nvidia-powerd causes microstuttering

NVIDIA Open GPU Kernel Modules Version

595.45.04

Please confirm this issue does not happen with the proprietary driver (of the same version). This issue tracker is only for bugs specific to the open kernel driver.

• I confirm that this does not happen with the proprietary driver package.

Operating System and Version

Fedora Linux 43 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition)

Kernel Release

Linux fedora 6.19.6-cachyos1.fc43.x86_64

Please confirm you are running a stable release kernel (e.g. not a -rc). We do not accept bug reports for unreleased kernels.

• I am running on a stable kernel release.

Hardware: GPU

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

Describe the bug

nvidia-powerd causes microstutters intermittently, the frameratre line in mangohud becomes jagged for a few seconds and it visibly stutters. Happens on any laptop performance mode. Very noticeable in ARC Raiders and GTA V Enhanced. Might be exacerbated by Reflex (not sure on that, the issue is present either way).

I first noticed it does not stutter when I reinstalled the drivers, powerd seems to not work on the first boot and it's totally stutter-free. So powerd being off at first kernel boot is probably also a bug. I did not check specifically if it was on or off, however I was capped at ~2000mhz clock speed, same as when it is turned off manually, so it likely was.

The issue should be reproducible since at least 580.x drivers, did not test earlier ones.

To Reproduce

Enter practice range in ARC Raiders and observe framerate graph as well as visual stutters. Or drive around in GTA V Enhanced. Used latest Proton-GE and Proton-CachyOS.

Bug Incidence

Always

nvidia-bug-report.log.gz

nvidia-bug-report.log.gz

More Info

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 16APH8
Dedicated GPU only, haven't tested in hybrid mode.

Start with the nvidia-powerd behavior described in the issue and inspect the attached nvidia-bug-report.log.gz. Reproduce the microstuttering in ARC Raiders or GTA V Enhanced using the listed driver, kernel, and hardware, comparing powerd enabled and disabled. Done means identifying and correcting the powerd-related stutter and confirming stable frame delivery across the reported laptop performance modes.