[Software] Kubuntu 25.10 Issues. Games and programs occasionally laggy and choppy.

[BenLinux]

Running Kubuntu 25.10 and I have this issue since about 1-2 months or so, maybe end of december 2025 onwards and it's been growing worse every update I do. Games and software lag a lot, FPS drops to like 1-2 FPS and it does so for like 10-20 seconds, Discord and browser when watching streams, sometimes even longer (specifically in games) and I get disconnected from game-server (this is a WoW specific issue). I've tried a bunch of things. Checked Network for packet losses, no losses. Swapped Proton versions, didn't do any difference. The more I've digged, the less I know what to pinpoint. Anyone know what this could be caused by and how to solve it? I'm quite new to Linux, only been a user for about 7 months or so.

EDIT. I've also noticed that the GPU fan spins up a lot more nowdays compared to when I first intalled and used Kubuntu which was 24.x version. Back then the GPU fan didn't spin up much when not doing anything heavy (like gaming) but now it kind of hums more offten to a point almost all the time, except if I close all software and just have the desktop.

Some data for clearer picture:
GPU Dual Radeon RX 7900 GRE OC 16GB
Mesa version is the latest - Wayland - KDE - I've done no changes there. All updated on a daily basis, when available.
WoW is played via Lutris - Wine - Proton (latest available)

[Snowhog]

Kubuntu 25.10 uses Plasma (Wayland) by default; Plasma (X11) isn't installed. But it can be, and you might find (maybe?) that things run better under Plasma (X11).

Open Konsole and type: sudo apt update && sudo apt install plasma-session-x11

Logout and log back in, selecting Plasma (X11) at the SDDM Login Screen.

[claydoh]

Mesa version is the latest - Wayland - KDE - I've done no changes there. All updated on a daily basis, when available.

I recommend Kisak's Mesa PPA, especially for AMD graphics, as it is current and often has useful improvements over the stock Mesa for these cards.
Wayland vs X11 *shoudn't* be a major factor factor here especially as it (I assume) was working well before. That low an FPS is probably a Wine Proton config thing, then maybe Mesa bugs as a second place to look.

Try booting a previous kernel just to see if it is better there.

Another thing to experiment with might be to create a new, separate WoW setup in a clean 'prefix', seeing if that makes any difference.

Sometimes, specific cards may do better with kernel parameters set via Grub edits. But also check out other Lutris and WoW users for wine/proton specific tweaks - often a specific runner version works better than a current one.

I have not played WoW much, only as a test to prove that Lutris (and Wine via Flatpak) could play WoW just fine with zero futzing, and NOT using the stock *buntu Wine version or WineHQ. Not my cup of tea. You don't really need a system-installed Wine with Lutris, when using Proton runners. This was ~2 years ago on an rx6600 on a 12th gen i5, but things can change over time.

[BenLinux]

Kubuntu 25.10 uses Plasma (Wayland) by default; Plasma (X11) isn't installed. But it can be, and you might find (maybe?) that things run better under Plasma (X11).

Open Konsole and type: sudo apt update && sudo apt install plasma-session-x11

Logout and log back in, selecting Plasma (X11) at the SDDM Login Screen.

Thanks I'll look into this and see what difference it makes, it's worth a try and I did read that sometimes X11 is better than Wayland for certain software/games etc so worth a try, thanks for the head-up!

[BenLinux]

I recommend Kisak's Mesa PPA, especially for AMD graphics, as it is current and often has useful improvements over the stock Mesa for these cards.
Wayland vs X11 *shoudn't* be a major factor factor here especially as it (I assume) was working well before. That low an FPS is probably a Wine Proton config thing, then maybe Mesa bugs as a second place to look.

Try booting a previous kernel just to see if it is better there.

Another thing to experiment with might be to create a new, separate WoW setup in a clean 'prefix', seeing if that makes any difference.

Sometimes, specific cards may do better with kernel parameters set via Grub edits. But also check out other Lutris and WoW users for wine/proton specific tweaks - often a specific runner version works better than a current one.

I have not played WoW much, only as a test to prove that Lutris (and Wine via Flatpak) could play WoW just fine with zero futzing, and NOT using the stock *buntu Wine version or WineHQ. Not my cup of tea. You don't really need a system-installed Wine with Lutris, when using Proton runners. This was ~2 years ago on an rx6600 on a 12th gen i5, but things can change over time.

This was also something I read about being an option and it does seem promising, I'll have to give this a try today see if it improves the perfomance of Kubuntu. Thanks for helping out, I'll let you both know the result after today's experimenting with these suggestions!

[BenLinux]

I've tried them both, and it didn't change a thing. Nothing, same lag and as for WoW it still disconnected once the lag started and FPS dropped to nearly freezing the computer. X11 or Wayland, doesn't matter, it still lags. The other Mesa driver didn't change anything either. I've also looked at if the GPU does any wierd stuff, it doesn't, according to logs. More and more things are starting to point me towards the Kernel. Anyone have a clue?

[Snowhog]

More and more things are starting to point me towards the Kernel. Anyone have a clue?

Have you tried booting into the earlier kernel? On my 25.10 there are two installed kernels: 6.17.0-14 and 6.17.0-12.

[BenLinux]

Have you tried booting into the earlier kernel? On my 25.10 there are two installed kernels: 6.17.0-14 and 6.17.0-12.

I have not, but that's a good idea I could try for sure. Since all I've done seem to point toward the kernel and not network, mesa, proton or hardware. Thanks for the tip, I'll look into that!

EDIT. Yes, I had both versions just like you so I will try and boot with the older kernel see what happens, thank for tip.