Linux (SteamOS) Vs Windows For PC Gaming - The Final Conclusion

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey into Linux gaming, discussing both successes and challenges. They explore Linux's compatibility with popular games, comparing it to Windows, and highlight key insights such as the importance of enabling Steam compatibility mode and the performance differences between AMD and Nvidia GPUs. While AMD GPUs perform well on Linux, Nvidia faces performance issues due to driver limitations. Despite Linux’s strong gaming potential, popular multiplayer games like Fortnite and Valorant face compatibility issues due to anti-cheat systems. The creator encourages experimentation with Linux and praises the progress, especially with Steam's support.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses the creator's journey into Linux gaming, with the initial video being renamed to 'My Journey into Linux' after reflecting on the experience.
• 😀 The first key mistake was not enabling Steam compatibility mode, which is necessary for running Windows games on Linux.
• 😀 DXVK (DirectX over Vulkan) is highlighted as the core technology enabling Windows games to run on Linux, not emulation but rather translation.
• 😀 The creator dives deep into SteamOS with a special focus on a distribution called Bait, which offered flexibility, especially for AMD, Nvidia, and BattleMage GPUs.
• 😀 SteamOS, despite its perks, had a vsync limit that caused issues for high-performance desktop setups, especially for competitive multiplayer games.
• 😀 The Bait install successfully unlocked 4K resolution but faced some compatibility issues, especially with the vsync lock in SteamOS.
• 😀 A performance comparison showed that Linux and Windows 10 were almost on par in games like Cyberpunk 2077 on AMD hardware, with Linux sometimes outperforming Windows at 1440p.
• 😀 On Nvidia hardware, Linux had significant performance losses compared to Windows, particularly in games with ray tracing enabled.
• 😀 In some cases, such as Riftbreaker, Nvidia performance on Linux was almost the same as on Windows, but AMD performance lagged behind.
• 😀 Popular multiplayer titles like Fortnite, Valorant, and GTA 5 still face issues on Linux due to anti-cheat mechanisms, which are a major barrier to Linux adoption.
• 😀 The video concludes with a recommendation to try Pop OS for a more user-friendly Linux experience and highlights that Linux is improving rapidly, especially with Valve's support through Steam and the Steam Deck.

Q & A

What was the main topic of the video?

The video focuses on the creator's journey exploring Linux as a gaming operating system, comparing its performance to Windows, and discussing the challenges and successes of gaming on Linux.

What mistake did the creator make in the video related to Steam?

The creator initially failed to enable Steam compatibility mode, which is necessary for running Windows-only games on Linux through Steam using translation technologies like DXVK.

What is the difference between emulation and translation in the context of Linux gaming?

The creator clarified that the process for running Windows games on Linux is not emulation but translation, specifically through DXVK, which translates DirectX calls to Vulkan, making these games run on Linux.

What was the issue with Steam OS and V-Sync?

The issue with Steam OS was that it had a hard V-Sync limit, which couldn't be bypassed. This was problematic for high-performance desktop gaming, especially for competitive multiplayer games where low latency and high frame rates are crucial.

What is Basite, and how did it perform in comparison to Pop OS?

Basite is a Linux distribution recommended by viewers in the comments. It performed well for flexibility, especially in handling different GPU types (AMD, Nvidia, and Battle Mage). However, the creator eventually preferred Pop OS due to its user experience despite Basite's good results.

How did gaming performance on Linux compare to Windows for AMD and Nvidia GPUs?

For AMD GPUs, the performance was largely similar between Linux and Windows, with some games running better on Linux, particularly in 1440p resolution. However, for Nvidia GPUs, performance on Linux was notably worse in most tests, with significant losses, especially in certain games like Cyberpunk 2077.

What was the surprising result when testing Riftbreaker on Nvidia GPUs?

The Nvidia GPU performed almost the same on Linux as it did on Windows, which was the first time the creator saw such parity in performance across platforms.

What were the issues with Black Myth: Wukong on Nvidia GPUs?

For Nvidia GPUs, the game performed poorly compared to Windows, lagging behind at 1440p and 4K, which contributed to the overall disappointing gaming experience on Linux with Nvidia hardware.

What are the limitations of Linux gaming when it comes to competitive multiplayer titles?

Popular multiplayer games like Fortnite, Valorant, and GTA 5 don't work on Linux due to anti-cheat mechanisms. This is a significant barrier for widespread adoption of Linux among gamers, especially those who want to play these games.

Why does the creator believe Linux is improving for gaming, and how might things change in the future?

The creator acknowledges that Linux has made significant strides, especially with the support of Steam and Valve. They believe that as Valve continues to push for improvements, many of the current obstacles (such as anti-cheat issues) may be resolved in the near future, potentially leading to broader adoption of Linux for gaming.