The dialogue about playing games on Linux platforms has dramatically evolved over recent years thanks to the dedication of both the Linux community developers and larger tech companies alike. A prime example includes contributions from the likes of Valve and Red Hat employees as well as numerous enthusiastic volunteers who spare no effort in enhancing the Linux gaming experience. This conversation sets the stage for mentioning another triumph that Linux recently recorded against Windows.
My recent evaluations were on the Framework 13 laptop, which includes the new Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and the AMD Ryzen 7 7480U. This setup provided a perfect scenario to compare the performance of several games on both Windows 11 and Fedora 40, and the outcomes were unexpectedly striking!
Next, here’s a brief overview concerning the specifics of the Framework system and how the tests were conducted.
The Framework 13 running Fedora 40 is showcased with its 180-degree hinge capability.
The Framework 13 easily supports gaming even on integrated graphics, though adjustments in resolution and quality settings may be necessary for more intensive games. This reflects the significant advancements AMD’s APUs have achieved over the last ten years.
For a fair comparison between the operating systems, the power settings were consistently maintained on “Performance.” Importantly, I recorded data starting from the second benchmark run to avoid any discrepancies caused by thermal throttling that could occur during the initial test.
In the case of Fedora 40, I made sure to update the system before conducting the tests. I did not employ any altered kernels, specialized versions of Proton, or cutting-edge graphics drivers—only the default options available in the kernel that comes pre-packaged with Fedora 40 were used.
For Windows 11, I updated the system and also upgraded the Radeon 780M driver to version 24.7.1, which was newer than the version provided in Framework’s original driver package at the time of my tests.
OK! Let’s kick things off with two games that have native versions for both Windows and Linux.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s native version: Windows vs Linux
It could be argued that this isn’t a fair fight despite both OSes running their native versions of Lara Croft’s 2018 adventure. Linux is rocking the Vulkan API, and Windows is utilizing DX12. However, it does show both operating systems playing to their strengths. Indeed, Fedora 40 pulls off 7% higher average framerates.
Total War: Warhammer III does battles its native version on Windows and Linux.
In the battle of native versus native featuring Warhammer III’s Battle benchmark, we observed Vulkan running on Linux pitted against DX11 on Windows. The slight difference in performance can mostly be attributed to typical run-to-run discrepancies. However, Windows edges out slightly ahead in this comparison.
Cyberpunk 2077 FPS comparison on Windows 11 vs Fedora 40
The results were quite unexpected, especially as we ventured into Proton’s domain. Proton, developed by Valve, is a compatibility layer that makes it possible for Windows games to run on Linux systems. It’s a crucial element for the functionality of the Steam Deck and greatly expands the range of games accessible on Linux. However, running software on operating systems they weren’t originally designed for often incurs a performance drop. This is evident with Proton games, where there’s typically a performance reduction ranging from 5% to 30%, despite the ability to run these games on Linux.
That’s what makes both of these Cyberpunk 2077 results so interesting. Without FSR scaling enabled, Fedora 40 ekes out a 3% performance advantage. Considering the above info, that’s quite a victory in my book.
Cyberpunk 2077 FPS comparison on Windows 11 vs Fedora 40, with FSR Balanced
And wow, things look even brighter when utilizing AMD FSR! Bumping up the graphics from Low to Medium and switching on FSR “Balanced,” Fedora 40 pulls away a bit more, turning in 7% higher average FPS and, crucially, a 24% higher minimum framerate.
Forza Horizon 5 FPS comparison on Windows 11 vs Fedora 40 without dynamic resolution or image upscaling
Yes, Windows wins here. But what’s notable is what when Forza Horizon 5 released in 2021, Linux gaming websites published celebratory headlines about the fact that it ran at all. Now, three years later, this Microsoft-developed DirectX 12 game is performing admirably right out of the box. A 7% performance deficit with the overhead of running Proton? Things are definitely improving.
Another exciting takeaway is that holy cow, we now live in a world where a Linux laptop with integrated graphics can run a modern racing game above 60FPS at 1080p. I love living in that world.
These results are an interesting slice of the Linux vs Windows gaming picture, but certainly not representative of the entire landscape. A few shorts years ago, however, I never would have dreamed I’d be writing an article where even two games on Linux are outperforming their Windows counterparts.
That said, I want to run these same benchmarks on laptops with dedicated AMD and Nvidia GPUs and see what happens. If you’re interested in seeing those results, follow me here at Forbes or on Mastodon and I’ll keep you posted.
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