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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Short answer: Linux gaming is a credible option for Steam-focused players with AMD Radeon graphics, but Windows 11 remains the safer choice for broad compatibility and reliability. ComputerBase’s March 9, 2026 comparison found Radeon performance close to Windows in rasterized games and markedly better Linux ray tracing than in its earlier test. Its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti test, however, encountered serious crashes, launch failures, graphical errors, and long shader-compilation waits. The result is a useful snapshot of specific hardware and software—not a universal verdict on every Linux distribution or gaming PC.
At a glance: which operating system fits your games?
| Player or setup | Practical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon, mostly Steam games, willing to troubleshoot | Linux is viable | ComputerBase found Radeon rasterization performance close to Windows in its test, though stability and game-specific support still matter. |
| Nvidia GeForce, demanding modern games, or ray tracing | Windows 11 is safer | The tested Linux configuration had substantial reliability and performance problems in several games. |
| Competitive multiplayer or games reliant on unsupported anti-cheat | Usually Windows 11 | Anti-cheat support depends on the publisher and game configuration, and incompatible titles may not connect or launch. |
| Game Pass PC, Microsoft Store, or Xbox app library | Windows 11 | These services are built around Windows; Linux does not offer the same straightforward integrated experience. |
| Mixed library, or uncertain compatibility | Dual boot | Use Linux for compatible games while keeping Windows available for exceptions. |
What ComputerBase tested—and what it did not
ComputerBase published the comparison on March 9, 2026. It tested 19 games available on Steam at 2,560 × 1,440 and 3,840 × 2,160, using an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. The Linux side used CachyOS, an Arch-based distribution, and ran Windows games through Steam Proton. The Windows side used a fully updated Windows 11 25H2 installation. ComputerBase’s test and setup describe the configuration.
- Linux: kernel 6.19.5-3-cachyos; Mesa 26.0.1 for Radeon; Nvidia driver 590.48.01.
- Windows: Windows 11 25H2; AMD Adrenalin 26.2.1 and Nvidia GeForce 591.86.
- Games: Steam titles tested with Proton, not a broad survey of native Linux builds, other storefronts, or manually configured launchers.
This is a comparison of those games, components, driver versions, settings, and test conditions. It does not isolate the operating system from the graphics driver, translation layer, game patches, or distribution, and it should not be read as a benchmark for every GPU or Linux setup.
Radeon: close in rasterization, improved but uneven ray tracing
With the RX 9070 XT, Linux was generally close to Windows in rasterized games, with Windows ahead by a modest amount overall. ComputerBase reported Windows was about 11% faster at WQHD and 10% faster at Ultra HD in its new Radeon comparison. Those figures describe the tested game set and configuration, not a guarantee for a different Radeon card or library.
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Ray tracing was a more complicated result. Mesa 26 substantially narrowed the Linux gap compared with ComputerBase’s earlier test: in its cross-test comparison, Linux’s ray-tracing average-FPS result rose from about 67% of Windows at WQHD and 60% at Ultra HD in the earlier test to about 90% and 91%, respectively, in the March comparison. ComputerBase cautions that the July 2025 and March 2026 tests were not perfectly comparable, so the percentages are directional evidence of progress rather than a controlled measure of the Mesa update alone. Its comparison page also shows why one average conceals game-level variation.
Results varied by title: Linux led in some games, including Pioneers of Pagonia, while Windows was substantially faster in others, including Farthest Frontier. Mesa 26 did not improve every game, and ray-tracing gains ranged from nearly closing the gap to leaving Windows clearly ahead. ComputerBase also recorded four unexplained crashes on the CachyOS Radeon test system. It noted individual feature issues, including missing MSAA in Pioneers of Pagonia and an FSR problem in Avowed. AMD was the more convincing Linux option in this test, not a promise of flawless play.
GeForce: reliability problems outweighed the FPS comparison
On the RTX 5070 Ti, individual results were mixed: Linux was faster in Helldivers 2 in the cited test, while Windows was dramatically faster in games such as Borderlands 4 and The Last of Us Part II. But the larger concern was whether games ran correctly at all. ComputerBase reported repeated crashes or launch failures involving ray tracing, major graphical errors in Borderlands 4, and long shader-compilation waits—sometimes 15–20 minutes—on the tested GeForce setup.
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Why Windows games can run on Linux
Linux gaming often relies on Proton, Valve’s Steam Play compatibility tool. It combines Wine and other components to make Windows games work without running a full Windows virtual machine. For graphics, DXVK translates DirectX 9, 10, and 11 calls to Vulkan, while VKD3D-Proton handles DirectX 12-to-Vulkan translation. Valve’s Proton project documents the tool and its components.
Translation is not the same as emulation, and it does not make every game or feature automatically compatible. Outcomes can depend on a game’s graphics API, engine, anti-cheat, DRM, launcher, video playback, driver, and Proton version. A native Linux build is not automatically the better one either: it may be older, differ in features, or receive less testing than the Windows build. Compare the versions actually available for the game you play.
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Compatibility can matter more than average FPS
A benchmark’s average frame rate cannot tell you whether the game you want will launch, connect to multiplayer, keep stable frame times, or expose the features you use. Before switching, check these potential friction points:
- Anti-cheat: Support varies by game and publisher. Some systems can work on Linux when configured by the publisher; others block play. Do not assume that all anti-cheat is incompatible—or that a game works just because Proton can start it.
- Launchers and DRM: A third-party launcher or protection system can add steps or stop a title from working.
- Game Pass and Microsoft Store: Windows is the practical choice if these are central to your library.
- Mods and peripherals: Check the particular mod loader, controller, wheel, VR device, or other accessory; compatibility is not established by the game’s base rating.
- Modern display and graphics features: Verify ray tracing, upscaling, frame generation, HDR, VRR, and latency-reduction options separately. Support can differ by game, driver, GPU, and compatibility layer.
ComputerBase’s test found FSR 4 working in most of its tested games and Anti-Lag 2 working in its tested Linux configuration, while ray tracing remained behind Windows on Radeon and was particularly unstable on Nvidia. It also found that FSR could be forced through a Steam launch command in nearly every tested game, but not every game behaved perfectly. Feature support should be checked title by title, rather than inferred from Vulkan support alone.
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For a game-by-game starting point, consult ProtonDB, Steam’s compatibility information, recent player reports, and the publisher’s support page. Look at the dates and details in community reports: a rating may say whether people can play, but it is not a standardized Windows-versus-Linux performance test. ComputerBase makes the same distinction in its test discussion.
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How to check your library before switching
- Make a list of the games you actually play. Include multiplayer titles, games with separate launchers, and anything you need on day one—not only games in your backlog.
- Check each title on ProtonDB and Steam. Read recent reports and look for notes on the same game mode, launcher, anti-cheat, and GPU family you use.
- Verify publisher and anti-cheat support. If a game depends on a service that does not support Linux, assume it may be unavailable until the publisher confirms otherwise. Do not try to bypass anti-cheat.
- Identify feature requirements. Check whether you rely on ray tracing, HDR, frame generation, a mod loader, VR, or a specific peripheral.
- Test without deleting your working setup. Try a spare drive or dual-boot installation, then run your own games and peripherals rather than relying on a benchmark list.
- Keep an exception path. If even one must-play title is incompatible, retain Windows or choose Windows as the main system.
Steam is the smoothest path; other launchers need more setup
ComputerBase restricted its comparison to Steam and Proton because other launchers and native titles can require more configuration. Outside Steam, users may try Heroic Games Launcher for Epic, GOG, and Amazon libraries, Lutris for custom Wine setups and launchers, or Bottles to manage Wine environments. Native Linux games are another option where available. These tools expand what can be attempted, but they do not provide the same integrated, predictable workflow as Steam’s Proton support, and compatibility remains specific to each game.
Linux gaming tools are different from Windows tools
ComputerBase notes that familiar utilities such as MSI Afterburner and CapFrameX do not work in the usual Windows manner on Linux, and that the Radeon setup it tested lacked an equivalent full driver control panel. Linux alternatives include MangoHud for an on-screen performance overlay, GOverlay for configuring it, Gamescope for certain display and frame-pacing uses, CoreCtrl or LACT for some GPU controls, OBS Studio for capture, and vkBasalt for post-processing. These are alternatives, not one-for-one replacements; availability and capability vary with hardware, distribution, and desktop environment.
Which Linux distribution should you use?
The benchmark establishes the behavior of CachyOS in one configuration; it does not prove CachyOS is universally faster than other distributions. A gaming-oriented distribution may simplify setup or emphasize performance, while a general-purpose distribution can suit users who want a broader desktop system. Bazzite is an option for a gaming-focused, console-like experience. CachyOS is Arch-based and may suit users comfortable with a more hands-on maintenance approach. Distribution choice does not remove the underlying constraints of game support, drivers, Proton, or anti-cheat. Steam Deck and SteamOS also use different hardware and integration, so this desktop benchmark does not predict Steam Deck performance.
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Who should choose Linux, Windows, or both?
Choose Linux if
- You have an AMD Radeon GPU and most of your games are on Steam.
- You mainly play single-player or cooperative titles without unsupported anti-cheat.
- You value control over your operating system and are comfortable checking compatibility or changing Proton versions.
- You accept that a game, feature, or update may require troubleshooting.
Choose Windows 11 if
- You use Nvidia and prioritize the least-friction experience in demanding modern games.
- You play competitive multiplayer or depend on a particular anti-cheat system.
- You rely on Game Pass PC, Microsoft Store games, Windows-only launchers, or a specific modding, VR, capture, or peripheral setup.
- You need predictable ray-tracing support or cannot tolerate failed launches, crashes, or manual workarounds.
Dual boot if your library is mixed
Dual booting is a practical middle ground when Linux suits most of your gaming but a few games require Windows. It also lets you test compatibility on your own hardware before committing. It requires enough storage and some willingness to manage two operating systems, but avoids forcing every game into a single platform.
How to interpret the benchmark
Performance comparisons depend on more than the operating system name. Shader-cache state, game and driver updates, Proton version, upscaling and frame-generation settings, power management, background services, and compositor behavior can affect results. Measurement tools and performance counters also differ between Linux and Windows; ComputerBase notes that familiar Windows benchmarking utilities are unavailable or work differently on Linux. Read its results as a carefully bounded comparison, not proof that one platform always has better latency, stability, or performance.
The earlier ComputerBase comparison, published in 2025, likewise found Radeon Linux performance near Windows in rasterized games without establishing that Radeon is generally faster on Linux; results varied more by game and GeForce performance was weaker. Its findings and the newer comparison are specific snapshots of fast-moving drivers and software. The earlier test provides context, not a guarantee for current or future versions.
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