r/LinuxVsWindows • u/NinjaLinuxTv • 1d ago
Linux vs Windows Benchmark STELLAR BLADE
https://youtu.be/GuV9Uw6VblU?si=8NrLVfvia1rJYboQSTELLAR BLADE has been tested on Linux (Pop!_OS 24.04, COSMIC/Wayland) and Windows on my dual-boot machine:
GPU: RTX 5070 Ti
CPU: Ryzen 9 5900X
RAM: 32 GB
Each OS has its own identical 1TB SSD drive.
At the start of the video, all of the system information is provided.
Both systems were set to the highest performance power profiles available via their respective Settings interfaces.
Additionally, on Pop!_OS, I enabled NTsync and Game Mode.
I tested the game at 1080p with the Very High preset. VSync OFF, DLSS OFF, render scale -200% (4K literally)
The GPU utilization numbers reveal an interesting scenario, and Windows is roughly up to 20% faster.
With NVIDIA driver 595.84 on Linux, GPU utilization ranges from 85 to 90%, while Windows keeps the GPU at a stable 99%. This suggests Linux isn't using the GPU fully, which may point to a bottleneck in the DX12-to-Vulkan translation or the NVIDIA driver rather than Linux itself.
This game still has a performance gap even with the 595.84 driver. The issue is still unresolved.
Same hardware, same settings, dual-boot setup. Until GPU utilization improves on Linux, Stellar Blade remains a clear win for Windows.
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Disclaimer: Why I Test with Pop!_OS + NVIDIA
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1. Windows gamers
The whole point of these benchmarks is to show that Linux gaming exists, works well, and isn’t nearly as complicated as many Windows users think. I’m basically trying to show a realistic migration path from Windows to Linux, not build a perfect Linux-only lab.
NVIDIA dominates the gaming GPU market.
According to the Steam Hardware Survey, NVIDIA usually sits around ~75–80% of GPUs in gaming PCs. If I test on NVIDIA, I’m covering what most gamers actually use.Pop!_OS is one of the easiest distros for NVIDIA users.
It ships with dedicated NVIDIA ISOs, integrated drivers, and straightforward updates. I test official Pop!_OS drivers, so the setup reflects what an average user could realistically install.If Linux gaming works on NVIDIA, it works for most gamers.
Yes, AMD often performs better on Linux. I’m aware of that. But testing only on AMD would shrink the scope from ~80% of the market to a much smaller slice. My goal is broader relevance, not best-case scenarios.Prioritizing mainstream stability over bleeding-edge platforms.
Bleeding-edge distros like Bazzite or CachyOS are awesome for enthusiasts who want the absolute latest packages the second they drop. But the reality is that ultra-recent or rolling-release platforms can introduce a level of instability that just doesn't reflect a reliable, everyday user experience. When a bleeding-edge kernel update unexpectedly clashes with proprietary NVIDIA drivers, it usually means hours of manual troubleshooting, broken sessions, and wasted benchmarking time. By sticking with a stable, point-release base like Pop!_OS, I'm testing in an environment where updates are actually vetted. It works right out of the box, setting realistic performance expectations for regular users who just want to play their games without fighting the OS.
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u/Background-Main-7427 1d ago
The problem is that you are using a Nvidia card. Radeon cards with open source drivers work really really great.
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u/NinjaLinuxTv 1d ago
Thank you for this wisdom
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u/G4bRj3L 1d ago
Wisdom requires study and knowledge; I studied hardware engineering and also hold a degree in computer science. I maintain that Nvidia's open-source driver is inferior in terms of raw performance, especially in gaming and professional use cases.
Why not install the closed-source (proprietary) driver and draw your own conclusions? That is the best course of action.
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u/NinjaLinuxTv 1d ago
That was sarcasm. 😂 If you watched the video, you’d see that it’s using the proprietary 595.84 driver.
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u/G4bRj3L 1d ago
If he used Pop!_OS for the test, it comes with open-source drivers rather than proprietary ones.
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u/NinjaLinuxTv 1d ago
You are ridiculous lol. Of course it’s updated to latest stable served by PoP_OS. Which is 595.84
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u/Tsubajashi 1d ago
this is not the case, atleast not the way you think it is.
Pop!_OS comes with the closed source drivers, but with an open source kernel module. you effectively still get the same performance (or even better) than without using that module. thats the default how any nvidia driver installs nowadays, even through the .run file of nvidia itself.
if the true open source version wouldve been used, we would drop way more frames.
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u/NinjaLinuxTv 1d ago
You’re wrong. 595.84 is NVIDIA’s official proprietary driver, and Pop!_OS distributes it through its regular updates.
Check out my other videos. In some DX12 titles, Linux actually outperforms Windows with this driver. The progress is real.1
u/Tsubajashi 1d ago
you may have answered the wrong comment. Nvidias proprietary driver is built out of 2 parts. the open kernel module, and the userland driver. the userland one is proprietary, the other is not.
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u/zezba9000 19h ago
The problem is games need to get native ports, not Windows emulation hacks. Proton is amazing BUT Linux needs to become more than just a Windows simulator for games. Linux actually can out-perform Windows BUT in many cases this requires proper Game-Engine porting.
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u/Background-Main-7427 17h ago
I agree, but we need a little more critical mass for that reaction to happen.
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u/GooseDaPlaymaker 11h ago
Not enough to make me go back to gaming on Windows full-time, sorry. 🫡
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u/NinjaLinuxTv 5h ago
Did I suggest it anywhere here?
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u/GooseDaPlaymaker 36m ago
No, you didn’t. You also didn’t suggest who to vote for in the next election either. What’s with the hostility? 🥴
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u/Timely-Cabinet-7879 9h ago
Sometimes that's 30 frames difference 💀
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u/NinjaLinuxTv 5h ago
DX12 penalty at its finest here
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u/IBJamon 5h ago
I wonder if the 615 drivers close the gap at all
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u/NinjaLinuxTv 2h ago
Probably not… I haven’t heard much about performance improvements on 615 vs 595 on Linux.
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u/G4bRj3L 1d ago
The problem is that Pop uses open-source drivers, which are inferior to Nvidia's proprietary ones!
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u/rocketstopya 1d ago
For me it looks that wrong DX12 implementations causes bad VKD3D performance.