A recent benchmarking effort by portal Computer Base Valve explored how Windows and Linux perform in modern PC gaming when using the Proton tool. The study found that several titles run more smoothly on Linux than on Windows under certain conditions, challenging the common assumption that Windows is always the faster gaming platform.
The test rig featured an Asus ROG Strix B550-A Gaming motherboard paired with 32 GB of DDR4-3600 RAM, a Radeon RX 6700 XT Nitro graphics card, and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor. The games were rendered at Full HD with a 144 Hz monitor, and the experiments were conducted without enabling AMD FSR upscaling, ensuring that results reflected native frame generation rather than upscaled output.
For the operating systems, the researchers compared Microsoft Windows 11 with Nobara Linux (a Fedora-based distribution), Arch Linux, and POP!_OS (an Ubuntu-based system). In all Linux environments, the Proton Experimental package was installed on November 15, 2023, ensuring a consistent Proton baseline across the different Linux flavors tested.
Across the measured titles, Nobara delivered an average frame rate of 89.6 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, followed closely by Arch Linux at 88 FPS. Windows 11 trailed with 82.3 FPS, while POP!_OS posted 72.7 FPS. The Linux distributions also showed notable gains in Forspoken, Starfield, and The Talos Principle II, where Linux configurations generally outperformed Windows. The lone exception in the dataset was Ratchet & Clank, in which Windows 11 demonstrated superior performance relative to the Linux environments tested.
These results contribute to a growing body of evidence that well-tuned Linux gaming setups can rival or exceed Windows performance in certain scenarios, particularly when using Proton with a carefully selected distribution and a modern graphics stack. The study underscores the importance of optimization strategies, driver tuning, and the role of Proton Experimental as a vehicle for delivering newer, potentially faster gaming experiences on Linux. Although Windows remains a strong platform for many games, this benchmark illustrates that Linux gaming is not merely theoretical fantasy; it can yield practical, real-world frame-rate advantages on capable hardware.
In conclusion, the findings suggest that gamers interested in squeezing maximum performance should consider testing Linux with Proton on compatible hardware. The observed benefits in several titles indicate that Linux, with the right combination of distribution and Proton version, can offer competitive or even superior frame rates compared with Windows for contemporary releases. As Proton and related tooling continue to mature, the gap between Windows and Linux in gaming performance may continue to narrow, offering players additional choices in how they build and tune their systems. This evolving landscape invites further experimentation and ongoing benchmarking across a broader range of games and configurations.