The system runs Linux extremely slow .. seconds between keystrokes. I have tried Ubuntu 20.04, Mint, MX Linux, Fedora and Debian (all latest releases) to no avail. They either run extremely slow or crash. Here's my info:

HP Pavilion Gaming - 15-ec0013dx
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3550H with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx 2.10 Ghz
RAM: 16.0 GB
System Type: 64 -bit Operating System, x64-based processor

I have two SSD's. One is 250 GB containing Windows (fast and no problems) and the second is 1 Terabyte partitioned as follows:

General Data
566 GB NTFS
---Linux---
Size Used Type
512 MB 1.05 MB Primary
186 GB 12.54 GB Logical
201 GB 50.66 MB Primary

Could my partitioning / installation of the second "data" drive be a reason?

I would revise the swapping scheme, but try first to set swappiness to 0 (with 16GB RAM you can afford it).

My first suspect is graphics. I'd examine logs to make sure the drivers are loaded along with firmwares, I think there are several blobs to be loaded to make it work. With newest hardware automatic setup may fail and manual intervention is required.

Define "crash". Is the system hanging/going catatonic? Are you receiving a kernel panic message?

It'd might be simpler to obtain the output of "sudo fdisk -l" when you're running Linux and post that. (Within "code" tags, please. Highlight the fdisk output and click on the "#" above the Message window.)

Also, can you reply back with the output of "free" and "uptime"---if possible, twice: when the Linux system is "fast" and again when it's running "slowly". Again, post each of these inside "code" tags.

What do you have running when Linux gets slow?

leclerc78 Thank you I'll try setting swappiness to 0

Emerson Also thank you. Unfortunately, I don't know how to "make sure the drivers are loaded" and then how to automate their loading going forward. I'm sort of like a bull that needs to be led by a ring in the nose. Is there anywhere I can go to get specific code to do this?

loftus49,

I do not have such hardware and can't tell from experience. In general, you examine your dmesg, there is kernel hardware initialization, any problems seen there should be corrected before further troubleshooting. Then the next step is examining your Xorg log, graphics driver loading is seen there (in case you are using Wayland I even do not know where it logs).
I suspect the correct driver for your graphics is not loaded, causing Xorg to fall back to a generic driver which does not support video hardware acceleration.

Again, thank you for the responses. There is no "fast" running linux and "slow" ... it is all slow, very slow or "crashes" defined as freezes and locks up .. no key/mouse/input device works, including ctrl C.

I will re-install a distro (done this about 8 times now)then examine dmesg. However I don't know what to look for to determine if "any problems" need to be corrected. I will also examine Xorg to see if a graphics driver (correct one or not) is loading. But once again, I don't know what the "correct" graphics driver should be.

But I'll stay at it!

1 members found this post helpful.

Commendable attitude!

In a terminal window type:
Then post the link.

Pastebinit link:

https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/rJ7ttb6Dkq/

New info. I updated with the Radeon Vega Gfx driver and my laptop now seems to run ubuntu ok but does not work with the external Dell Ultra Sharp connected via HDMI. When I connect to the external display the system slows down considerablyu and often "hangs up" - freezing window or being unresponsive to keys.

That pastebin shows nouveau driver constantly causing a kernel oops. That explains everything running slow/locking up. Do you have NVIDIA video as well - maybe on the motherboard ?

Yes, has this laptop hybrid graphics?

https://www.ordinatechnic.com/genera...ybrid-graphics

Yes.

1. AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics
2. NVIDIA GeForce Gtx 1050

There seems to be a solution, good luck.

That solution is extremely dated. Hardware has changed / improved since that thread was initially posted.

The best solution I have seen is to install the nvidia drivers instead of relying on the nouveau drivers for nvidia. That requires running X instead of wayland (which will happen automatically), then in most cases everything just works for those who have posted results.

There are a few similar questions on the ask fedora forum.