I’ve been trying to switch to Linux since February, mainly without issues using my old 7800 XT. However, after getting a 9070 XT on launch day, I’ve run into problems. New GPU releases seem to give Linux users a hard time, and although I heard things were better on day one, I waited for a stable update to arrive. Once I got that update, most of my Steam games worked, but my main titles like FFXIV and some Hoyo gacha games are still lagging. These games use their own launchers and Wine prefixes. I’ve read that the RDNA 4 drivers aren’t fully integrated into the kernel yet. Is this why my non-Steam games are struggling with GPU performance? It’s really the last hurdle keeping me from fully using Linux for my daily activities, and I’m getting tired of switching back to Windows just because of this graphics issue.
4 Answers
It sounds like you’re already doing some good troubleshooting! The core issues you’re facing stem from using brand new hardware. The problem you’re facing could also be about how non-Steam games work with Wine compared to native Steam clients, and that process tends to be a lot less forgiving. But you’re not alone in this; many others have experienced similar things with Linux and new GPUs.
It seems like the RDNA 4 drivers are actually in the kernel now, but I understand how new hardware can sometimes lead to issues. You mentioned your FPS is really low and that your system is reporting the GPU as ‘llvmpipe’, which typically means it’s defaulting to software rendering instead of using your actual GPU. I’d suggest checking your software versions and making sure everything’s up-to-date, especially the Mesa drivers. Also, how do your games perform in terms of frames? Are you running the latest kernel? Checking tools like nvtop or amdgpu_top can help diagnose GPU usage, and it’s weird if it’s showing 0-5% usage during games. The performance drop might be due to the launchers you’re using as well, especially if they’re flatpaks. Oh, and if you’re experiencing crashes like I did, you’re still doing better!
You might want to consider using a different distribution than Bazzite since it’s immutable. With something like Nobara, where you can frequently update Mesa and your kernel, you might see better results with newer games that need up-to-date drivers. Just make sure your kernel is 6.14 or greater, and you have the right firmware for the 9070 XT. Sometimes, the default repos don’t include the latest firmware, which can be crucial for performance. Don’t get discouraged; it should improve as updates roll out.
I think you’re encountering a common issue with bleeding edge hardware on Linux. It’s often the case that while Windows or Mac might also have driver delays, AMD sometimes funds release cycles that lag behind the hardware launch. This could explain why your non-Steam games aren’t utilizing the GPU properly. Keep an eye on driver updates in the next few months, especially since you noted some success with Steam games. Just hang tight!
That makes sense—I had no issues with Steam games before the GPU upgrade, but I guess the non-Steam ones are just too specific to adapt quickly. Thanks for the encouragement!
You’re right, it seems newer hardware definitely faces some hiccups on Linux. But I’d still encourage checking Wendell’s videos on Level1Tech for additional setups; he has some comprehensive guides on optimizing performance for newer GPUs!