A high‑profile benchmarking video from Gamers Nexus — conducted on a Fedora‑based gaming image called Bazzite and covering modern GPUs from both Nvidia and AMD — argues that Linux gaming is no longer niche and, in many real‑world cases, is good enough to be a practical alternative to Windows for a large number of players, especially those running AMD hardware.
The timing of the Gamers Nexus tests is consequential: Microsoft’s move to retire widespread Windows 10 support and the ongoing friction around Windows 11’s hardware requirements have pushed many users to reconsider their OS choices. Dell has even highlighted a still‑huge installed base of Windows 10 machines — roughly 500 million systems that could upgrade to Windows 11 but haven’t — a figure widely reported across the industry. At the same time, Valve’s work on Proton, improvements in Mesa, and a growing ecosystem of SteamOS‑style images have made gaming on Linux far more approachable than in the past. One community project at the center of recent tests is Bazzite, a SteamOS‑style distribution built on Fedora and tuned for handhelds and gaming PCs. Bazzite bundles a gaming‑centric stack — Proton, tuned Mesa (for AMD), curated kernels, and performance utilities — to deliver a console‑like experience on general purpose hardware. Gamers Nexus’ experiment asked a pointed question: if you run modern AAA titles on a curated Linux image (Bazzite), how do contemporary GPUs behave — and does Linux now offer a viable path for gamers who want to leave Windows?
Long answer: Linux is not yet a drop‑in, universal replacement for Windows for every gamer. Multiplayer titles that require kernel‑level anti‑cheat, certain OEM ecosystem integrations, and the occasional ray‑tracing or DLSS/feature parity issue still tether many players to Windows. The path forward is pragmatic: dual‑boot for the cautious, or try a single‑boot Linux conversion only after ensuring your core games and accessories are supported.
Caveat: specific FPS numbers, RT behavior, and per‑title compatibility are tightly coupled to driver, kernel, Proton, and game patch versions. These results are reproducible in the short term for the exact stacks used in the tests, but updates to any component can change the picture — treat single numbers as snapshots, not immutable truth.
The choice between Windows and Linux for gaming has never been purely technical alone; it’s social, commercial, and pragmatic. Today the technical argument is far closer than it has been in a decade, and for a growing group of players the decision may soon be about preference rather than necessity.
Source: gHacks Technology News Rest in Peace Windows? Large YouTube channel tests gaming performance on Linux - gHacks Tech News
Background / Overview
The timing of the Gamers Nexus tests is consequential: Microsoft’s move to retire widespread Windows 10 support and the ongoing friction around Windows 11’s hardware requirements have pushed many users to reconsider their OS choices. Dell has even highlighted a still‑huge installed base of Windows 10 machines — roughly 500 million systems that could upgrade to Windows 11 but haven’t — a figure widely reported across the industry. At the same time, Valve’s work on Proton, improvements in Mesa, and a growing ecosystem of SteamOS‑style images have made gaming on Linux far more approachable than in the past. One community project at the center of recent tests is Bazzite, a SteamOS‑style distribution built on Fedora and tuned for handhelds and gaming PCs. Bazzite bundles a gaming‑centric stack — Proton, tuned Mesa (for AMD), curated kernels, and performance utilities — to deliver a console‑like experience on general purpose hardware. Gamers Nexus’ experiment asked a pointed question: if you run modern AAA titles on a curated Linux image (Bazzite), how do contemporary GPUs behave — and does Linux now offer a viable path for gamers who want to leave Windows?Test scope and methodology
What was tested
- A mix of recent AAA titles and high‑shader workloads were selected to stress drivers and runtimes: Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil 4 (remake), Black Myth: Wukong, Starfield, and others. These games represent a range of engines, rendering paths, and runtime complexities.
- Hardware: modern discrete GPUs across vendors, including Nvidia flagship and midrange silicon (RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 family references in the coverage) and AMD Radeon RX 9070 / RX 9070 XT class cards. Tests included a variety of systems to capture how vendor drivers behave under Linux.
- OS: Bazzite (a Fedora‑based gaming image), frozen to a test baseline so driver/runtime versions didn’t change mid‑test. The decision to lock the software stack makes results reproducible for that exact environment but also means subsequent updates could alter outcomes.
How the tests were framed
Gamers Nexus intentionally focused on Linux‑side comparative behavior across GPUs rather than a strict, instrumented Windows vs Linux head‑to‑head. The team argued that cross‑OS measurement stacks are hard to make perfectly identical — different capture stacks and telemetry hooks can bias results — so the emphasis was on which GPUs offered the most consistent, playable experience under the Linux stack itself. That avoids a single “Linux beats Windows” claim and instead paints a Linux‑specific hardware compatibility and maturity map.Headline findings — what matters to gamers
- Linux gaming is robust and improving. For many single‑player and some non‑competitive titles, games run very well on a modern Linux gaming image; the compatibility and performance gap has narrowed significantly.
- AMD often delivered the steadier experience. Across the tested titles, Radeon cards (the RX 9070 series in the report) produced more consistent frame‑pacing and fewer micro‑stutter incidents. Where averages were close, AMD’s frame‑time graphs tended to look cleaner.
- Nvidia sometimes led in raw averages but showed variability. Nvidia cards often recorded higher peak FPS on certain scenes, but a number of runs showed odd frame‑pacing and micro‑stutter behavior that degraded perceived smoothness. The result: higher average FPS doesn’t always mean a better play experience.
- Ray tracing support remains spotty. Hardware‑accelerated ray tracing works in some titles and configurations, but cross‑vendor, cross‑driver support is inconsistent; several RT‑heavy scenes crashed or failed on certain driver combinations. Gamers Nexus documented mixed RT results and warned that RT support on Linux still trails Windows in reliability.
- Anti‑cheat is still the show‑stopper for many online games. Titles that rely on kernel‑level anti‑cheat (VAC, certain EAC/BattlEye implementations) will not run on many Linux setups because their anti‑cheat middleware only exists for Windows or injects kernel components unavailable or unacceptable on Linux. This remains the primary blocker for competitive and multiplayer gamers.
- Long initial shader caches and occasional stutters are part of the experience. Several tested titles required long shader cache warm‑ups — sometimes 30+ minutes — to reach steady‑state smoothness. This is a known quirk of runtime shader compilation across Proton and driver ecosystems, and it can create a rough first session even when performance settles later.
Deep dive: AMD vs Nvidia on Linux — stability vs peak
AMD — the consistency story
AMD’s open‑source driver stack (RADV / Mesa for Vulkan, and co‑operation on proprietary bindings when needed) has matured quickly. Tests found AMD cards:- Delivered more predictable frame‑time lines and fewer visible hitch spikes in shader‑heavy situations.
- Required fewer last‑minute tweaks to governor settings for a smooth experience.
- Were often the best value when judged on the combination of average FPS and smoothness, particularly at 1440p and 1080p where driver maturity matters most.
Nvidia — peak frames, sporadic pacing
Nvidia’s proprietary drivers still deliver strong raw throughput on many workloads, but Gamers Nexus documented:- Occasional frame‑pacing anomalies and micro‑stutter in specific titles (even when averages were the highest).
- Periodic stutters that could be tied to driver heuristics, shader handling, or compositor interactions.
- Better absolute FPS in some cases, but higher end‑to‑end inconsistency in subjective smoothness.
Game‑by‑game notes (high level)
- Baldur’s Gate 3: Native Linux support exists, but results varied by GPU and driver; AMD showed steadier behavior in heavy scenes.
- Cyberpunk 2077: One of the more demanding titles; Linux runs via Proton showed playable numbers, but shader compilation and RT paths were fragile in certain driver versions.
- Black Myth: Wukong: A shader‑heavy title that exposed runtime shader‑compilation pain points; warm‑up behavior mattered more than peak FPS.
- Resident Evil 4 (remake): Mixed results between native and Proton runs. Anti‑cheat isn’t typically a factor here, but RT toggles and driver‑specific issues produced uneven experiences on some GPUs.
Practical friction points and risks for gamers who switch today
- Anti‑cheat and multiplayer blockers. If you play competitive multiplayer titles that run kernel‑level anti‑cheat, you may be blocked entirely or forced to remain on Windows. This is the single biggest limitation for many users.
- Driver version sensitivity. Small changes in Mesa, Proton, or Nvidia driver builds can swing results. Tests that freeze their stacks are useful snapshots — but not guarantees. Gamers must expect to perform occasional updates or rollbacks.
- Time and skill investment. Switching OSes, tuning power governors, and managing shader caches takes time. Linux gaming is far smoother than in the days of manual Wine plumbing, but it still rewards technical curiosity and patience.
- Hardware feature gaps. Some vendor utilities, RGB controls, and OEM features (Armoury Crate, vendor‑specific telemetry) are Windows‑first and may remain unsupported for months. This can affect usability and accessory behavior.
- Ray tracing and ecosystem parity. RT works in some places, but cross‑driver parity and plug‑and‑play reliability still lag Windows. If RT plus DLSS/FSR workflows drive your setup, test carefully.
Why Linux can now feel faster on some systems
Gamers Nexus and subsequent community coverage explain the reasons Linux images sometimes deliver higher sustained performance or better 1% lows on constrained devices (like handhelds):- Lean compositor and fewer background services reduce scheduling noise and I/O interrupts, which matter dramatically on thermally restricted hardware.
- Different shader‑cache and compilation strategies in Proton/Mesa can reduce blocking shader builds, lowering micro‑stutter in shader‑heavy scenes.
- Exposed power governor and fan curve controls on Linux images allow more direct tuning for steady clocks rather than aggressive burst behavior that causes thermal throttling.
A short guide: if you’re a gamer thinking of switching (practical steps)
- Identify your must‑play titles and check ProtonDB / Linux ports for compatibility and known fixes.
- Test without wiping your Windows install: create a bootable USB, try the live image, or dual‑boot so you can fall back.
- Use a gaming‑focused distro image (Bazzite, SteamOS, Nobara) rather than a generic desktop distribution to get curated stacks out of the box.
- Freeze your driver/Proton/Mesa stack for any critical benchmark or play session to maintain predictability.
- Prepare to tweak: TDP settings, compositor, and shader cache policies often need adjustment for best results.
- Keep Windows available for anti‑cheat or problematic multiplayer titles — dual‑boot remains the safest path for most players.
Strengths and opportunities
- Mature compatibility layer: Proton has reached a point where a very large share of Windows games run on Linux; community reports estimate high compatibility percentages and a fast growing “Platinum” category. This makes Linux a viable platform for single‑player and many offline experiences.
- Better experience on some hardware: Particularly for midrange and AMD GPUs under tuned stacks, Linux often produces fewer frame‑time outliers and more consistent playability.
- Active community and vendor engagement: Valve, AMD, and the wider open source graphics community continue to invest heavily in Linux gaming — improvements are ongoing and rapid relative to earlier eras.
Risks and open questions
- Anti‑cheat politics and kernel‑level restrictions remain an unresolved ecosystem risk for multiplayer titles; adoption depends on publishers and anti‑cheat vendors choosing to support Linux in a way players trust.
- Vendor driver divergence — proprietary stacks and open‑source stacks evolve at different paces. Nvidia’s consumer drivers remain proprietary and sometimes unpredictable on Linux; AMD’s open ecosystem offers stability in many titles but isn’t immune to regressions.
- Measurement variability: Benchmarks are scene‑dependent. Numbers quoted for single scenes do not always translate to a universal experience for all players or hardware revisions. Treat single‑scene averages as directional, not definitive.
- Device support and OEM features: Controllers, integrated vendor utilities, and specialized input hardware may lack parity on Linux. Expect tradeoffs if you rely on manufacturer software.
Final analysis — is Linux a true gaming alternative?
Short answer: for many players, yes — particularly for single‑player AAA, older multiplayer titles without deep anti‑cheat, and players who value control over their system. Gamers Nexus’ tests demonstrate that Linux gaming has matured from a hobbyist curiosity to a practical option for a broad swath of modern titles, with AMD hardware currently offering the most straightforward, stable experience on curated Linux images like Bazzite.Long answer: Linux is not yet a drop‑in, universal replacement for Windows for every gamer. Multiplayer titles that require kernel‑level anti‑cheat, certain OEM ecosystem integrations, and the occasional ray‑tracing or DLSS/feature parity issue still tether many players to Windows. The path forward is pragmatic: dual‑boot for the cautious, or try a single‑boot Linux conversion only after ensuring your core games and accessories are supported.
Closing verdict
The Gamers Nexus “RIP Windows” framing is provocative — intended to start a conversation — but the substance beneath the headline is more measured and pragmatic: Linux gaming has arrived as a realistic option for many players, not because it unambiguously outperforms Windows across the board, but because the Linux stack now offers fewer tradeoffs and more consistent experiences in a wide set of modern titles. For gamers who prioritize stability, reproducibility, and control, and especially those running AMD GPUs, Linux is now a serious contender. For competitive online players and those dependent on certain proprietary vendor features, Windows still holds an edge.Caveat: specific FPS numbers, RT behavior, and per‑title compatibility are tightly coupled to driver, kernel, Proton, and game patch versions. These results are reproducible in the short term for the exact stacks used in the tests, but updates to any component can change the picture — treat single numbers as snapshots, not immutable truth.
The choice between Windows and Linux for gaming has never been purely technical alone; it’s social, commercial, and pragmatic. Today the technical argument is far closer than it has been in a decade, and for a growing group of players the decision may soon be about preference rather than necessity.
Source: gHacks Technology News Rest in Peace Windows? Large YouTube channel tests gaming performance on Linux - gHacks Tech News
