ComputerBase compared three different Linux distributions with Windows 11 in a series of gaming tests. It turns out that all three distros were able to beat Microsoft’s latest operating system in gaming.
Each of the three Linux versions performed admirably, running all the titles tested through Valve’s Proton compatibility layer.
The three Linux operating systems tested included Arch Linux, Pop!_OS, and Nobara OS. Arch is the most Linux-specific, offering a simple default installation that requires user customization to realize its full potential. Despite this, it is also one of the most dynamically evolving systems in terms of software and system updates. Valve’s SteamOS 3, which supports Steam Deck, is based on Arch Linux.
Although it is still unthinkable for many people, games running on Linux systems can run faster than on Windows.
The other two distributions tested are more suitable for Linux beginners and have default installations that include a number of applications and plug-ins with gaming in mind. Pop!_OS, built on Ubuntu and produced by System76, offers support for Steam, Proton, and Lutris out of the box. In contrast, Nobara OS is a modified version of Fedora Linux, specifically aimed at gamers, including, among others: OBS, Wine and other Nvidia drivers.
Testing was conducted on an AMD platform only consisting of Ryzen 7 5800X (non-3D) and Radeon RX 6700 XT. The games examined included titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Forspoken, Rachet & Clank, Starfield, and The Talos Principle II – all of which are Windows-specific, but run on Valve’s Proton compatibility layer on various Linux operating systems. According to ComputerBase data, all three Linux operating systems slightly outperformed Windows 11 in tests. Nobara OS was the best, and in the end it was Windows 11. The only game where Windows 11 took first place was Rachet & Clank Rift Apart.
ComputerBase gaming benchmarks show how well games perform on Linux. Even using Valve’s Proton compatibility layer, the three Linux distributions tested were still able to beat or achieve close to Windows 11’s performance. It’s no wonder Linux gaming laptops are already being made – on the AMD platform, of course.
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