Screen Shaking with NVIDIA Graphics

[mountainlover]

Hello,

I started out with Linux Mint and my screen began shaking.  Someone suggested I use a lighter distro.  So, I uninstalled Mint and tried Puppy.  Couldn't see any videos with their web browser (Pale Moon).  I then installed Linux Lite on USB to try out.  I'm now getting that shaking screen again.  Any ideas?  I'm new to all of this and just want to keep using my machine after Windows 7 support went away - I need step-by-step information/instruction and often don't understand the snippets of information given about Linux problems that seem to be for pros, so step-by-step is best for people like me.  I did not do updates as there's not enough space on the USB, but I have a feeling it's something to do with my NVIDIA graphics.  Thanks & here's my system info:

CPU:      Dual core AMD Athlon II X2 220 (-MCP-)
          arch: K10 rev.3 cache: 1024 KB bmips: 11251
          clock speeds: max: 2800 MHz 1: 1600 MHz 2: 1600 MHz
          CPU Flags: 3dnow 3dnowext 3dnowprefetch abm apic clflush cmov
          cmp_legacy constant_tsc cpuid cr8_legacy cx16 cx8 de extapic
          extd_apicid fpu fxsr fxsr_opt ht hw_pstate ibs lahf_lm lbrv lm mca
          mce misalignsse mmx mmxext monitor msr mtrr nonstop_tsc nopl npt
          nrip_save nx osvw pae pat pdpe1gb pge pni popcnt pse pse36 rdtscp
          rep_good sep skinit sse sse2 sse4a svm svm_lock syscall tsc vme
          vmmcall wdt
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1016.2GB (0.2% used)
          ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD10EADX size: 1000.2GB temp: 33C
          ID-2: USB /dev/sdc model: USB_Flash_Disk size: 16.0GB temp: 0C
          Optical-1: /dev/sr0 model: ATAPI DVD A  DH16ABSH
          rev: YA12 dev-links: cdrom,cdrw,dvd,dvdrw
          Features: speed: 48x multisession: yes
          audio: yes dvd: yes rw: cd-r,cd-rw,dvd-r,dvd-ram state: running

[Valtam]

We'll need your graphics card information.

Code:

inxi -b

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[mountainlover]

inxi -bWelcome to Linux Lite 4.8 linux


Tuesday 18 February 2020, 14:26:17
Memory Usage: 1702/2748MB (61.94%)
Disk Usage: 297/1GB (22%)
Support - https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/ (Right click, Open Link)

 linux  ~  inxi -b
System:    Host: linux Kernel: 4.15.0-74-generic x86_64 bits: 64
          Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 Distro: Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS
Machine:  Device: desktop Mobo: eMachines model: EL1358G serial: N/A
          BIOS: American Megatrends v: P01-B0 date: 03/17/2011
CPU:      Dual core AMD Athlon II X2 220 (-MCP-) speed/max: 1600/2800 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430]
          Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
          drivers: nouveau (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
          Resolution: [email protected]
          OpenGL: renderer: NV4C version: 2.1 Mesa 19.0.8
Network:  Card: NVIDIA MCP61 Ethernet driver: forcedeth
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1016.2GB (21.2% used)
Info:      Processes: 164 Uptime: 6:32 Memory: 1735.7/2749.0MB
          Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.56
 linux  ~  

[Valtam]

What video driver, if any, are you using?

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[mountainlover]

There is nothing listed in my Additional Drivers - I'm still running from a USB stick as that is what seems to be recommended to determine whether something is a good fit & worthy to do the actual install.  So, I haven't done updates since there's not the space available on the stick. 

With the shaky screen and moments of complete freezing up, I'm not sure whether it's because I'm running on USB and am nervous to do an install as I installed Mint and spent quite a bit of time doing the uninstall after the same problem with shaky screen/freeze ups.  Someone on Mint board suggested trying out this lighter version or anything with xfce.

However, if there is something I can install while still running off USB to help with the problems, I'm happy to do that & report back.  Although, as a newbie I need pretty base line instructions on the installs. 

Really appreciate all the help....

[Valtam]

Start again. This time create a Persistent USB - see Help Manual. Then after that, try the Legacy Driver ONLY from Install Drivers.

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[TheDead]

Hi and W3Lc0m3!

I had some screen shaking just last week, well, more like "pixel shaking" on the whole screen.
In my setup, it was because the refresh rate of the monitor was at 30Hz, since the monitor supported it.
Putting it at 60Hz solved the issue.

Hope this helps! :-D

[mdiemer]

I had a very similar problem. I also have the 6150SE n430 graphics that came with my computer. This card is a special case, where the Nvidia drivers do work better than the open source Nouveau.

However, you cannot install the Nvidia driver on Lite 4.0 series. This is becasue 4.0 is based on Ubuntu 18, and Ubuntu 16 is the last version that supports those graphics. but Lite 3.0 series will let you install it.

The driver is Nvidia 304.135. If you install Lite 3.0, after the first round of updates you will see it when you run the Install Drivers program. You can then select it and your system will then be on Nvidia drivers.

since doing this, Lite 3.8 has worked flawlessly for me, not one graphics-related issue. (I updated to 3.8 and it still is fine).

Lite 3.x series uses Linux kernel 4.4, which is the last one that will let you install that Nvidia driver. Once you go to the Ubuntu 18-based systems, the kernel changes to a newer one that does not support that driver.

See my thread here for more details. It's the one right below yours in Video Card section. I got some of my info from the Ubuntu forum, which confirmed that 6150SE n430 is indeed a special case. most other cards from that era do fine with Nouveau, but not that one.

The good news is that Lite 3.8 is supported until April 2021, so you can use it with confidence.

[Guillermo J]

Have you try to change drivers ?

[mountainlover]

I am going to try some of these suggestions.  I really, really appreciate these.  Thank you for taking the time.