# What GPU is the BEST for Linux Gaming? Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Xyx2L4Nlg Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/u8Xyx2L4Nlg Generated: 2026-01-24T18:33:18.61+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview AMD emerges as the clear winner for Linux gaming performance across the tested GPUs, delivering overall better results than both NVIDIA and Intel, especially when considering the driver stability and feature set improvements in newer Linux distributions like Ubuntu 25.10. **Key Points:** - AMD's RX 9070 16GB showed the best overall performance on Linux, sometimes even outperforming Windows 11 in specific benchmarks like Strange Brigade (277 FPS on Ubuntu vs 281 FPS on Windows 11, indicating a near-tie or slight edge in that specific game). - The Intel Arc B580 12GB suffered significant performance regressions on Linux (Ubuntu 25.10) compared to Windows 11, with native rasterization being up to 30.4% slower at 1080p, and failing outright (DNF) in Forza Horizon 5. - NVIDIA's RTX 4060 Ti 16GB showed a substantial performance gap on Linux, with Windows 11 being significantly faster across most titles, although Ray Tracing performance on the 4060 Ti was slightly better on Ubuntu in Cyberpunk 2077. - The setup process for NVIDIA required manual driver installation from the NVIDIA website, whereas AMD's drivers were baked into the newer Ubuntu 25.04 LTS kernel, making the setup easier for AMD users. - The overall conclusion is that AMD currently offers the most mature and reliable GPU experience for Linux gaming, while Intel is showing promise but is not yet ready for mainstream adoption. - The video highlights the importance of driver maturity, noting that while older Linux versions (Ubuntu 24.04) showed severe issues (like crashes or poor performance), newer versions (Ubuntu 25.10) resolved many of these problems. ![Screenshot at 1:42: The host displays the five tested GPUs—AMD RX 7700 XT, RX 9070, Intel Arc B580, NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti, and RTX 4060 Ti—to establish the hardware lineup for the Linux gaming comparison.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/u8Xyx2L4Nlg/00-01-42.jpg) **Context:** This video investigates the state of GPU performance for gaming on Linux by comparing recent high-end graphics cards from AMD (RX 7700 XT, RX 9070), NVIDIA (RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 5060 Ti), and Intel (Arc B580). The testing focuses on comparing performance between Windows 11 (24H2) and the latest Ubuntu LTS version (25.10), specifically looking at average frames per second (FPS) across five demanding games without Ray Tracing enabled, and then a secondary test with Ray Tracing enabled on the Intel card. ## Detailed Analysis The video concludes that AMD currently offers the best overall GPU experience for Linux gaming, followed by NVIDIA, with Intel lagging due to driver immaturity, despite showing significant improvements over previous Linux versions. The testing compared five GPUs: AMD RX 7700 XT 12GB, AMD RX 9070 16GB, Intel Arc B580 12GB, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, and NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti 16GB across five games at 1080p (max settings, RT off). The AMD RX 9070 performed best, often matching or slightly exceeding Windows performance in native rasterization tests. For instance, in Strange Brigade at 1080p native rasterization, the RX 9070 achieved 277 FPS on Ubuntu 25.10 versus 281 FPS on Windows 11. NVIDIA cards generally performed worse on Linux, with the RTX 4060 Ti being 24.2% slower on average at 1080p native. Intel's Arc B580 showed the largest performance deficit, being 30.4% slower on average at 1080p native rasterization, and failing to complete the Forza Horizon 5 test on Ubuntu 24.04 (though it passed on 25.10). The setup difficulty was also a factor: AMD drivers were included in the kernel, while NVIDIA required manual installation, which the presenter noted as a major hurdle for casual users. The video creator, Linus Torvalds, even uses an Intel Arc card for his daily driver Linux PC, suggesting that while driver issues exist, they are resolving quickly. ### Setup & Methodology - Tested five GPUs (AMD RX 7700 XT, RX 9070, Intel Arc B580, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 5060 Ti) using Ubuntu 25.10 and Windows 11 24H2 at 1080p max settings, RT off for primary tests - Setup difficulty favored AMD as drivers were included in the kernel, while NVIDIA required manual downloads. ### Intel Arc B580 Performance - Suffered a significant 30.4% average performance drop on Ubuntu 25.10 vs Windows 11 at 1080p native rasterization - Failed to complete Forza Horizon 5 benchmark on Ubuntu 24.04, but managed it on 25.10, though performance remained poor (e.g., 77 FPS vs 101 FPS in 1080p native). ### NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti Performance - Showed a consistent performance gap, with Windows being faster across most titles, though close in Forza Horizon 5 (108 FPS Ubuntu vs 113 FPS Windows at 1080p native). Ray tracing made performance worse on Linux (e.g., 16 FPS vs 26 FPS in Black Myth: Wukong at 1080p RT on). ### AMD RX 9070 Performance - Showed the best results, often within striking distance of Windows performance (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077: 165 FPS Ubuntu vs 171 FPS Windows at 1080p native RT off). ### Distro Comparison (RX 7700 XT) - Compared Bazzite, Manjaro, Ubuntu 25.04, and Ubuntu 24.04 - Performance was largely identical across Bazzite, Manjaro, and Ubuntu 25.04, with Ubuntu 24.04 showing slightly worse results. ### Conclusion - AMD is the current winner for Linux gaming due to driver maturity and performance parity; Linux driver support is rapidly improving, but setup still requires more effort than on Windows. ![Screenshot at 0:01: A user playing a game on a Gigabyte monitor, juxtaposed with several cups of instant noodles, setting a casual, perhaps frustrating, tone.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/u8Xyx2L4Nlg/00-00-01.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:08: A Reddit comment overlay asking about Nvidia GPU support on Linux is shown as the video critiques the current state of Linux gaming.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/u8Xyx2L4Nlg/00-00-08.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:29: Linus Torvalds appears dramatically amid lightning effects, confirming his involvement in building the 'PERFECT Linux PC'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/u8Xyx2L4Nlg/00-00-29.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:53: A bar chart comparing the geometric mean FPS performance of the tested GPUs \(RX 9070, Arc B580, RTX 5060 Ti\) across Ubuntu 25.10 and Windows 11 24H2 at 1080p native rasterization.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/u8Xyx2L4Nlg/00-00-53.jpg) ![Screenshot at 7:57: A podium graphic showing AMD in first place, NVIDIA in second, and Intel in third place for overall Linux gaming performance based on the testing results.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/u8Xyx2L4Nlg/00-07-57.jpg)