Bug#628420: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: X freezes with GeForce FX5500

[Flo <debianflo@gmx.at>]

>> .) Sometimes after 30 min, sometimes after a day
>> .) Can happen anytime, even when screen saver is on. Happens more
>> frequently if 'complicated' websites at browser windows are opened.
>> .) Mouse is still moving most of the times but everything else on the display is frozen.
>> .) I cannot switch to a console but I can login via network (i.e. to
>> reboot).
> 
> In other words, the GPU is hung.
> 

Yes, for me it looks like that.

>> Kernel: Linux 2.6.38-2-686 (SMP w/1 CPU core)
> 
> Please upgrade to 2.6.39 (note that the -686 flavor is gone; if you see
> "pae" among the flags in /proc/cpuinfo, you can use the -686-pae flavor,
> else use the -486 kernel).  If the problem persists, file a bug upstream
> at freedesktop.org, see http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/Bugs for
> instructions.
> 

Done. Crashes became less frequently (about once a day). But the problem
still persists. So, I filed a bug at freedesktop.org (37851).

> Disabling acceleration, e.g. by booting with nouveau.noaccel=1 kernel
> parameter, should work around the hangs at the cost of lousy
> performance.
> 

Did that now. Let's see if stability increases.

Thanks for the hints.

Regards,
Flo.