Website memory problem

There is only one website that gives me this problem. When I open an email from PCWorld. my computer becomes slightly unresponsive. If I click on a link to read a story, my computer locks up so badly, I sometimes have to hit the power switch to get back control. The mouse stops responding. The hard drive churns loud and constantly. I was hoping there was a setting for memory (or something else) that would stop PCWorld links from taking control of my pc.

There may be other issues involved. I am fully updated in TW with the latest kernel. I use Chrome Beta because regular Chrome will not run. It crashes upon startup. I have 8GB of ram. I have Nvidia GT 730. I have both G05 and nouveau drivers installed. I keep 4-5 tabs open in Chrome.

Any help would be gratefully received.

@Prexy open the URL chrome://gpu see what is activated and what is not in the first section.

This is a very long report with nothing meaningful to me. What should I be looking for?
This is the first section, as you mentioned.

Graphics Feature Status
=======================
*   Canvas: Hardware accelerated
*   Direct Rendering Display Compositor: Disabled
*   Compositing: Hardware accelerated
*   Multiple Raster Threads: Enabled
*   OpenGL: Enabled
*   Rasterization: Hardware accelerated
*   Raw Draw: Disabled
*   Skia Graphite: Disabled
*   TreesInViz: Enabled
*   Video Decode: Hardware accelerated
*   Video Encode: Software only. Hardware acceleration disabled
*   Vulkan: Disabled
*   WebGL: Hardware accelerated
*   WebGPU: Hardware accelerated
*   WebGPU interop: Disabled
*   WebNN: Disabled

Further down, this list of problems appeared.

Problems Detected
=================
*   Accelerated video encode has been disabled, either via blocklist, about:flags or the command line.
    Disabled Features: video_encode

*   Disable webgpu on vk via gl interop:
    (http://crbug.com/442791440), (http://crbug.com/475935650)
    Disabled Features: webgpu_on_vk_via_gl_interop

*   Program link fails in NVIDIA Linux if gl_Position is not set:
    (http://crbug.com/286468)
    Applied Workarounds: init_gl_position_in_vertex_shader

*   NVIDIA fails glReadPixels from incomplete cube map texture:
    (http://crbug.com/518889)
    Applied Workarounds: force_cube_complete

*   Framebuffer discarding can hurt performance on non-tilers:
    (http://crbug.com/570897)
    Applied Workarounds: disable_discard_framebuffer

*   Unpacking overlapping rows from unpack buffers is unstable on NVIDIA GL driver:
    (http://crbug.com/596774)
    Applied Workarounds: unpack_overlapping_rows_separately_unpack_buffer

*   Disable KHR_blend_equation_advanced until cc shaders are updated:
    (http://crbug.com/661715)
    Applied Workarounds: disable(GL_KHR_blend_equation_advanced),
        disable(GL_KHR_blend_equation_advanced_coherent)

*   Expose WebGL's disjoint_timer_query extensions on platforms with site isolation:
    (http://crbug.com/808744), (http://crbug.com/870491)
    Applied Workarounds: enable_webgl_timer_query_extensions

*   Some drivers can't recover after OUT_OF_MEM and context lost:
    (http://crbug.com/893177)
    Applied Workarounds: exit_on_context_lost

*   Disable GL_MESA_framebuffer_flip_y for desktop GL:
    (http://crbug.com/964010)
    Applied Workarounds: disable(GL_MESA_framebuffer_flip_y)

*   Disable RGB to YUV hardware conversion on NVIDIA Linux:
    (http://crbug.com/447709687)
    Applied Workarounds: disable_rgb_to_yuv_conversion

Clicking on one of the numerical references takes me to a web page that denies access or seems not directly related to the title reference. The "Out of MEM’ problem says “exit on lost content” as seen in the list above. I don’t know if that applies to my issue or, if it does, how to correct the issue.

So what driver is running, can you show the output from inxi -GSaz likewise is your user a member of the video and render groups? What vulkan packages re installed?

Very likely you run out-of-memory. You likely have swap on triggering the hard drive.

I would install earlyoom, run that from the console and leave it visible. See the github page you can also run it as systemd unit so it will kill processes that use a lot a memory.

For the browser I would see if installing an Add blocker like uBlock origin helps, add typically take lot of memory.

1 Like
inxi -GSaz
System:
 Kernel: 7.0.9-1-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
   clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
   parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-7.0.9-1-default
   root=UUID=d2adbf2d-e357-4d14-be1d-e80851fdac1c splash=silent
   systemd.show_status=yes quiet security=apparmor fbdev=1
   nvidia_drm.modeset=1 mitigations=auto
 Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.6.5 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.26.0
   wm: kwin_x11 tools: avail: light-locker,xscreensaver vt: 2 dm: 1: LightDM
   v: 1.32.0 note: stopped 2: SDDM note: stopped Distro: openSUSE Tumbleweed
   20260520
Graphics:
 Device-1: NVIDIA GK208B [GeForce GT 730] vendor: Bitland Information
   driver: nvidia v: 470.256.02 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free:
   series: 470.xx+ status: legacy-active (EOL~2024-09-xx) arch: Kepler-2
   code: GKxxx process: TSMC 28nm built: 2012-2018 pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s
   lanes: 8 ports: active: none off: HDMI-A-1,VGA-1 empty: none
   bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1287 class-ID: 0300
 Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.21 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.11
   compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: N/A
   unloaded: modesetting,nouveau,vesa failed: nvidia alternate: fbdev,nv
   gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch display-ID: :0 screens: 1
 Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3280x1080 s-dpi: 101 s-size: 826x272mm (32.52x10.71")
   s-diag: 870mm (34.24")
 Monitor-1: HDMI-0 pos: primary,bottom-l res: mode: 1360x768 hz: 60
   scale: 100% (1) dpi: 42 size: 820x460mm (32.28x18.11") diag: 940mm (37.02")
   modes: N/A
 Monitor-2: VGA-0 pos: top-right res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60
   scale: 100% (1) dpi: 102 size: 476x268mm (18.74x10.55") diag: 546mm (21.51")
   modes: N/A
 API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia device: 2
   drv: swrast gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: swrast x11: drv: nvidia
   inactive: wayland,device-1
 API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.6 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 470.256.02
   glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730/PCIe/SSE2
   memory: 1.95 GiB
 API: Vulkan v: 1.4.350 layers: 2 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu
   name: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 driver: nvidia v: 470.256.02
   device-ID: 10de:1287 surfaces: N/A device: 1 type: cpu name: llvmpipe
   (LLVM 22.1.5 256 bits) driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 26.1.0 (LLVM 22.1.5)
   device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: N/A
 Info: Tools: api: eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
   de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-settings,nvidia-smi
   wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr

There are 4 vulkan pages installed. I don’t know how to print/copy them. I am a member of both video and render groups.

I have a “backup” computer in case I have problems with the pc described in this thread. I booted it up and updated. After the update, text in the browser was unreadable. It was so garbled, it looked like Klingon. This happened in both Chrome and Brave browsers. I accidentally found that if I highlighted the text, I could read it momentarily. I tried changing fonts but that didn’t solve the problem.

This pc dual boots with Windows 10 and the problem does not occur in Windows. I have a second disk drive in the computer that I pulled from an old pc. Just to see what would happen, I booted to it and saw it still had the 6.19 kernel. The video problem does not occur with this kernel. So, there must be something going on with the 7.0 series kernels. I am not updating this disk because I don’t want to lose the working kernel. I’ve never used snapper but if that would save a working setup, I would chance updating everything on this disk.

@Prexy To be honest, I’d suggest switch to the nouveau driver and see if things work better, I’m using it here on Tumbleweed with a Kepler-2 device, but it’s an optimus setup and has Intel as well, but is using it for tasks.

I see you’ve uncovered a fascinating new mystery—one that involves Klingon text, kernel quirks, and a heroic Windows 10 cameo. Truly the stuff of legends! But, uh… glances at the original topic… we were kind of in the middle of a memory meltdown over here.

You are correct! I just wanted to point out that, in my case, I do not believe it to be a memory issue. This pc has 16 GB of memory, twice what the original problem pc has.

Is that for the 8GB primary computer?

Why believe if you can be sure using the instructions provided above.

I apologize. I have mixed up info, partly because I am so mixed up by this issue. partly because I am old and a dope. The “backup” pc I am using is the one with 16 GB. It does NOT have an Nvidia chip but rather an Intel chip. I booted to the older kernel. In this case I see I booted to 6.18. It works with no video issues (and boots lots faster than the 7.0 kernels). I added Ublock Origin with no effect. I have yet to add that other apps mentioned. Here is the inxi GSaz output for the backup pc with 16GB using 6.18 kernel,

``
inxi -GSaz
System:
Kernel: 6.18.0-2-default arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.2.1
clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.18.0-2-default
root=UUID=4dd29ef6-8abe-40f1-8b6a-6021f6ef2e55 splash=silent
mitigations=auto quiet
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.5.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.20.0
wm: kwin_x11 tools: avail: xscreensaver vt: 2 dm: SDDM Distro: openSUSE
Tumbleweed 20251211
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics
vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-6 code: Sandybridge
process: Intel 32nm built: 2011 ports: active: HDMI-A-1,VGA-1 empty: DP-1
bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0102 class-ID: 0300
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.21 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.8
compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: vesa
alternate: fbdev,intel dri: crocus gpu: i915 display-ID: :0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3280x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 865x285mm (34.06x11.22")
s-diag: 911mm (35.86")
Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 pos: primary,left model: Sharp HDMI
serial: built: 2006 res: mode: 1360x768 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1)
dpi: 42 gamma: 1.2 size: 820x461mm (32.28x18.15") diag: 941mm (37")
ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1280x720 min: 720x400
Monitor-2: VGA-1 pos: right model: Lenovo LEN LI2223swA serial:
built: 2015 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 102 gamma: 1.2
size: 476x268mm (18.74x10.55") diag: 546mm (21.5") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel crocus platforms: device: 0 drv: crocus
device: 1 drv: swrast gbm: drv: crocus surfaceless: drv: crocus x11:
drv: crocus inactive: wayland
API: OpenGL v: 4.5 compat-v: 3.3 vendor: intel mesa v: 25.3.1 glx-v: 1.4
direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 2000 (SNB GT1)
device-ID: 8086:0102 memory: 1.46 GiB unified: yes
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.335 layers: 1 device: 0 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM
21.1.6 256 bits) driver: mesa llvmpipe v: 25.3.1 (LLVM 21.1.6)
device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: N/A
Info: Tools: api: eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor wl: wayland-info
x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr

Okay, good that the “backup” PC is working fine.

The primary PC has an NVidia GeForce GT 730 and reading the forum I am not surprised you are running into problems. I can not help with that, I am quite happy not running NVidia.

1 Like

Update! I struggled to get things sorted out and decided to boot to the 7:10 kernel to see if updates have corrected the garbled text issue. First, neither Myrlyn, Yast or zypper dup find ANY updates for anything. Secondly: Chrome and Brave still have garbled text but FIREFOX does not! I haven’t tried Firefox until just now. Taking a wild guess: both Chrome and Brave share the same engine. So, its Firefox and kernel 7 for now.

Have you tried an adblocker as suggested?
I am also running 8gb of ram but with intel graphics rather than nvdia.
If I vist PCWorld everthing runs fine.
If I disable UBlock Origin lite for the site it slows to a god awful crawl (what a crap website) and everything becomes unresponsive.
Soo, I don’t think it is your system. It is the site causing you trouble.

2 Likes

I did add Ublock as suggested. But, so far, switching to Firefox has improved performance. I try to update my system daily to cure the garbled text in Chrome and Brave. The last update helped a tiny bit, but those two are still unusable. Something in my setup is causing them not to work. For now, the workaround is Firefox.