@hj I had a second Linux install as an emergency. SSDs are so cheap lately that when I need to redo my distro, I just buy another. So it leaves the older one as an emergency

However, it looks like the possible hardware issue is also heavily affecting the older install that's barely been touched in a while. Which is why it seems like it's very likely a hardware issue

Windows isn't as affected. The mouse is still a tad choppy there, but I can at least watch anime without it freezing every second