Bug: KDE X11 - Graphics reset / desktop crash when switching screens on Driver 555 (.58.02) - xrandr & kscreen-doctor

Hi,
Since upgrading to Nvidia 555 drivers on KDE,
Whenever I run xrandr or kscreen-doctor to switch between screen configurations, plasmashell and Kwin will crash citing a graphics reset with the message:

“Kwin Window Manager: Desktop effects were restarted due to a graphics reset”

Below is my monitor configuration, when switching the office screens off and my TV in the living room on, the crash will occur. The same will happen when switching screens back to my office.

GPU: ASUS GeForce RTX 3090 OC:

Example command which causes a crash every time:
xrandr --output HDMI-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --refresh 60 --scale 1x1 --output DP-2 --off --output DP-0 --off --output DP-5 --off --output HDMI-1 --off

It also crashes when using kscreen-doctor to switch.

Wayland doesn’t appear to be affected, switching screens works no problem. However I’m not able to migrate to Wayland due to other significant issues there currently.

OS: Arch Linux
Kernel: Linux 6.10.3-arch1-2
KDE Version: KDE Plasma 6.1.4
Nvidia Driver: 555.58.02

This has been happening since the introduction of 555 drivers as far as I remember.

If I roll the drivers back to 550 or 535 using the package nvidia-535xx-dkms in the AUR the problem goes away.

Below is a journal extract made starting just before I invoked the crash, this was taken about a week ago, I can produce a new one if needs be but the crashing is still occurring the same as it did:

Nvidia bug report as required:
nvidia-bug-report.log.gz (915.7 KB)

Let me know if there is anything else I can supply.

Many thanks for your time in reading this.

Hi @Xeauron
We have filed a bug 4812984 internally for tracking purpose.
I will try to replicate issue locally and will get back to you if required any additional information.

Many thanks.

FYI before I submitted this post I did a full, clean re-install of arch KDE to make sure it wasn’t my configuration at fault in some way.

Once I got the desktop up and running on driver 555 the crashing started occurring. And again, once I installed 550 or lower it stopped again.

Hi @Xeauron
I tried to duplicate issue locally using 3 displays with below commands but did not get exact KDE crash issue.

  1. xrandr --output DP-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --refresh 60 --scale 1x1 --output DP-2 --off --output DP-4 --off
  2. xrandr --output DP-2 --auto --output DP-4 --auto
  3. xrandr --output DP-2 --auto --right-of DP-0

Is it possible for you to run experiments with 2 or 3 displays connected and share test results.
Also, is KDE crashing every time when you switch screens.

Hi @amrits sure, apologies for the delay. Only just had the chance to do this today.

Results are scattered, sometimes it works, then it doesn’t.

I’ve updated the drivers, so my current setup is:

Kernel: Linux 6.10.6-arch1-1
Driver: 560.35.03 (Open kernel modules NOT used)
Nvidia Kernel Parameters: nvidia_drm.modeset=1 nvidia_drm.fbdev=1

All Kernel Parameters (not including luks & btrfs params):
lsm="landlock,lockdown,yama,integrity,apparmor,bpf" audit=1 loglevel=3 amd_pstate.shared_mem=1 amd_pstate=passive amd_iommu=on iommu=pt vfio_iommu_type1.allow_unsafe_interrupts=1 kvm.ignore_msrs=1 preempt=voluntary nvidia_drm.modeset=1 nvidia_drm.fbdev=1

Screenshot with a bit more info:

I ran some tests using xrandr, they are logged in the order I did them in:

screens connected    |  current screen(s) enabled   |     Screen(s) switched to    |    Retults
        1-4          |              4               |               1              |     Crash
        1-4          |              1               |               4              |     Crash
disconnected screen 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        1-3          |            1,2,3             |               1              |    Success
        1-3          |              1               |             1,2,3            |    Success  -- (see below)
        1-3          |            1,2,3             |               3              |     Crash
        1-3          |              3               |               1              |     Crash
        1-3          |              1               |             1,2,3            |     Crash   -- Same as above: But crashed
        1-3          |              1               |               2              |     Crash
        1-3          |              2               |               1              |     Crash
disconnected screen 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        1-2          |             1,2              |               1              |    Success
        1-2          |              1               |               2              |     Crash
        1-2          |              2               |               1              |     Crash
KDE Renderer Fallback (see bottom)                  |                              |
        1-2          |              1               |              1,2             |    Success (but no desktop on screen 2)
disconnected screen 2, connected screen 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        1,3          |             1,3              |               1              |    Success
        1,3          |              1               |               3              |     Crash
        1,3          |              3               |               1              |     Crash
        1,3          |              1               |              1,3             |    Success
        1,3          |             1,3              |               3              |     Crash
KDE Renderer Fallback (see bottom)                  |


KDE Renderer Fallback:
KDE Renderer crashed and switched to software mode -- re-enabled hardware mode and restarted plasmashell

Nvidia Bug Report:
nvidia-bug-report.log.gz (1.2 MB)

When using xrandr I specify the screens I want on, and use the off switch (--output DP-0 --off) for any displays not in use, for example:

To enable my TV:

xrandr --output HDMI-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --refresh 60 --scale 1x1 --output DP-2 --off --output DP-0 --off --output DP-5 --off --output HDMI-1 --off

To enable my office screens and disable my TV:

xrandr --output DP-2 --mode 2560x1440 --pos 0x240 --rotate normal --refresh 120 --output DP-0 --mode 3440x1440 --primary --pos 2560x240 --rotate normal --refresh 120 --output DP-5 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 6000x0 --rotate right --refresh 60 --output HDMI-1 --off

To switch to screen 1 (ASUS):

xrandr --output DP-2 --mode 2560x1440 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --refresh 120 --output DP-0 --off --output DP-5 --off --output HDMI-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --off

Note: Using the KDE screen configuration to switch between my office displays worked mostly without issue.

I was able to produce a crash when switching from 1,2,3 to 3. And similarly It will crash when switching from any combination or screens 1,2 and 3 to the TV.

Again let me know if there’s any more info I can provide.

Rolling the drivers back to 550.107.02 has fixed the issue. I can switch between any combination of screens without issue.

Thanks.

Hi @Xeauron
Could you please help to test with driver 565.77

https://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/565.77/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-565.77.run

Hi amrits,
Hope you’re well.

I’m still experiencing crashing unfortunately - I tried a variety of screen combinations.

I’ll have to do some more testing this weekend when I get time and post some journal entries during the crash. I ended up with garbled graphics after one crash (I took a photo - again I will share this weekend in more detail).

Kernel: Linux 6.12.10-arch1-1
Driver: 565.77 dkms (Open kernel modules NOT used)

nvidia-bug-report.log.gz (1.1 MB)

Many thanks

Thanks @Xeauron
Could you please confirm the minimum displays needed to reproduce issue.

Hi @Xeauron
Could you please confirm the minimum displays needed to reproduce issue.