Linux Gaming Performance Testing Comparative Benchmark Results
Linux Gaming Performance Testing Comparative Benchmark Results
I've been using Linux for roughly a decade now, mostly on my reliable Thinkpad or Elitebook. Back then I owned an R9 270 with a 270X clock speed. Later I upgraded to an RX 480 for about 200 euros (around 235 dollars) with 8 GB of RAM. It was one of the most affordable options, and I'm considering getting an R5 1600 (or X, depending on overclocking potential). Considering recent announcements about RX500 and Vega releases, I might have delayed my purchase a bit—but that's not too bad.
Recently, I've been playing many games on Linux, including Metro: Last Light Redux, Hitman, and Doom using Vulkan (with Wine-Staging). Honestly, they all perform exceptionally well. I recall in 2015, native gaming on Linux was quite challenging because each distribution had its own libraries—you had to search and install the right ones. Sure, AUR on ArchLinux makes it easier, but it's still not as straightforward as on Windows.
When Microsoft said they wouldn't support Windows 8.1 with newer CPUs, it became clear for me: I wouldn't buy Windows 10 or use it, even though I had the 8.1 code registered for an upgrade back then. I actually installed Windows 8.1 and was one of the few who still prefer it—except for the start screen, which works fine with StartIsBack (or similar).
In short, gaming on Linux is truly amazing compared to the past. Thanks to OpenGL 4.5 and Vulkan, games run consistently regardless of platform. Plus, you don't even need to install them—just download and play. The biggest surprise was how much Linux differs from Windows. Yes, DirectX still feels faster, but the gap is only about 5-10%. Unfortunately, forcing FreeSync on non-official displays isn't supported on Windows at the moment.
To stay fair, I focus on Unigine, which is free and runs smoothly on most PCs with Linux and an OpenGL card. For comparison, I benchmarked Heaven in OpenGL mode on Windows—its card ran at 1340 MHz. Under Linux it's around 1291 MHz, because I didn't overclock it via CLI.
I might add more benchmarks for Metro 2033 Redux and Last Light Redux once I can set up the Linux benchmark tool properly—or just record frame times with a quick test while playing.
I must admit I haven't installed Hitman on Linux yet... my connection is only 4.5 Mbit, which feels slow in Germany—probably the slowest country in Europe for fast internet. It could take a while. But after checking online, I found a Phoronix article that compares performance. The RX 480 seems to match the 1060 in speed.