Ryzen, AMD, Linux, Intel, and the Central Processing Unit: A Comprehensive Look at Gaming Performance and Innovations

The conversation around gaming on Linux has changed significantly in recent years. What was once considered a niche operating system for gaming enthusiasts and developers has now become a viable alternative to Windows. This transformation is largely due to the relentless efforts of passionate developers who have been working on the Linux kernel and open-source graphics stack. Companies like Valve and Red Hat have also played crucial roles in this evolution by providing support and resources. Many of these developers are volunteers who are dedicated to improving the gaming experience on Linux, making it more accessible and efficient for users worldwide.

Recent performance tests have shown that Linux can surpass Windows in terms of gaming performance, a notion that would have seemed far-fetched just a few years ago. One of the most surprising revelations came from a recent test conducted on the Framework 13 laptop, which features the new Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and AMD Ryzen 7 7480U. These tests were run on both Windows 11 and Fedora 40 to compare their performance. The Framework 13, although primarily designed for productivity, is capable of gaming with its integrated graphics. However, users may need to adjust resolution and graphics settings to optimize performance.

To ensure a fair comparison, both operating systems were set to ‘performance’ power profiles. Results were captured only from the second run of each benchmark to eliminate any initial thermal throttling that could skew the data. On Fedora 40, a system update was run before testing, and no modified kernels were used. Similarly, on Windows 11, a system update was performed, and the Radeon 780m driver was upgraded to version 24.7.1. These meticulous preparations were essential to ensure that the results were as accurate and unbiased as possible.

The first two benchmarks were run on games that have native versions for both Windows and Linux. In the case of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, using Vulkan on Linux and DX12 on Windows, Fedora 40 outperformed Windows 11 with a 7% higher average framerate. Another game, Total War: Warhammer III, also showed better performance on Linux using Vulkan, although the difference was minimal. These results indicate that Linux is not only catching up to Windows in gaming performance but, in some cases, even surpassing it.

The most surprising results came when testing games using Proton, the compatibility layer developed by Valve to run Windows games on Linux. Previous tests had shown a performance penalty with Proton games, ranging from 5% to 30%. However, two tests on Cyberpunk 2077 revealed that Fedora 40 had a 3% and 7% advantage over Windows, respectively. Utilizing AMD’s FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) technology, Fedora 40 showed a 24% higher minimum framerate. Even in a head-to-head comparison with Forza Horizon 5, a DirectX 12 game, Fedora 40 performed admirably, only falling short by 7%.

While these results are not representative of the entire gaming landscape on Linux, they are a testament to the significant strides made in recent years. The collaboration between open-source developers and companies like Valve and Red Hat has resulted in a more robust and competitive gaming platform. This progress is encouraging for gamers who prefer Linux for its customization options, security features, and overall performance. It also opens up new possibilities for the future of gaming on alternative operating systems.

On the other hand, AMD has been addressing criticism regarding the gaming performance of its Zen 5 Ryzen 9000 series processors. After the turbulent launch, there were discrepancies between AMD’s marketed performance values and those measured by reviewers. AMD contacted reviewers to investigate potential issues and attributed the disparities to different test methodologies, hardware, and software settings. The company has since revised its internal benchmark suite and shared updated performance projections for the Ryzen 9000 series.

The updated projections show that Intel chips perform similarly to Ryzen 9000 when tested with optimized settings. AMD has largely stuck with the same performance improvement projection for Ryzen 9000 over the previous-gen Ryzen 7000 models. Additionally, the company has shared some of the performance improvements using an ‘admin’ Windows profile instead of a standard user account. This feature will be available to all Windows 11 accounts through an upcoming update. AMD has also addressed concerns about its chipset drivers and assured that a fix will be released soon.

AMD’s internal benchmark results are used in its documentation for reviewers to compare their own results. The mix of game titles used in a test suite can greatly impact average performance metrics, and AMD has added new titles to its benchmark suite to better reflect modern game performance. Intel’s instability issues also contribute to the difference in AMD’s original findings, as the company used Intel’s baseline power profile for their tests. AMD has revised its performance data to be more competitive with Intel after testing with a broader suite of games and using more aggressive power profiles and faster memory.

These revisions show a double-digit lead for Ryzen 9000 in productivity and creator applications, and parity in gaming with the most popular titles. Additionally, AMD has made changes to their projections for performance gains with Ryzen 9000 over Ryzen 7000, now citing a 5-8% improvement instead of the previously stated 9%. AMD used an admin account for their tests, which unlocked additional performance through branch prediction optimization. The company is working with Microsoft to bring this optimization to standard user accounts.

Other factors contributing to the performance disparities include the use of virtualized-based security (VBS) and differences in motherboard settings. AMD’s blog post did not address a pressing issue with their chipset drivers but clarified that a fix will be released soon. The company is also releasing specific application improvements that have been tested by their engineers. Games like Far Cry 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 show the most improvement, up to 13%, with the optimized branch prediction code described as an ‘iterative evolution’ rather than a bug fix.

When compared to Intel’s latest Core chips with additional features, the Ryzen 9000 family shows a double-digit lead in productivity and creator applications, a 30% lead in AI applications, and similar gaming performance. This has been a challenging year for the top three PC processor makers. Intel has faced ongoing problems with their 13th and 14th generation Core chips, while Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips have issues with battery life and compatibility. AMD’s recent transition to the Zen 5 architecture was met with high performance claims that did not live up to expectations in real-world tests, but the company is working to improve performance based on feedback from the community and reviewers.

In conclusion, the gaming landscape is evolving rapidly, with significant advancements being made by both Linux and AMD. Linux has emerged as a strong contender in the gaming world, thanks to the collaborative efforts of developers and companies like Valve and Red Hat. Meanwhile, AMD is addressing the challenges faced during the Ryzen 9000 series launch and is working on optimizing performance through various updates and fixes. As technology continues to advance, it will be interesting to see how these developments shape the future of gaming and computing.