Linux Outperforms Windows by Up to 31% in CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty with Radeon RX 5700 XT

The gap between Windows and Linux performance has widened significantly with the arrival of the 2.0 patch for CyberPunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Recent tests have unveiled remarkable results, especially in leveraging the multicore capabilities of AMD processors. Conducted by the owner of the YouTube channel Maximum Fury, the tests compared Windows 11 with a custom Fedora-based distribution named Nobara on the Linux side. The hardware and settings remained consistent for both platforms.

Test Configuration:

The test configuration included a B550 chipset motherboard, AMD Ryzen 5 5600 processor, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, and a Sapphire Radeon RX 5700 XT graphics card. The tester applied slight tuning to the processor, memory, and graphics card, including voltage reduction for the GPU. Notably, the same settings were maintained for both Windows and Linux. Power was supplied by a 750W DeepCool power supply.

Testing Highlights:

Using the built-in test program of CyberPunk 2077 with Ultra Preset settings at 1080p resolution, Linux exhibited significantly better results than Windows in both instances. Under Windows 11, the test concluded with an average performance of 48.55 FPS, while Nobara on Linux demonstrated a notable boost with an average performance of 63.72 FPS, representing a substantial performance acceleration.

Analysis:

Available data suggests that the AMD drivers on Nobara Linux delivered superior performance, with higher GPU and CPU utilization, resulting in improved outcomes. The SMT Fix, previously discussed, appears to operate more efficiently under Linux than Windows 11, enhancing processor core utilization and overall performance. Additionally, Mesa-Git and RADV drivers on Linux outperformed the current AMD Adrenalin drivers on Windows 11. The tester noted that before the 2.0 patch for CyberPunk 2077, the performance gap between the two operating systems ranged from 12-15%. However, after the arrival of the 2.0 patch, the gap has widened.

About Nobara Linux:

Nobara Linux, a user-friendly Fedora variant used in the tests, comes preloaded with numerous applications and boasts advanced driver support. It incorporates Zen Patches, ensuring optimal performance for AMD Ryzen processors. The distribution also provides driver support for Nvidia GPUs and the latest Mesa releases for AMD and Intel desktop graphics cards. Offering applications like Steam, Wine, Proton, and OBS out of the box, Nobara Linux is an excellent choice for gamers.

Whether the performance gap observed in this test will decrease with future Windows drivers remains to be seen. The results highlight the potential for Linux to deliver superior performance, especially in gaming scenarios, and Nobara Linux stands out as a well-equipped distribution for gaming enthusiasts.

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