# kernel time limitations and launch time outs

**URL:** <https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-time-limitations-and-launch-time-outs/7877>\
**Category:** CUDA Programming and Performance\
**Created:** [February 19, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-time-limitations-and-launch-time-outs/7877 "2009-02-19T14:48:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chrismc](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@chrismc](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/chrismc)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-time-limitations-and-launch-time-outs/7877/1 "2009-02-19T14:48:00Z")

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I have increased the number of particles I was looking at to a reasonable number (approx 500,000) but have started to get the following error; the launch timed out and was terminated

A quick scan on the forums has revealed that in Linux there is a time limit on a kernel of 5s. Is that correct? If so, why? And how do I get around that?

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**Author:** ![MisterAnderson42](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@MisterAnderson42](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/MisterAnderson42)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-time-limitations-and-launch-time-outs/7877/2 "2009-02-19T15:02:55Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> If so, why?

So that a crashing GPU doesn’t freeze your display indefinitely.

> [@](#):
>
> And how do I get around that?

In short: shutdown X windows.

There is more information in the FAQ.