDs size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B sata: 3.3 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 023 temp: 36 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 2y 150d 21h cycles: 2431
    written: 3.97 TiB
  ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Smart Modular Tech.
    model: SHGS31-1000GS-2 family: SATA SSDs size: 931.51 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.2 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 0Q00 temp: 34 C
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 65d 9h cycles: 1894 Old-Age:
    threshold: 1
  ID-4: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Smart Modular Tech.
    model: SHGS31-1000GS-2 family: SATA SSDs size: 931.51 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.2 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 0Q00 temp: 28 C
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 1y 199d 14h cycles: 1894
    Old-Age: threshold: 1
  ID-5: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 vendor: HGST (Hitachi) model: HUS728T8TALE6L4
    family: Ultrastar HC310/320 size: 7.28 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B
    logical: 512 B type: USB rev: 3.1 spd: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1
    sata: 3.2 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 5006 drive-rev: V8GNW980 temp: 32 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 89d 6h cycles: 5030
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%) used: 81.25 GiB (4.5%)
    fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1 maj-min: 254:1
    mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 732 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat block-size: 512 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
    maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 81.25 GiB (4.5%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1
    maj-min: 254:1 mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 81.25 GiB (4.5%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1
    maj-min: 254:1 mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 81.25 GiB (4.5%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1
    maj-min: 254:1 mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 68.88 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/dm-0 maj-min: 254:0
    mapped: luks-686e7718-1e79-4df8-bc43-86b3f9f5f883
  ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 62.62 GiB used: 3.4 MiB (0.0%) priority: 100
    comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 max-streams: 16
    dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 69.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
  Memory: total: 64 GiB available: 62.62 GiB used: 10.44 GiB (16.7%)
  Processes: 456 Power: uptime: 59m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 24.98 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1644 libs: 451 tools: octopi,paru Compilers:
    clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: garuda-inxi (sudo) default: Bash v: 5.2.37
    running-in: ghostty inxi: 3.3.37
Garuda (2.6.26-1.1):
  System install date:     2024-10-08
  Last full system update: 2025-01-30
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-dkms
  Windows dual boot:       Yes
  Failed units:

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image1028Ă—652 125 KB

2

First thing to try, always test alternate kernels.

5 Likes
3

Second thing to try, quit steam and then monitor the cpu usage.

It’s best to start with a fresh session (after a start or reboot), check which applications are already running in the background (via autostart) and close them accordingly (e.g. steam). Then open individual applications, e.g. Dolphin/Firefox etc. and use htop to check whether and when the CPU usage increases. Also check whether applications continue to run in the background after closing them.

If you start with a saved session, deactivate this in the KDE settings and activate “Start with an empty session”.

You can also create a new user account and check whether the problem occurs there too.

3 Likes
4

As noted in title, it does not matter which program it is, steam, firedragon, even htop will tend to peak it more then they should. I do not have any background services other than two at autoboot during testing that is, and quitting them does not help in anyway.

image
image958Ă—702 54.2 KB

For example, this is a fresh reboot with nothing else running but 1 tab of firedragon and basic services.

image
image1629Ă—1035 253 KB

Nothing but htop running and tailescaled.

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image1028Ă—624 102 KB

P.S: Switching kernels to linux-zen does not help. I can try others, I just need to know which ones to try.

5

Your BIOS is very out of date, and there are quite a few critical updates since this version.
https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/alienware-aurora-r9-desktop/drivers

3 Likes
6

hehe, funny you mentions this, bios updates failed (says my bios is newer than what i am updating to)

7

i can try again. brb

8

I’ve noticed this is the update notes (for 1.0.26) :

  • Ensure that you update the BIOS to version 1.0.23, before updating to version 1.0.24 or later.

There might have been a big shift in the BIOS in the prior version to require such a thing. I assume it might effect how it handles updates.

3 Likes
9

ok, ill try this.

1 Like
10

Well, after a few failed tries. The system finally allowed me to update to 1.0.26. The update kept throwing me these errors with 1.0.23 and 1.0.25 tool . But after running the 1.0.26 tool, it started working after that with a new error, (Forgot to take a screenshot). I cancelled and tried 1.0.23. It worked like a charm, updated, then I updated to 1.0.25, and then finally to 1.0.26.

bios1
bios1377Ă—479 12.6 KB

Screenshot 2025-01-31 174517
Screenshot 2025-01-31 174517346Ă—445 8.75 KB

System with 1.0.26 bios now

System:
  Kernel: 6.13.0-2-cachyos-bore arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-cachyos-bore
    root=UUID=a840e5a0-d1a3-432e-a9a3-27dcb3be0edb rw rootflags=subvol=@
    quiet rd.luks.uuid=2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
    rd.luks.uuid=686e7718-1e79-4df8-bc43-86b3f9f5f883
    resume=/dev/mapper/luks-686e7718-1e79-4df8-bc43-86b3f9f5f883 loglevel=3
    ibt=off
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.2.5 tk: Qt v: N/A wm: kwin_wayland dm: SDDM
    Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Alienware product: Alienware Aurora R9 v: 1.0.26
    serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 3 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: Alienware model: 0T76PD v: A01 serial: <filter> part-nu: 0961
    uuid: 4c4c4544-0036-3010-8035-c4c04f483033 UEFI: Alienware v: 1.0.26
    date: 11/22/2023
Battery:
  ID-1: hidpp_battery_0 charge: 100% condition: N/A volts: 4.2 min: N/A
    model: Logitech G703 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse w/ HERO type: N/A
    serial: <filter> status: full
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i9-9900KS socket: LGA1151 (U3E1) note: check
    bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Coffee Lake gen: core 9 level: v3 note: check
    built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6 model-id: 0x9E (158)
    stepping: 0xD (13) microcode: 0x100
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 8 cores: 8 threads: 16 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 512 KiB desc: d-8x32 KiB; i-8x32 KiB L2: 2 MiB
    desc: 8x256 KiB L3: 16 MiB desc: 1x16 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 814 min/max: 800/5000 base/boost: 4000/8300 scaling:
    driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave volts: 1.0 V ext-clock: 100 MHz
    cores: 1: 814 2: 814 3: 814 4: 814 5: 814 6: 814 7: 814 8: 814 9: 814
    10: 814 11: 814 12: 814 13: 814 14: 814 15: 814 16: 814 bogomips: 127999
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel CoffeeLake-S GT2 [UHD Graphics 630] vendor: Dell
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-9.5 process: Intel 14nm built: 2016-20
    ports: active: none empty: DP-7,HDMI-A-3 bus-ID: 0000:00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:3e98 class-ID: 0380
  Device-2: NVIDIA TU104 [GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER] vendor: Dell
    driver: nvidia v: 570.86.16 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm
    non-free: 550/565.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-01; EOL~2026-12-xx)
    arch: Turing code: TUxxx process: TSMC 12nm FF built: 2018-2022 ports:
    active: none off: DP-2 empty: DP-1,DP-3,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 0000:01:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:1e81 class-ID: 0300
  Device-3: NVIDIA TU104 [GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER] vendor: Dell
    driver: nvidia v: 570.86.16 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm
    non-free: 550/565.xx+ status: current (as of 2025-01; EOL~2026-12-xx)
    arch: Turing code: TUxxx process: TSMC 12nm FF built: 2018-2022 ports:
    active: none empty: DP-4, DP-5, DP-6, HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 0000:02:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:1e81 class-ID: 0300
  Device-4: Realtek NexiGo N660P FHD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-14.4.1:10
    chip-ID: 0bda:0567 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Display: unspecified server: X.Org v: 24.1.4 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.4
    compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: modesetting,nvidia
    unloaded: nouveau alternate: fbdev,intel,nv,vesa dri: iris
    gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch display-ID: :1 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 5120x1440 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1355x381mm (53.35x15.00")
    s-diag: 1408mm (55.42")
  Monitor-1: DP-2 note: disabled model: Samsung LC49G95T serial: <filter>
    built: 2245 res: mode: 5120x1440 hz: 120 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
    size: 1193x336mm (46.97x13.23") diag: 1239mm (48.8") modes: max: 3840x1080
    min: 640x480
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia device: 1
    drv: nvidia gbm: drv: nvidia surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
    inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 vendor: nvidia v: 570.86.16 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER/PCIe/SSE2
    memory: 7.81 GiB
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.303 layers: 5 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA
    GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:1e81 surfaces: xcb,xlib
    device: 1 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER
    driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:1e81 surfaces: N/A device: 2
    type: integrated-gpu name: Intel UHD Graphics 630 (CFL GT2) driver: N/A
    device-ID: 8086:3e98 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 3 type: cpu name: llvmpipe
    (LLVM 19.1.7 256 bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
    surfaces: xcb,xlib
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
    wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 0000:00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a2f0
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA TU104 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f8 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: NVIDIA TU104 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:02:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f8 class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: Realtek NexiGo N660P FHD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-14.4.1:10
    chip-ID: 0bda:0567 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.13.0-2-cachyos-bore status: kernel-api tools: N/A
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: n/a (root, process) with:
    1: pipewire-pulse status: active 2: wireplumber status: active
    3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: Dell driver: ath10k_pci v: kernel bus-ID: 0000:04:00.0
    chip-ID: 168c:003e class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp4s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Dell
    driver: alx v: kernel port: c000 bus-ID: 0000:05:00.0 chip-ID: 1969:e0b1
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp5s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: tailscale0 state: unknown speed: -1 duplex: full mac: N/A
  Info: services: NetworkManager, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-8:5 chip-ID: 0cf3:e007
    class-ID: e001
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
    rfk-block: hardware: no software: no address: <filter> bt-v: 5.0 lmp-v: 9
    status: discoverable: no pairing: no
RAID:
  Hardware-1: Intel SATA Controller [RAID mode] driver: intel_nvme_remap
    v: N/A port: f060 bus-ID: 0000:00:17.0 chip-ID: 8086:2822 rev:
    class-ID: 0104
  Supported mdraid levels: raid0
  Device-1: md127 maj-min: 9:127 type: mdraid level: raid-0 status: active
    state: clean size: 1.82 TiB
  Info: report: N/A blocks: 1953260544 chunk-size: 512k super-blocks: 1.2
  Components: Online:
  0: sdc maj-min: 8:32 size: 931.51 GiB state: active sync
  1: sdb maj-min: 8:16 size: 931.51 GiB state: active sync
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: raw: 11.37 TiB usable: 11.37 TiB
    used: 1.52 TiB (13.4%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 990 PRO 2TB
    size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 4B2QJXD7 temp: 36.9 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes health: PASSED on: 68d 9h cycles: 278
    read-units: 2,354,027 [1.20 TB] written-units: 11,048,380 [5.65 TB]
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Crucial model: CT500MX500SSD1
    family: Micron Client SSDs size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B sata: 3.3 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 023 temp: 36 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 2y 151d 5h cycles: 2452
    written: 4.02 TiB
  ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Smart Modular Tech.
    model: SHGS31-1000GS-2 family: SATA SSDs size: 931.51 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.2 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 0Q00 temp: 35 C
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 65d 16h cycles: 1915 Old-Age:
    threshold: 1
  ID-4: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Smart Modular Tech.
    model: SHGS31-1000GS-2 family: SATA SSDs size: 931.51 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.2 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 0Q00 temp: 28 C
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 1y 199d 21h cycles: 1915
    Old-Age: threshold: 1
  ID-5: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 vendor: HGST (Hitachi) model: HUS728T8TALE6L4
    family: Ultrastar HC310/320 size: 7.28 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B
    logical: 512 B type: USB rev: 3.1 spd: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1
    sata: 3.2 speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 5006 drive-rev: V8GNW980 temp: 44 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 89d 16h cycles: 5037
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%) used: 81.99 GiB (4.6%)
    fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1 maj-min: 254:1
    mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 732 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat block-size: 512 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
    maj-min: 259:1
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 81.99 GiB (4.6%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1
    maj-min: 254:1 mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 81.99 GiB (4.6%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1
    maj-min: 254:1 mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 1.75 TiB size: 1.75 TiB (100.00%)
    used: 81.99 GiB (4.6%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/dm-1
    maj-min: 254:1 mapped: luks-2ced48d8-31af-4dc4-b649-ea7c98869a87
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 68.88 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/dm-0 maj-min: 254:0
    mapped: luks-686e7718-1e79-4df8-bc43-86b3f9f5f883
  ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 62.62 GiB used: 3.9 MiB (0.0%) priority: 100
    comp: zstd avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 max-streams: 16
    dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 35.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
  Memory: total: 64 GiB available: 62.62 GiB used: 4.87 GiB (7.8%)
  Processes: 379 Power: uptime: 14m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 24.98 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1644 libs: 451 tools: octopi,paru Compilers:
    clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: garuda-inxi (sudo) default: Bash v: 5.2.37
    running-in: ghostty inxi: 3.3.37
Garuda (2.6.26-1.1):
  System install date:     2024-10-08
  Last full system update: 2025-01-30
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut nvidia-dkms
  Windows dual boot:       Yes
  Failed units:

I will need to report back later if this did something useful to fix my issues.

2 Likes
11

Your system has been installed for a while now, anything you’ve installed since 2024-10-08 could potentially be causing this.

Some things you could try:

Boot a live disk to check if the same thing happens in the live environment.

Kernels to try:

linux-lts
linux-mainline
linux-hardened

Remove any plasmoids you’ve installed.

Test the nouveau graphics driver, rather than the proprietary driver.

Good luck troubleshooting.

2 Likes
12

Your Garuda installation is still new, have you had the issue from the beginning?

btw: nvidia drivers can cause CPU spikes, this is not a new issue. You can check whether the GPU load increases at the same time as the CPU spikes.

Since you are using dual GPU: What happens if you remove a 2080?

3 Likes
13

No, I didn’t have this issue at the beginning of this fresh install. I’d say the last two months. I didn’t pay attention to the slowness because updates often fixed any issues from before. I didn’t realize how bad it was until this week where yt videos barely play now at 720p lol.

Not sure on removing the 2nd gpu but sli is off. Will report back.

14

27% is a lot, I’m just idling at my desktop!

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λ nvidia-smi
Fri Jan 31 13:30:39 2025
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 570.86.16              Driver Version: 570.86.16      CUDA Version: 12.8     |
|-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
| GPU  Name                 Persistence-M | Bus-Id          Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan  Temp   Perf          Pwr:Usage/Cap |           Memory-Usage | GPU-Util  Compute M. |
|                                         |                        |               MIG M. |
|=========================================+========================+======================|
|   0  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 ...    Off |   00000000:01:00.0  On |                  N/A |
| 18%   46C    P8             22W /  250W |    1571MiB /   8192MiB |      4%      Default |
|                                         |                        |                  N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
|   1  NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 ...    Off |   00000000:02:00.0 Off |                  N/A |
| 18%   41C    P8             14W /  250W |       7MiB /   8192MiB |      0%      Default |
|                                         |                        |                  N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Processes:                                                                              |
|  GPU   GI   CI              PID   Type   Process name                        GPU Memory |
|        ID   ID                                                               Usage      |
|=========================================================================================|
|    0   N/A  N/A            3837      G   /usr/lib/Xorg                            23MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5323      G   /usr/bin/kwalletd6                        2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5637      G   /usr/bin/kwin_wayland                   780MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5712      G   /usr/bin/Xwayland                         3MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5765      G   /usr/bin/ksmserver                        2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5767      G   /usr/bin/kded6                            2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5781      G   /usr/bin/plasmashell                    184MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5838      G   /usr/lib/kactivitymanagerd                2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5839      G   /usr/bin/gmenudbusmenuproxy               2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5840      G   /usr/bin/kaccess                          2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5841      G   ...it-kde-authentication-agent-1          2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5842      G   /usr/lib/org_kde_powerdevil               2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            5843      G   /usr/bin/xembedsniproxy                   2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            8618      G   /usr/bin/kdeconnectd                      2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            8666      G   ...bin/garuda-system-maintenance          2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            8681      G   /usr/bin/xwaylandvideobridge              2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            8704      G   /usr/lib/DiscoverNotifier                 2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A            8750      G   /usr/lib/xdg-desktop-portal-kde           2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          158144      G   ...and --variations-seed-version         66MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          421278      G   ...share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam          3MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          421482      G   ./steamwebhelper                         23MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          421509    C+G   .../share/Steam/logs/cef_log.txt          7MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          589050      G   ...Ptr --variations-seed-version         67MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          839785      G   /usr/lib/firedragon/firedragon          153MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          840001      G   ...asma-browser-integration-host          2MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          936001      G   /usr/bin/spectacle                       26MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A          953269      G   /usr/bin/ghostty                         40MiB |
|    1   N/A  N/A            3837      G   /usr/lib/Xorg                             4MiB |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

gpu 2

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15

does nouveau work on nvidia wayland now?

16

I don’t do nvidia, but I expect it should.

17

is there a guide that shows me how to properly switch drivers without bricking my system?

p.s. trying your other solutions. No plasmoids. System is pretty much stock other than cachyos enabled repos.

18

That’s pretty hard to do with Garuda, as long as you have snapshots enabled. You can always roll your system back if the unthinkable happens.

I’d have to search to find one, and as you’re the one who bought nvidia, I’ll leave that task to you. :smiley:

1 Like
19

After the bios update and running sudo pacman -R garuda-nvidia-config && sudo pacman -S nvidia-open-dkms seemed to help a bit to stabilize the system.

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What is preload and why does it randomly use the cpu? is this normal?

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20

hello,

Preload is a daemon designed for Arch Linux and other Linux distributions that aims to speed up application launches by predicting which applications you are likely to use next and preloading parts of these applications into memory. This can be particularly useful for users with slower hard drives or for applications that typically take a long time to start.

2 Likes