How do I even begin to troubleshoot this?

Steam games work fine. Linux-native games work fine. In Wine games, the game video seems to pause for 1.5s, then plays for 2.5s. Audio is unaffected. It seems like the frames are lagged, not lost; when video resumes, the “missing” frames play back very quickly, like the video is “catching up”. This happens even in the games’ launcher windows before 3D rendering or GPU load occurs. Mouse pointer does not lag or pause.

This happens in both wine-ge 8.26 and WineHQ Staging 9.22.

The weirdest thing is that without changing any settings, the same games will run fine about 1 out of 20 launches.

Thanks for any input.

[System]
OS:              LMDE 6 faye
Arch:            x86_64
Kernel:          6.1.0-28-amd64
Desktop:         X-Cinnamon
Display Server:  x11

[CPU]
Vendor:          GenuineIntel
Model:           Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700K CPU @ 4.00GHz
Physical cores:  4
Logical cores:   8

[Memory]
RAM:             31.3 GB
Swap:            31.3 GB

[Graphics]
Vendor:          NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL Renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
OpenGL Version:  4.6.0 NVIDIA 535.183.01
OpenGL Core:     4.6.0 NVIDIA 535.183.01
OpenGL ES:       OpenGL ES 3.2 NVIDIA 535.183.01
Vulkan:          Supported
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:40,331 [startup.init_lutris:173]:Starting Lutris 0.5.12
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:40,360 [xrandr._get_vidmodes:16]:Retrieving video modes from XrandR
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:40,524 [startup.check_driver:57]:Using NVIDIA drivers 535.183.01 for x86_64
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:40,525 [startup.check_driver:61]:GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:40,525 [startup.check_driver:77]:GPU: 10DE:17C8 19DA:1396 (nvidia drivers)
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:40,674 [lutriswindow.update_store:448]:Showing 3 games
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:40,682 [startup.update_runtimes:218]:Startup complete
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:54,373 [runner.use_runtime:299]:Runtime disabled by system configuration
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:54,463 [runner.use_runtime:299]:Runtime disabled by system configuration
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:54,489 [runner.use_runtime:299]:Runtime disabled by system configuration
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,489 [xrandr._get_vidmodes:16]:Retrieving video modes from XrandR
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:DISABLE_LAYER_AMD_SWITCHABLE_GRAPHICS_1="1"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:__GL_SHADER_DISK_CACHE="1"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:__GL_SHADER_DISK_CACHE_PATH="/home/myusername/Games/phantasy-star-online-blue-burst"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:VK_ICD_FILENAMES="/usr/share/vulkan/icd.d/nvidia_icd.json"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINEDEBUG="-all"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:DXVK_LOG_LEVEL="none"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINEARCH="win64"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINE="/home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/bin/wine"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINE_MONO_CACHE_DIR="/home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/mono"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINE_GECKO_CACHE_DIR="/home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/gecko"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:GST_PLUGIN_SYSTEM_PATH_1_0="/home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/lib64/gstreamer-1.0/:/home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/lib/gstreamer-1.0/"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINEPREFIX="/home/myusername/Games/phantasy-star-online-blue-burst"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINEESYNC="1"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINEFSYNC="1"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,654 [command.start:141]:WINE_FULLSCREEN_FSR="1"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:DXVK_NVAPIHACK="0"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:DXVK_ENABLE_NVAPI="1"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:PROTON_BATTLEYE_RUNTIME="/home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runtime/battleye_runtime"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:PROTON_EAC_RUNTIME="/home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runtime/eac_runtime"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:WINEDLLOVERRIDES="dinput8=n,b;d3d10core,d3d11,d3d12,d3d9,d3dcompiler_33,d3dcompiler_34,d3dcompiler_35,d3dcompiler_36,d3dcompiler_37,d3dcompiler_38,d3dcompiler_39,d3dcompiler_40,d3dcompiler_41,d3dcompiler_42,d3dcompiler_43,d3dcompiler_46,d3dcompiler_47,d3dx10,d3dx10_33,d3dx10_34,d3dx10_35,d3dx10_36,d3dx10_37,d3dx10_38,d3dx10_39,d3dx10_40,d3dx10_41,d3dx10_42,d3dx10_43,d3dx11_42,d3dx11_43,d3dx9_24,d3dx9_25,d3dx9_26,d3dx9_27,d3dx9_28,d3dx9_29,d3dx9_30,d3dx9_31,d3dx9_32,d3dx9_33,d3dx9_34,d3dx9_35,d3dx9_36,d3dx9_37,d3dx9_38,d3dx9_39,d3dx9_40,d3dx9_41,d3dx9_42,d3dx9_43,dxgi,nvapi,nvapi64=n;winemenubuilder="
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:WINE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE="1"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:game_name="Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:PYTHONPATH="/usr/lib/lutris:/usr/games:/usr/lib/python311.zip:/usr/lib/python3.11:/usr/lib/python3.11/lib-dynload:/usr/local/lib/python3.11/dist-packages:/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages:/usr/lib/python3.11/dist-packages"
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:05:54,655 [command.start:141]:LUTRIS_GAME_UUID="f9abc50e-f22b-4514-a8aa-64ff8bf001bc"
Discord ID: 505152925115482112
INFO     2024-11-27 00:05:54,671 [game.start_game:586]:Discord RPC Disabled or Discord APP ID Not Present
Started initial process 18795 from gamemoderun /home/myusername/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/bin/wine /home/myusername/Games/phantasy-star-online-blue-burst/drive_c/EphineaPSO/online.exe
Start monitoring process.
gamemodeauto: 
fsync: up and running.
wine: RLIMIT_NICE is <= 20, unable to use setpriority safely
Monitored process exited.
Initial process has exited (return code: 0)
Exit with return code 0
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:22,020 [command.on_stop:195]:Process 18793 has terminated with code 0
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:22,906 [game.beat:693]:Game thread stopped
WARNING  2024-11-27 00:09:22,906 [game.on_game_quit:730]:Game still running (state: running)
INFO     2024-11-27 00:09:22,906 [game.stop:704]:Stopping Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (wine)
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:22,906 [game.stop_game:664]:Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (wine) has run for 208 seconds
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:22,922 [game.on_game_quit:748]:Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst stopped at Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:09:22
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:22,922 [game.save:299]:Saving Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst (wine) with config ID phantasy-star-online-blue-bur-ephinea-and-addon-pl-1732000393
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:37,374 [xrandr._get_vidmodes:16]:Retrieving video modes from XrandR
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:37,518 [xrandr._get_vidmodes:16]:Retrieving video modes from XrandR
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:37,662 [xrandr._get_vidmodes:16]:Retrieving video modes from XrandR
DEBUG    2024-11-27 00:09:37,828 [application.show_window:328]:Showing window PreferencesDialog{}
  • rowinxavier@lemmy.world
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    25 days ago

    You may be having a disk seek issue. Are you on a spinning disk? If so, sometimes running something a couple of times will have some cached or at least have the heads in the right spot to read the needed data. If that is the issue upgrading to an SSD would probably solve the issue at the root. A possible test would be using a RAM disk if you can be bothered testing it, you have sufficient RAM that it may be viable depending on the game.

    That all said, for next steps I would personally consider if maybe an older version of WINE would work. Could you try installing another older version of both the vanilla and GE versions? Also, did you update your nVidia drivers recently? Maybe roll back if your system will work with that, I can do it easily in EndeavourOS but Mint is not something I am recently acquainted with, it may be a real pain or may tank your driver install to try and roll back. Also testing installing a browser in WINE and loading a video that way may help troubleshoot, or VLC through WINE and native to compare. Ultimately you want to try and find the difference between the failed states and the working states, so if you come back bring a log from a working run and a failed run.

    • f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyzOP
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      24 days ago

      This is on a Western Digital Black NVMe SSD.

      On further testing, the problem appears to be GameMode-related, disabling that makes Wine programs run without the lag. However, now Also, attempting to run Wine programs in fullscreen (any resolution) causes the whole system to severely lag and it takes a very long time to Alt-Tab out or Ctrl-Alt-Fkey into a tty session.

      Edit: I forgot that I wanted to clarify that this is not a video playback issue, the lag happens in all Wine windows, even winecfg. I clicked back and forth repeatedly between config tabs and was also able to notice the lag there.

      • rowinxavier@lemmy.world
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        23 days ago

        Oh, great, that actually limits what it is a lot. If it were related to video we could spend ages looking at codecs, drivers, all sorts of stuff.

        If it happens in all windows including winecfg we have to be looking at a few causes.

        Do you have a high polling rate mouse? That can cause a stutter issue. To test remove the mouse before launching something in wine (by terminal if you have to), then see if it replicates the issue. If no change, move on, next item.

        You could be having a problem with your audio system trying to give things too quickly and falling over itself. Prefix the wine command with the below line.

        PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=60

        So it would be something like

        PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=60 winecfg

        That should stop it if it is that audio issue, so see how you go.

        Lastly, if you have winecfg running it is slowing itself down, but is it impacting other programs as well? I assume so, but want to make sure, so if you are for example playing a video in your browser and then launch winecfg does it start stuttering the video?

        If none of the above helps can you dump the output of ps , mount, lspci -k, and iostat while no wine is running and while wine is running? Iostat is in iotools in mint I think, you may need to install it. Also, probably use a pastebin for the outputs.

        • f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyzOP
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          22 days ago

          Thank you, this is good, something new to try since the logs aren’t showing anything amiss. I think we’re on the right track because I did find a forum post of someone looking at pulseaudio causing similar but not identical video issues even though audio is not stuttering.

          The weird lag only happens in the windows of Wine executables. Nothing else is affected even if I leave winecfg or a game open in the background.

          I actually verified the same behavior on a fresh LMDE6 install. I may raise the issue on their forums and look into your suggestions this weekend.

          I have been open to venturing out of stable territory and playing with newer software on this particular machine… so I’m trying EndeavourOS! It also took a lot of fuckery just to make Wine games work in Lutris out-of-the-box, but I learned a bit along the way.

          • rowinxavier@lemmy.world
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            22 days ago

            I was holding back so hard on recommending EndeavourOS. I love it, it is my main distro and honestly everything else seems unrefined by comparison. The Timeshift setup with BTRFS is insanely useful and largely preconfigured. The lack of a GUI for package management is not a big deal if you can learn to use pacman and yay, and honestly cheat sheets are a win there. Hopefully EndeavourOS will work out for you, and if not then we can go with next steps for the WINE issue.

  • INeedMana@lemmy.world
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    25 days ago

    Did you enable the full logs in the last configuration TAB on Lutris? Aggressive logging in wine can be needed sometimes but can also tank performance

    Also, try running the game directly through Wine, without Lutris and see if issue persists

    • f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyzOP
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      24 days ago

      I don’t believe so, I do not see the option either.

      On further testing, the problem appears to be GameMode-related, disabling that makes Wine programs run without the lag. However, Also, now attempting to run Wine programs in fullscreen (any resolution) causes the whole system to severely lag and it takes a very long time to Alt-Tab out or Ctrl-Alt-Fkey into a tty session.

  • f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyzOP
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    24 days ago

    Goddamnitall, I thought I had a lead on GameMode being the issue, but the lag is back now. Fuck NVIDIA, but this is the best PC I have and it was a hand-me-down so I did not choose it. The games still run perfectly 1 out of 20 times, wtf…