CPU usage very different under Linux Mint and Windows 11

[Stefan-2024]

Hello there,
I use a 27" All in one desktop" with Linux Mint 22.2 and Windows 11 (23H2). Stellarium is 25.3 under both OS.
When using Windows, the CPU gets hot and the fans are running like hell.
Under Mint, everything runs in a silent mode and its fun fun work with it. I reduced the frame rate unter Windows to 3 to 10. But that does not make any difference.
Has someone a working solution for me?
Regards from Germany

[10110111]

Please show the log file. You're most likely running with software rendering on Windows due to some issues with video drivers.

[Stefan-2024]

Here is what I have.....

D:\Programme\Stellarium\Stellarium\stellarium.exe
[ 0.573][INFO] -------------------------------------------------------------
[ 0.573][INFO] [ This is Stellarium 25.3 (v25.3.0) - https://stellarium.org/ ]
[ 0.573][INFO] [ Copyright (C) 2000-2025 Stellarium Developers ]
[ 0.573][INFO] -------------------------------------------------------------
[ 0.575][INFO] 2025-11-19T21:01:28
[ 0.575][INFO] Operating System: Windows 11 Version 23H2
[ 0.575][INFO] Platform: windows
[ 0.575][INFO] Compiled using MSVC 19.44.35215.0
[ 0.575][INFO] Qt runtime version: 6.8.3
[ 0.575][INFO] Qt compilation version: 6.8.3
[ 0.575][INFO] Build ABI: x86_64-little_endian-llp64
[ 0.575][INFO] Addressing mode: 64-bit
[ 0.575][INFO] CPU architecture: x86_64
[ 0.697][INFO] CPU name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700T CPU @ 2.80GHz
[ 0.697][INFO] CPU maximum speed: 2801 MHz
[ 0.697][INFO] CPU logical cores: 8
[ 0.701][INFO] Total physical memory: 16384 MB
[ 0.723][INFO] GPU name: NVIDIA GeForce 930MX
[ 0.723][INFO] GPU RAM: 2048 MB
[ 0.723][INFO] Current resolution: 0x0
[ 0.727][INFO] Writing log file to: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium\log.txt
[ 0.727][INFO] File search paths:
[ 0.727][INFO] [0]: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium
[ 0.727][INFO] [1]: .
[ 0.734][INFO] Config file: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium\config.ini
[ 0.735][DBG ] Default surface format: QSurfaceFormat(version 2.0, options QFlagsQSurfaceFormat::FormatOption(), depthBufferSize -1, redBufferSize -1, greenBufferSize -1, blueBufferSize -1, alphaBufferSize -1, stencilBufferSize -1, samples -1, swapBehavior QSurfaceFormat::DefaultSwapBehavior, swapInterval 1, colorSpace QColorSpace(), profile QSurfaceFormat::NoProfile)
[ 1.544][INFO] OpenGL module type: desktop OpenGL
[ 1.651][INFO] System language (ISO 639 / ISO 3166): de_DE
[ 2.288][DBG ] Default surface format: QSurfaceFormat(version 3.3, options QFlagsQSurfaceFormat::FormatOption(), depthBufferSize 24, redBufferSize 8, greenBufferSize 8, blueBufferSize 8, alphaBufferSize -1, stencilBufferSize 8, samples -1, swapBehavior QSurfaceFormat::DefaultSwapBehavior, swapInterval 1, colorSpace QColorSpace(), profile QSurfaceFormat::CoreProfile)
[ 2.288][INFO] OpenGL module type: desktop OpenGL
[ 2.288][DBG ] StelGLWidget constructor
[ 2.308][DBG ] StelGraphicsScene constructor
[ 2.557][DBG ] initializeGL(windowWidth = 1024, windowHeight = 768)
[ 2.557][INFO] OpenGL supported version: "4.2 (Core Profile) Mesa 25.3.0-devel (git-c8fa4e643e)"
[ 2.557][INFO] Current Format: QSurfaceFormat(version 4.2, options QFlagsQSurfaceFormat::FormatOption(), depthBufferSize 24, redBufferSize 8, greenBufferSize 8, blueBufferSize 8, alphaBufferSize 8, stencilBufferSize 8, samples 0, swapBehavior QSurfaceFormat::DoubleBuffer, swapInterval 1, colorSpace QColorSpace(), profile QSurfaceFormat::CoreProfile)
[ 2.557][INFO] Initializing StelMainView
[ 2.557][INFO] Luminance textures are not supported
[ 2.567][INFO] Running in High Graphics Mode
[ 2.567][INFO] Maximum texture anisotropy: 16
[ 2.567][INFO] Maximum 2D texture size: 16384
[ 2.576][INFO] Detected: OpenGL 4.2
[ 2.576][INFO] Driver version string: 4.2 (Core Profile) Mesa 25.3.0-devel (git-c8fa4e643e)
[ 2.576][INFO] GL vendor: Microsoft Corporation
[ 2.576][INFO] GL renderer: D3D12 (Microsoft Basic Render Driver)
[ 2.576][INFO] GL Shading Language version: 4.20
[ 2.594][INFO] Mesa version number detected: 25.3
[ 2.594][INFO] Mesa version is fine, we should not see a graphics problem.
[ 2.594][INFO] GLSL Version Number detected: 4.2
[ 2.594][INFO] GLSL version is fine, we should not see a graphics problem.
[ 2.595][INFO] Vertex Array Objects are supported
[ 2.605][INFO] Initial high-DPI scaling factor: 1
[ 5.015][INFO] Application language: de_DE
[ 5.131][INFO] Sky language: de_DE
[ 5.164][INFO] Planetary features language: de_DE
[ 5.178][INFO] Scripts language: de_DE
[ 5.228][INFO] Sky culture description language: de_DE
[ 5.268][INFO] Cache directory: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Local\stellarium\stellarium\cache
[ 6.110][CRIT] Failed to find /index.json file in sky culture directory "maya"
[ 6.727][CRIT] Failed to find /index.json file in sky culture directory "egyptian"
[ 6.796][CRIT] Failed to find /index.json file in sky culture directory "maya"
[ 6.850][CRIT] Failed to find /index.json file in sky culture directory "egyptian"
[ 6.890][INFO] Loaded 252 countries
[ 6.900][INFO] Loaded 193 regions
[ 7.075][DBG ] StelLocationMgr::loadCitiesBin(): TimeZone for "Coyhaique" not found: "America/Coyhaique"
[ 7.154][INFO] StelLocationMgr::loadCitiesBin(): Summary of unknown TimeZones:
[ 7.154][INFO] "America/Coyhaique"
[ 7.154][INFO] Please report these timezone names (this logfile) to the Stellarium developers.
[ 7.453][WARN] No valid QPositionInfoSource. Old IP queries should still work.
[ 7.518][INFO] Loading Solar System data (1: planets and moons) ...
[ 7.518][INFO] Loading from: ./data/ssystem_major.ini
[ 8.107][INFO] Loaded 83 Solar System bodies from ./data/ssystem_major.ini
[ 8.107][INFO] Solar System now has 83 entries.
[ 8.108][INFO] Loading Solar System data (2: minor bodies) ...
[ 8.109][INFO] Loading from: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium/data/ssystem_minor.ini
[ 8.433][INFO] libpng warning: iCCP: profile 'icc': 'GRAY': Gray color space not permitted on RGB PNG
[ 8.520][INFO] Loaded 364 Solar System bodies from C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium/data/ssystem_minor.ini
[ 8.520][INFO] Solar System now has 447 entries.
[ 8.522][INFO] File ssystem_minor.ini is loaded successfully...
[ 8.526][INFO] SolarSystem: We have configured 0 threads (plus main thread) for computePositions().
[ 8.602][INFO] libpng warning: iCCP: profile 'ICC profile': 'RGB ': RGB color space not permitted on grayscale PNG
[ 8.719][INFO] Loading nomenclature for Solar system bodies ...
[ 8.962][INFO] Loaded 16041 / 16072 items of planetary surface nomenclature
[ 8.962][INFO] Cannot find these planetary objects to assign nomenclature items: Arrokoth, Dactyl, Didymos, Dimorphos, Donaldjohanson
[ 8.971][INFO] Loading star data ...
[ 9.024][INFO] Loading star catalog: .\stars\hip_gaia3\stars_0_0v0_19.cat - 0_0v0_19; 5046 entries
[ 9.040][INFO] Loading star catalog: .\stars\hip_gaia3\stars_1_0v0_15.cat - 1_0v0_15; 21611 entries
[ 9.050][INFO] Loading star catalog: .\stars\hip_gaia3\stars_2_0v0_16.cat - 2_0v0_16; 141761 entries
[ 9.060][INFO] Loading star catalog: .\stars\hip_gaia3\stars_3_0v0_10.cat - 3_0v0_10; 418129 entries
[ 9.864][INFO] Finished loading star catalogue data, max_geodesic_level: 3
[ 9.864][INFO] Loading scientific star designations from .\stars\hip_gaia3\name.fab
[ 9.883][INFO] Loaded 5060 / 5060 scientific designations
[ 9.884][INFO] Loading scientific star designations from .\stars\hip_gaia3\extra_name.fab
[ 9.928][INFO] Loaded 26200 / 26200 scientific designations
[ 9.929][INFO] Loading variable stars data from .\stars\hip_gaia3\gcvs.cat
[ 9.960][INFO] [...] GCVS 5.1-20250615
[ 10.215][INFO] Loaded 47323 / 47323 variable stars
[ 10.215][INFO] Loading double stars from .\stars\hip_gaia3\wds_hip_part.dat
[ 10.279][INFO] Loaded 22992 / 22992 double stars
[ 10.280][INFO] Loading cross-identification data from .\stars\hip_gaia3\cross-id.cat
[ 10.871][INFO] Loaded 327097 / 327097 cross-identification data records for stars
[ 10.871][INFO] Loading orbital parameters data for binary system from .\stars\hip_gaia3\binary_orbitparam.dat
[ 10.879][INFO] Loaded 15 / 15 orbital parameters data for binary system
[ 10.995][INFO] Lists of stars: 118205 HIP stars, 22991 are binaries, 6572 variable (600 Algol-type, 209 Cepheids), 316 Carbon stars, 159 Barium stars, and 220 have PM>1000mas/yr.
[ 11.007][WARN] StelCore: Invalid timezone name: "" -- not setting timezone.
[ 11.007][INFO] navigation/preset_sky_time is a double - treating as jday: 2451514.25001
[ 11.734][INFO] Loading DSO data ...
[ 11.823][INFO] [...] Stellarium DSO Catalog, version 3.21 (standard edition)
[ 12.281][INFO] Loaded 94659 DSO records
[ 12.283][INFO] Loading DSO name data ...
[ 12.531][INFO] Loaded 1358 / 1383 DSO name records successfully
[ 12.531][WARN] No position data for 25 objects: PGC 2798, PGC 2907, PGC 23521, PGC 28759, PGC 29167, PGC 34658, PGC 42102, PGC 44750, PGC 54559, PGC 59117, PGC 59858, PGC 59953, PGC 69018, PGC 69877, PGC 73957, PGC 95597, PGC 100170, PGC 100170, PGC 119230, PGC 1000714, PGC 1436754, PGC 1694462, PGC 2822840, PGC 2826829, PGC 3098124
[ 12.531][INFO] Loading DSO outline data ...
[ 12.562][INFO] Loaded 100 DSO outline records successfully
[ 12.562][INFO] Loading DSO discovery data ...
[ 12.573][INFO] Loaded 183 / 183 DSO discovery records successfully
[ 12.885][INFO] Got location "Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (51.5495, 7.2112; Europe/Berlin)" for IP "87.122.3.71"
[ 13.298][INFO] Using Qt multimedia with FFmpeg version 7.1 LGPL version 2.1 or later
[ 13.941][INFO] LandscapeMgr: initialized Cache for 100 MB.
[ 14.443][CRIT] Failed to find /index.json file in sky culture directory "maya"
[ 14.496][CRIT] Failed to find /index.json file in sky culture directory "egyptian"
[ 14.499][INFO] Loading star names from .\skycultures\common_star_names.fab
[ 14.508][INFO] Loaded 411 / 411 common star names
[ 14.642][INFO] Loaded 88 / 88 constellation records successfully for culture modern
[ 14.642][DBG ] Cultural Sky Partition: Loaded partitions: QList(12, 3, 2, 5) 12 names, 12 symbols. 0 link stars. ""
[ 14.642][INFO] Loading constellation boundary data ...
[ 14.646][INFO] Loaded 781 constellation boundary segments
[ 14.660][WARN] Possible error in asterism "TA4": can't find star Gaia DR3 1233876351043694464... skipping asterism, please install more star catalogs
[ 14.660][WARN] Possible error in asterism "TA6": can't find star Gaia DR3 2569872520258433152... skipping asterism, please install more star catalogs
[ 14.660][WARN] Possible error in asterism "TA9": can't find star Gaia DR3 3530241707454156544... skipping asterism, please install more star catalogs
[ 14.660][WARN] Possible error in asterism "TA12": can't find star Gaia DR3 4472807013960674944... skipping asterism, please install more star catalogs
[ 14.660][INFO] Loaded 87 / 91 asterism records successfully for culture modern
[ 15.483][INFO] Initializing basic GL shaders...
[ 15.522][INFO] Creating GUI ...
[ 16.153][INFO] Loading style file: :/graphicGui/normalStyle.css
[ 16.271][INFO] Loaded plugin "Exoplanets"
[ 16.469][INFO] [Exoplanets] Version of the format of the catalog: 1
[ 16.482][INFO] [Exoplanets] loading catalog file: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium\modules\Exoplanets\exoplanets.json
[ 19.126][INFO] Loaded plugin "MeteorShowers"
[ 19.171][INFO] [MeteorShowersMgr] Loading catalog file: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium\modules\MeteorShowers\MeteorShowers.json
[ 19.173][INFO] [MeteorShowersMgr] Version of the format of the catalog: 2
[ 19.189][INFO] Loaded plugin "Novae"
[ 19.193][INFO] [Novae] version of the catalog: 1
[ 19.193][INFO] [Novae] Loading catalog file: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium\modules\Novae\novae.json
[ 19.223][INFO] Loaded plugin "Oculars"
[ 19.225][INFO] Oculars::validateAndLoadIniFile() ocular.ini exists at: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium\modules\Oculars\ocular.ini . Checking version...
[ 19.226][INFO] Oculars::validateAndLoadIniFile() found existing ini file version 3.1
[ 19.856][INFO] Loaded plugin "Satellites"
[ 20.897][INFO] [Satellites] loading catalogue file: C:\Users\Stefan\AppData\Roaming\Stellarium\modules\Satellites\satellites.json
[ 21.531][WARN] Satellite has invalid orbit: "COSMOS 2574" "58658"
[ 21.730][WARN] Satellite has invalid orbit: "STARLINK-35069" "66268"
[ 21.799][INFO] Loaded plugin "SolarSystemEditor"
[ 21.814][INFO] Using the ssystem_minor.ini file that already exists in the user directory...
[ 24.948][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "453P"
[ 24.948][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "467P"
[ 24.948][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "465P"
[ 24.948][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "466P"
[ 24.948][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "468P"
[ 24.948][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "470P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "472P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "475P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "477P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "473P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "476P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "479P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "480P"
[ 24.949][WARN] SSE: Comet cross-index data: Overwriting entry for "481P"
[ 25.032][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1024 x 768
[ 25.032][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1024x768
[ 25.168][DBG ] Max thread count (Global Pool): 8
[ 156.479][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1042 x 768
[ 156.479][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1042x768
[ 156.633][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1162 x 766
[ 156.633][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1162x766
[ 156.808][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1235 x 765
[ 156.808][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1235x765
[ 156.984][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1251 x 764
[ 156.984][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1251x764
[ 157.599][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1271 x 761
[ 157.599][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1271x761
[ 157.796][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1289 x 763
[ 157.796][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1289x763
[ 158.006][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1291 x 765
[ 158.006][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1291x765
[ 158.333][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1291 x 766
[ 158.333][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1291x766
[ 158.514][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1297 x 767
[ 158.514][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1297x767
[ 158.693][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1303 x 768
[ 158.693][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1303x768
[ 159.174][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1306 x 777
[ 159.174][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1306x777
[ 159.353][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1307 x 778
[ 159.353][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1307x778
[ 159.714][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1307 x 770
[ 159.714][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1307x770
[ 260.865][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1316 x 795
[ 260.865][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1316x795
[ 261.071][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1329 x 875
[ 261.071][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1329x875
[ 261.286][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1339 x 932
[ 261.286][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1339x932
[ 261.527][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1340 x 945
[ 261.527][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1340x945
[ 261.762][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1340 x 946
[ 261.762][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1340x946
[ 261.992][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1341 x 954
[ 261.992][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1341x954
[ 262.233][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1342 x 956
[ 262.233][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1342x956
[ 262.465][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1343 x 962
[ 262.466][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1343x962
[ 262.704][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1348 x 967
[ 262.704][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1348x967
[ 262.947][INFO] OpenGL viewport size: 1350 x 972
[ 262.947][INFO] Creating scene FBO with size 1350x972
[ 308.837][INFO] Unloaded plugin "SolarSystemEditor"
[ 308.902][INFO] Unloaded plugin "Satellites"
[ 308.925][INFO] Unloaded plugin "Oculars"
[ 308.925][INFO] Unloaded plugin "Novae"
[ 308.925][INFO] Unloaded plugin "MeteorShowers"
[ 308.940][INFO] Unloaded plugin "Exoplanets"
[ 308.968][INFO] Downloaded 1 files (0 kbytes) in a session of 307.155 sec (average of 0 kB/s + 0 files from cache (0 kB)).
[ 309.113][INFO] LandscapeMgr: Clearing cache of 0 landscapes totalling about 0 MB.

[10110111]

GPU name: NVIDIA GeForce 930MX
Driver version string: 4.2 (Core Profile) Mesa 25.3.0-devel (git-c8fa4e643e)

So yeah, you need to install the proper NVIDIA driver.

[Stefan-2024]

I try to find and install it.

[Stefan-2024]

I don't get any newer driver. But with older Stellarium versions and this driver. the problem was the same (?)
Sorry bit the Allinone is not the newest for Windows11.

[10110111]

What do you mean? You need the official NVIDIA driver version 581.80. Just search for 930mx here, choose Windows 11, and you'll get the relevant download.

[Stefan-2024]

I got the new driver managed. The difference is not much. It take now up to 3 minutes, the hell starts with the fans. I chekced today under Windows (Taskman) the CPU usage. Stellarium uses constant 45 to50% of the CPU That heats the CPU to 75 degrees.
Und Mint Stellarium uses 25 to 45%. But the CPU utilisation SW shows the 45 is a short peak from time to time. Then the fans blowing normal. SO I guess, is no grafic card problem. The Linux driver is not the newest and works smoothly.

[gzotti]

Of your 8 CPU cores, 1-4 will be running if you don't use more cores by setting. The GPU will do what the GPU has to do to make beautiful pixels. Both create heat, so the fan will work. You can lower the framerate to what is still acceptable for you to lower energy consumption and heat generation. And clean the air ducts! A ~2016 all-in-one with small case and a lot of use will be rather clogged up...

Correct use of the Geforce will be reported in the Logfile. If this is still "Mesa", it is not properly configured. Try running a Qt5-based build of the same version and use ANGLE mode.