NVIDIA vs. Nouveau - Ubuntu Linux NVIDIA GeForce graphics card benchmarks of Ubuntu with NVIDIA binary driver, Ubuntu with Nouveau, and Windows 8.1 with NVIDIA driver. Three different NVIDIA cards for this article. Benchmarks by Michael Larabel of Phoronix for a future article. Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT: Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.90GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z87H3-A2X EXTREME v1.0, Chipset: Intel 4th Gen Core DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: MSI NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB (399/399MHz), Audio: Intel 8 /C220, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 OS: Ubuntu 13.10, Kernel: 3.12.0-999-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 7.1.2, Display Server: X Server 1.14.3, Display Driver: nouveau 1.0.9, OpenGL: 3.1 Mesa 10.0.0-devel (git-415d6dc) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.8, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460: Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.90GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z87H3-A2X EXTREME v1.0, Chipset: Intel 4th Gen Core DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: ECS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 768MB (50/135MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 OS: Ubuntu 13.10, Kernel: 3.12.0-999-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 7.1.2, Display Server: X Server 1.14.3, Display Driver: nouveau 1.0.9, OpenGL: 3.1 Mesa 10.0.0-devel (git-415d6dc) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.8, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680: Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.90GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z87H3-A2X EXTREME v1.0, Chipset: Intel 4th Gen Core DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2048MB, Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Monitor: SyncMaster, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 OS: Ubuntu 13.10, Kernel: 3.12.0-999-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 7.1.2, Display Server: X Server 1.14.3, Display Driver: nouveau 1.0.9, OpenGL: 3.1 Mesa 10.0.0-devel (git-415d6dc) Gallium 0.4, Compiler: GCC 4.8, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600 Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT: Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z87H3-A2X EXTREME v1.0, Chipset: Intel Haswell DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: MSI NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB (660/950MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.10.0-031000-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 7.0.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.3, Display Driver: NVIDIA 331.13, OpenGL: 3.3.0, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600 Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460: Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z87H3-A2X EXTREME v1.0, Chipset: Intel Haswell DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: ECS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 768MB (675/1800MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.10.0-031000-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 7.0.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.3, Display Driver: NVIDIA 331.13, OpenGL: 4.4.0, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600 Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680: Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.50GHz (8 Cores), Motherboard: ECS Z87H3-A2X EXTREME v1.0, Chipset: Intel Haswell DRAM, Memory: 16384MB, Disk: 240GB OCZ VERTEX3, Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2048MB (705/3004MHz), Audio: Realtek ALC1150, Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168 OS: Ubuntu 13.04, Kernel: 3.10.0-031000-generic (x86_64), Desktop: Unity 7.0.0, Display Server: X Server 1.13.3, Display Driver: NVIDIA 331.13, OpenGL: 4.4.0, Compiler: GCC 4.7, File-System: ext4, Screen Resolution: 2560x1600 Windows 8.1: 9800GT: Processor: Intel Family 6 Model 60 Stepping 3 Intel (8 Cores), Disk: 224GB OS: Windows NT, Kernel: 6.2 (x86_64) Windows 8.1: GTX 460: Processor: Intel Family 6 Model 60 Stepping 3 Intel (8 Cores), Disk: 224GB OS: Windows NT, Kernel: 6.2 (x86_64) Windows 8.1: GTX 680: Processor: Intel Family 6 Model 60 Stepping 3 Intel (8 Cores), Disk: 224GB OS: Windows NT, Kernel: 6.2 (x86_64) OpenArena 0.8.8 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 51.48 |===== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 12.77 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 65.75 |====== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 111.20 |========== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 142.00 |============= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 420.30 |======================================= Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 137.20 |============= Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 147.27 |============== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 360.23 |================================= OpenArena 0.8.8 Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 29.50 |===== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 5.60 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 37.70 |====== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 78.70 |============= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 85.47 |============== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 241.73 |======================================= Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 79.10 |============= Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 83.87 |============== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 225.70 |==================================== Reaction Quake 3 1.0 Beta Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 44.23 |=== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 10.50 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 45.10 |=== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 134.72 |========== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 213.70 |================= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 504.90 |======================================= Reaction Quake 3 1.0 Beta Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 44.33 |=== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 10.50 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 45.10 |=== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 130.70 |========== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 213.87 |================= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 505.40 |======================================= Warsow 1.0 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 30.33 |==== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 11.23 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 41.30 |===== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 83.30 |=========== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 124.97 |================ Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 303.20 |======================================= Warsow 1.0 Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 30.27 |==== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 11.23 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 41.30 |===== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 83.33 |=========== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 124.50 |================ Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 304.17 |======================================= Xonotic 0.7 Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Effects Quality: High Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 35.00 |===== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 8.64 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 42.56 |====== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 107.15 |============== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 157.46 |===================== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 289.66 |======================================= Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 106.69 |============== Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 151.25 |==================== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 268.88 |==================================== Xonotic 0.7 Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Effects Quality: Ultra Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 18.35 |=== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 6.66 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 37.43 |====== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 45.62 |======= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 110.48 |================== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 242.59 |======================================= Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 45.64 |======= Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 106.73 |================= Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 224.59 |==================================== Xonotic 0.7 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Effects Quality: Ultimate Frames Per Second > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 11.84 |== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 4.66 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 31.56 |====== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 39.67 |======== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 101.73 |==================== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 195.14 |======================================= Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 50.81 |========== Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 112.20 |====================== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 184.29 |===================================== GpuTest 0.5.0 Test: GiMark - Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Points > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 1013 |======== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 1519 |=========== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 5387 |======================================== Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 990 |======= Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 1483 |=========== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 5499 |========================================= GpuTest 0.5.0 Test: Plot3D - Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Points > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 2280 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 1353 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 7441 |===== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 4544 |=== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 24543 |================ Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 57671 |===================================== Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 4490 |=== Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 28562 |================== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 62776 |======================================== GpuTest 0.5.0 Test: Furmark - Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Points > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 176 |== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 45 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 220 |=== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 470 |====== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 867 |============ Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 1883 |========================== Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 973 |============= Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 1559 |===================== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 2994 |========================================= GpuTest 0.5.0 Test: TessMark - Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Points > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 2231 |======== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 9019 |=============================== Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 2305 |======== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 11498 |======================================== GpuTest 0.5.0 Test: Triangle - Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Points > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .... 10682 |== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 3277 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 14597 |== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 86454 |============= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 109786 |================= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 228271 |=================================== Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 125720 |=================== Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 136393 |===================== Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 253650 |======================================= GpuTest 0.5.0 Test: Pixmark Piano - Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Points > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 1392 |===== Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 10773 |======================================== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 45 | Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 139 |= Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 426 |== Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 89 | Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 271 |= Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 839 |=== GpuTest 0.5.0 Test: Pixmark Volplosion - Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Points > Higher Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 ... 39 |= Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 ... 484 |========== Ubuntu Closed-Source: 9800GT .. 161 |=== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 460 . 399 |======== Ubuntu Closed-Source: GTX 680 . 999 |===================== Windows 8.1: 9800GT ........... 318 |======= Windows 8.1: GTX 460 .......... 789 |================ Windows 8.1: GTX 680 .......... 1980 |========================================= OpenArena 0.8.8 Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Total Frame Time Milliseconds < Lower Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .. MIN: 11 AVG: 19 MAX: 31 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 . MIN: 44 AVG: 92 MAX: 99 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 . MIN: 7 AVG: 15 MAX: 28 OpenArena 0.8.8 Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Total Frame Time Milliseconds < Lower Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .. MIN: 20.0 AVG: 33.9 MAX: 56.0 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 . MIN: 13.0 AVG: 26.5 MAX: 53.0 Reaction Quake 3 1.0 Beta Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Total Frame Time Milliseconds < Lower Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .. MIN: 12 AVG: 23 MAX: 42 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 . MIN: 54 AVG: 90 MAX: 99 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 . MIN: 13 AVG: 22 MAX: 42 Reaction Quake 3 1.0 Beta Resolution: 2560 x 1600 - Total Frame Time Milliseconds < Lower Is Better Ubuntu Open-Source: 9800GT .. MIN: 12 AVG: 23 MAX: 39 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 460 . MIN: 54 AVG: 89 MAX: 99 Ubuntu Open-Source: GTX 680 . MIN: 13 AVG: 22 MAX: 43