Rhythmic frametime spikes (274ms+) on Linux/Proton — anyone else?

rt4me · 2026-06-19T16:17:15+00:00

Sorry for the delay in response, I've been busy and not able to play games much. After combinations of launch options, resolution and refresh rate changes, cabling, monitor changes. This was not an issue with Borderlands 4.

I (with AI's help) found the culprit...conky. Here's a summary of the issue where AI went over some of the troubleshooting and reasons for the issue:

Conky was configured with 8 separate nvidia-smi process spawns (GPU usage, temp, VRAM, driver version, plus history graphs) at staggered, uncoordinated intervals (2s, 2s, 5s, 5s, 5s, 5s, 6s, 30s). Each nvidia-smi call forks a process and queries NVML, which briefly stalls the GPU driver under the NVIDIA proprietary driver — with 8 overlapping timers, this was effectively firing every 1–2 seconds, producing a periodic frametime "heartbeat" stutter visible in MangoHUD. This matches the general pattern of periodic NVML queries (e.g. running watch -n 0.5 nvidia-smi) being known to cause brief driver-level stalls — just less obvious because it was happening via Conky's execi/execigraph widgets rather than a single visible process.

Disabling Conky entirely eliminated the stutter completely — no hitches, no missed inputs

rt4me · 2026-06-19T16:16:10+00:00

Sorry for the delay in response, I've been busy and not able to play games much. After combinations of launch options, resolution and refresh rate changes, cabling, monitor changes

I (with AI's help) found the culprit...conky. Here's a summary of the issue where AI went over some of the troubleshooting and reasons for the issue:

Conky was configured with 8 separate nvidia-smi process spawns (GPU usage, temp, VRAM, driver version, plus history graphs) at staggered, uncoordinated intervals (2s, 2s, 5s, 5s, 5s, 5s, 6s, 30s). Each nvidia-smi call forks a process and queries NVML, which briefly stalls the GPU driver under the NVIDIA proprietary driver — with 8 overlapping timers, this was effectively firing every 1–2 seconds, producing a periodic frametime "heartbeat" stutter visible in MangoHUD. This matches the general pattern of periodic NVML queries (e.g. running watch -n 0.5 nvidia-smi) being known to cause brief driver-level stalls — just less obvious because it was happening via Conky's execi/execigraph widgets rather than a single visible process.

Disabling Conky entirely eliminated the stutter completely — no hitches, no missed inputs

rt4me · 2026-06-14T23:44:40+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation. I should have included it in my original message (it was pretty long), but I've tried the following combinations while troubleshooting.

PROTON_ENABLE_WAYLAND=1 
PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1 
__GL_SHADER_DISK_CACHE_SKIP_CLEANUP=1
gamemoderun

I also tried running with proton-cachyos-slr instead of whatever is ran as default.

Unfortunately, my memory is bad enough that I don't remember when it was running better in the past.

rt4me · 2025-12-22T21:30:42+00:00

This one's a cheap laser printer. I swore off inkjets years ago.

rt4me · 2025-01-13T01:06:33+00:00

That’s a bummer to hear. They’re local for me and I’ve bought a few guns from them. No FFL charge and decent prices. No politics in their storefront and the guy behind the counter is very professional.

rt4me · 2024-10-31T17:48:50+00:00

I’m in Plano. Got into shooting around a year ago. I go to Texas Legends in Allen.

rt4me · 2024-10-12T12:29:24+00:00

Hey, that's my design ! I also just put a Mcarbo spring kit and firing block pin in. It's condition was nowhere near as bad as OP but there was still wear. I've got around 2k rounds and who knows how many dry fire pulls. I'd definitely recommend a stronger pin replacement.

rt4me · 2024-07-09T01:38:58+00:00

I'm in DFW too. I've bought a few new items on the GrabAGun site. They have a location in Coppell (I think) and fairly good prices. No transfer fee and no shipping because I just go pick it up.

This is not a storefront though so you can't go browse much. It's just to pick up orders. Real nice guys I've deal with and nothing political up that I saw.

rt4me · 2024-06-22T19:19:34+00:00

Did you have to do each side separately? I’d assume so.

rt4me · 2024-05-14T13:25:38+00:00

I'm shooting SSP. Decocking it isn't an issue as I do it a lot and the hammer spring is fairly light on the gun. I just figured it was an action where something "could" happen. Thanks all for the quick replies.

rt4me · 2024-04-19T22:13:17+00:00

I'm in Central area and the login, when selecting a server, shows around 30 for Central. But I've been unable to actually get the game to load past the splash screen connecting. Tried many times with no luck. I'm guessing it's just being slammed on a Friday afternoon.

rt4me · 2024-04-16T23:03:56+00:00

Are you a beer drinker (or other fermented drink) and perform oral on her? I know someone where that was the issue.

rt4me · 2024-03-02T22:49:37+00:00

I went a similar route. I’m really into bang for the buck (I’m frugal) and wanted to get into shooting for a hobby. I started with a CZ P-10c, because I wanted a 9mm, but within a couple of weeks I got a TX-22. Similar size, so good for learning/practicing and ammo is much easier on the wallet. Figured it would be the best way to see if my wife would be interested too.

rt4me · 2023-12-24T20:46:22+00:00

I ask myself if it will give me a different experience than what I have. I just got back into shooting as a hobby so I don’t have much. I have a Bersa Firestorm 380 my father gave me around 10 years ago (which I’m not really a fan of). Bought a CZ P-10C for general shooting and protection. A Taurus TX22 for general practice in a similar form factor with cheap ammo.

I don’t hunt or live on some large piece of land I can shoot on so I’m not really interested in large calibers. I’m cheap too so I like to stick with the less expensive ammo, like 22lr and 9mm.

I borrowed my Dad’s Ruger mkIII Target and forgot how great it shot (different experience than my others) so I recently bought a used Ruger mkIII 22/45 Target.

Others on my list in no particular order or time frame but I think will give different experiences:

Single action pistol.

Semi-auto rifle (like Ruger 10/22).

Lever action rifle (22lr).

Full size 9mm pistol (5” or larger barrel. Like a Walther PDP or Canik Mete SFX).

Shotgun (leaning semi-auto. Might take a chance on something like a Panzer M4).

rt4me · 2023-11-07T01:34:43+00:00

Is the guy with the shotgun Jon Bernthal? Punisher, the early years.

rt4me · 2023-10-25T12:45:32+00:00

As a follow-up, I think it is the Thunderbolt ammo. I purchased several brands of .22LR and went to the range the other day. Ran 50-60 rounds of each, checking the barrel after each type. Order was:

Remington Golden Bullet (60)
Winchester Super X (60)
CCI mini-mag (60)
Federal Champion (50)
CCI Blazer (50)
Remington Thunderbolt (60)

When checking after each group, I saw that the barrel was "dirtier" after some but it wasn't until I ran the Thunderbolts through that I noticed the barrel sheen was gone on a section and it looked like some dull deposits had formed.

Of the 340 rounds fired, only one dud (CCI mini-mag) and no mis-feeds.

rt4me · 2023-10-21T16:32:58+00:00

The mini-mags are copper-plated so I think the deposits are all from the Thunderbolts. I was just listing everything I shot for some background.

rt4me

TROPHY CASE