Hi,
I’m after running updates on 11/30 2024 my video player, SMPlayer, gives choppy video playback every 5 seconds for a second or two and then goes back to smooth. I tried changing output drivers in the preferences but none of the options fixes the problem.
I think that the kernel update caused the issue, because I was watching a video after a reboot, while I was downloading the new kernel and it was playing fine.
Alright I rebooted and chose the previous kernel and video seems fine now. I just wanted to report this bug. Hopefully this will be fixed in the next kernel update… or do I just have to stick to this kernel forever?
When you copy it here it should go between 3 tics like so;
```
## Code in here ##
```
This would have included kernel information, which it appears you have already found is related.
Also be aware that different kernel series are different packages.
You dont ‘upgrade’ from kernel 6.11 to 6.12 … you install kernel 6.12 and optionally remove kernel 6.11 … while all packages, including kernels, should always be up to date and upgraded together.
While taking into consideration that kernels can become EOL (end of life), and certain kernels are LTS (long term support). For more information see kernel.org.
Without any offense intended … this hardware is beginning to be considered ancient by modern standards. You cannot use amdgpu driver and are stuck on legacy radeon. Your firmware is from 2013.
These arent really ‘problems’ per-se. But I see virtually no reason for you to be chasing new kernels.
If an LTS like 6.6 works then great. You may even get better support from an older one.
If a recent one works, thats fine too. But unless there is some specific feature you are after (that is actually applicable to your system) in the latest kernels, I would advise calming down on the newest kernel releases.
Okay, so when do I have to update to a new kernel, just when the one I’m using is being uninstalled forcefully? I wasn’t “chasing new kernels”, but point taken. Somehow I thought updating to the most recent one right away was almost required.
Thanks for the suggestion about sticking to an LTS, I might switch to that on next boot.
Yeah, the hardware is getting old but I’m not really doing anything more demanding with it than I was 10 years ago. I hope support continues.
Thank you for the help.
When there is a problem with the one you are using or it is discontinued.
Until recently that would be your responsibility, but now manjaro uses some repo rules to automatically install a new kernel if the one you are on has reached the end of its life. Still I wouldnt suggest relying on that and instead suggest finding what kernel(s) works best for you. If anything I would expect you to do the opposite of chasing new and rather end up hanging on to something like kernel 6.1 for its whole life until its eventually retired or even possibly beyond.
In way of exposition;
Kernel 6.10 is dead now for example, after approximately 5 months of life.
6.11 will follow shortly.
Whereas LTS releases like 5.15, 6.1, and 6.6 will all be supported until at least the end of 2026.
If nothing else, choosing a known-working-for-you LTS to hang on to will ensure you arent met with a inoperable system or forced to fumble with kernel/packages every few months.
Also the whole lifetime expectancy thing is the middle of some upheaval.
Thats why you have all the last 4 LTS releases having the same projected end date.
I had almost made comment, but considered it mildly out of scope here.
Suffice to say that while the regular schedules will be tamer moving forward with shorter LTS lifetimes, and we will see the more expected staggering of those dates, this still will not mean that older devices will be banished or that linux kernel development will only work in timelines of ~2 years. Discussion and volunteerism on that front is still ongoing but at the very least there will also be SLTS (Super Long Term Support) kernels (of which 6.1 is one) that will boast 10 years minimum of support and the CIP (Civil Infrastructure Platform) dedicated to continuing that support.
