Linux Gaming - GNOME vs. KDE Wayland vs. X.Org

Radeon gaming performance on Linux across desktops. Benchmarks by Michael Larabel for a future article.

HTML result view exported from: https://openbenchmarking.org/result/2112278-PTS-TESTRUN718&grs&sor.

Linux Gaming - GNOME vs. KDE Wayland vs. X.OrgProcessorMotherboardChipsetMemoryDiskGraphicsAudioMonitorNetworkOSKernelDesktopDisplay ServerOpenGLVulkanCompilerFile-SystemScreen ResolutionGNOME WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.OrgAMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-Core @ 3.40GHz (16 Cores / 32 Threads)ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR VIII HERO (WI-FI) (3801 BIOS)AMD Starship/Matisse32GB1000GB Sabrent Rocket 4.0 Plus + 2000GBGigabyte AMD Radeon RX 6800/6800 XT / 6900 16GB (2475/1000MHz)AMD Navi 21 HDMI AudioASUS MG28URealtek RTL8125 2.5GbE + Intel I211 + Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200Ubuntu 21.105.16.0-051600rc5daily20211214-generic (x86_64)GNOME Shell 40.5X Server 1.20.13 + Wayland4.6 Mesa 22.0.0-devel (git-222487f 2021-12-25 impish-oibaf-ppa) (LLVM 13.0.0 DRM 3.44 5.16.0-051600rc5daily20211214-generic)1.2.199GCC 11.2.0 + Clang 13.0.0-2ext43840x2160X Server 1.20.13KDE Plasma 5.22.5X Server 1.20.13 + WaylandX Server 1.20.13Xfce 4.16OpenBenchmarking.orgKernel Details- Transparent Huge Pages: madviseProcessor Details- Scaling Governor: acpi-cpufreq performance (Boost: Enabled) - CPU Microcode: 0xa201016Graphics Details- BAR1 / Visible vRAM Size: 16368 MBSecurity Details- itlb_multihit: Not affected + l1tf: Not affected + mds: Not affected + meltdown: Not affected + spec_store_bypass: Mitigation of SSB disabled via prctl + spectre_v1: Mitigation of usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization + spectre_v2: Mitigation of Full AMD retpoline IBPB: conditional IBRS_FW STIBP: always-on RSB filling + srbds: Not affected + tsx_async_abort: Not affected

Linux Gaming - GNOME vs. KDE Wayland vs. X.Orgdirt-rally2: 3840 x 1600 - Ultrastrange-brigade: 1920 x 1080 - Highstrange-brigade: 1920 x 1080 - Ultrashadowofthetombraider: 1920 x 1080 - Highest - Offbatman-knight: 1920 x 1080 - Hightwtk: 1920 x 1080 - High - Battle Benchmarkshadowofthetombraider: 3840 x 2160 - Highest - Offbatman-knight: 3840 x 2160 - Highf12020: 3840 x 2160 - Ultraxonotic: 3840 x 2160 - Ultimatestrange-brigade: 3840 x 2160 - Ultracsgo: 3840 x 2160 - Vulkanstrange-brigade: 3840 x 2160 - Hightwtk: 1920 x 1080 - Ultra - Battle Benchmarkcsgo: 3840 x 2160 - OpenGLtwtk: 3840 x 2160 - High - Battle Benchmarkl4d2: 3840 x 2160 - Vulkanhl2-ep2: 3840 x 2160 - OpenGLl4d2: 3840 x 2160 - OpenGLf12020: 1920 x 1080 - Ultratesseract: 3840 x 2160hitman2: 3840 x 2160 - Ultrahitman2: 1920 x 1080 - UltraGNOME WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.Org414.351247152.6156.6208.6255.11180.876.9109.10148429.7962051136.7364.81144.7123.3316.8452.4374.59501.95286.67196822.925792.43130.97376.803197154.3157.4201.1241.22173.274.7106.65144412.8912594133.2350.77140.5121.0307.9251.4364.92494.10284.49194803.339490.58122.48362.026021157.3165.6245.48106.82146423.8598167136.4358.17143.3311.60369.47495.13286.77195438.291074.4936.71382.921382154.8163.0201.5240.07177.274.7106.48144415.5563259133.0355.56140.0119.9310.1951.5365.88497.33283.22197797.998370.9350.55359.136169172.5171.7195.8239.48170.773.1104.61142414.1264436131.4350.81139.4118.9305.9650.7362.91491.81281.41194791.781889.06122.11OpenBenchmarking.org

DiRT Rally 2.0

Resolution: 3840 x 1600 - Graphics Preset: Ultra

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterDiRT Rally 2.0Resolution: 3840 x 1600 - Graphics Preset: UltraGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma WaylandXfce X.Org90180270360450SE +/- 0.90, N = 3SE +/- 6.57, N = 12SE +/- 6.35, N = 12SE +/- 1.76, N = 3SE +/- 1.12, N = 3414.35382.92376.80362.03359.14MIN: 311.78 / MAX: 488.58MIN: 292.48 / MAX: 477.43MIN: 288.52 / MAX: 476.34MIN: 297.95 / MAX: 475.09MIN: 294.53 / MAX: 457.79

Strange Brigade

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Setting: High

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterStrange BrigadeResolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Setting: HighXfce X.OrgKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgGNOME Wayland4080120160200SE +/- 1.34, N = 3SE +/- 0.35, N = 3SE +/- 1.45, N = 3SE +/- 0.35, N = 3SE +/- 1.37, N = 3172.5157.3154.8154.3152.6MIN: 21.1 / MAX: 220.7MIN: 11.8 / MAX: 212.7MIN: 30 / MAX: 209.8MIN: 5.9 / MAX: 208.3MIN: 16.8 / MAX: 202.2

Strange Brigade

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Setting: Ultra

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterStrange BrigadeResolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Setting: UltraXfce X.OrgKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgGNOME Wayland4080120160200SE +/- 0.64, N = 3SE +/- 0.72, N = 3SE +/- 1.35, N = 3SE +/- 1.88, N = 4SE +/- 1.15, N = 3171.7165.6163.0157.4156.6MIN: 27.2 / MAX: 219MIN: 33.7 / MAX: 215.4MIN: 24.3 / MAX: 219.4MIN: 27.1 / MAX: 214.2MIN: 34.2 / MAX: 206.4

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: Highest - Anti Aliasing: Off

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterShadow of the Tomb RaiderResolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: Highest - Anti Aliasing: OffGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org50100150200250SE +/- 0.23, N = 3SE +/- 0.40, N = 3SE +/- 0.12, N = 3SE +/- 0.19, N = 3208.6201.5201.1195.8MAX: 389.5MAX: 398.7MAX: 397.6MAX: 382.3

Batman: Arkham Knight

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Quality: High

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterBatman: Arkham KnightResolution: 1920 x 1080 - Quality: HighGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.Org60120180240300SE +/- 2.92, N = 4SE +/- 3.17, N = 3SE +/- 1.32, N = 3SE +/- 2.03, N = 3SE +/- 2.85, N = 4255.11245.48241.22240.07239.48MIN: 123.68 / MAX: 416.87MIN: 123.51 / MAX: 398.95MIN: 118.17 / MAX: 417MIN: 116.27 / MAX: 399.65MIN: 115.15 / MAX: 402.09

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: High - Scenario: Battle Benchmark

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterTotal War: Three Kingdoms 1.0.1Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: High - Scenario: Battle BenchmarkGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org4080120160200SE +/- 0.85, N = 3SE +/- 0.55, N = 3SE +/- 1.13, N = 3SE +/- 1.48, N = 3180.8177.2173.2170.7MIN: 4.3 / MAX: 438.6MIN: 4.1 / MAX: 354.1MIN: 6.5 / MAX: 392.5MIN: 5 / MAX: 448

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Preset: Highest - Anti Aliasing: Off

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterShadow of the Tomb RaiderResolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Preset: Highest - Anti Aliasing: OffGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org20406080100SE +/- 0.03, N = 3SE +/- 0.00, N = 3SE +/- 0.03, N = 3SE +/- 0.03, N = 376.974.774.773.1MAX: 124.5MAX: 123.6MAX: 124.5MAX: 146.2

Batman: Arkham Knight

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Quality: High

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterBatman: Arkham KnightResolution: 3840 x 2160 - Quality: HighGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.Org20406080100SE +/- 0.41, N = 3SE +/- 0.34, N = 3SE +/- 0.58, N = 3SE +/- 0.48, N = 3SE +/- 0.11, N = 3109.10106.82106.65106.48104.61MIN: 78.74 / MAX: 173.96MIN: 77.79 / MAX: 170.93MIN: 76.99 / MAX: 169.23MIN: 76.87 / MAX: 169.99MIN: 75.41 / MAX: 164.38

F1 2020

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Preset: Ultra

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterF1 2020Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Preset: UltraGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org306090120150SE +/- 0.00, N = 3SE +/- 0.00, N = 3SE +/- 0.33, N = 3SE +/- 0.33, N = 3SE +/- 0.00, N = 3148146144144142MIN: 110 / MAX: 184MIN: 109 / MAX: 182MIN: 107 / MAX: 180MIN: 107 / MAX: 180MIN: 105 / MAX: 177

Xonotic

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Effects Quality: Ultimate

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterXonotic 0.8.2Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Effects Quality: UltimateGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.OrgGNOME X.Org90180270360450SE +/- 5.28, N = 3SE +/- 3.63, N = 3SE +/- 4.91, N = 3SE +/- 4.19, N = 3SE +/- 3.24, N = 3429.80423.86415.56414.13412.89MIN: 56 / MAX: 1009MIN: 55 / MAX: 1000MIN: 52 / MAX: 985MIN: 51 / MAX: 990MIN: 51 / MAX: 982

Strange Brigade

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Setting: Ultra

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterStrange BrigadeResolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Setting: UltraGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.Org306090120150SE +/- 0.40, N = 3SE +/- 0.12, N = 3SE +/- 0.49, N = 3SE +/- 0.25, N = 3SE +/- 0.33, N = 3136.7136.4133.2133.0131.4MIN: 34 / MAX: 205.5MIN: 33.1 / MAX: 207.9MIN: 29.5 / MAX: 197.1MIN: 24.5 / MAX: 208.5MIN: 29.2 / MAX: 207.4

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: Vulkan

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveResolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: VulkanGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.OrgGNOME X.Org80160240320400SE +/- 2.42, N = 3SE +/- 2.94, N = 3SE +/- 0.06, N = 3SE +/- 0.32, N = 3SE +/- 1.70, N = 3364.81358.17355.56350.81350.77

Strange Brigade

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Setting: High

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterStrange BrigadeResolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Setting: HighGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.Org306090120150SE +/- 0.38, N = 3SE +/- 0.12, N = 3SE +/- 0.12, N = 3SE +/- 0.35, N = 3SE +/- 0.43, N = 3144.7143.3140.5140.0139.4MIN: 56.9 / MAX: 213.5MIN: 33.6 / MAX: 204.3MIN: 28.9 / MAX: 205.7MIN: 24.2 / MAX: 204.7MIN: 28.3 / MAX: 216.1

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: Ultra - Scenario: Battle Benchmark

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterTotal War: Three Kingdoms 1.0.1Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: Ultra - Scenario: Battle BenchmarkGNOME WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.Org306090120150SE +/- 0.38, N = 3SE +/- 0.23, N = 3SE +/- 0.59, N = 3SE +/- 0.26, N = 3123.3121.0119.9118.9MIN: 35.8 / MAX: 288.8MIN: 8.1 / MAX: 261.1MIN: 4.3 / MAX: 277.5MIN: 32.1 / MAX: 248.2

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: OpenGL

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveResolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: OpenGLGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org70140210280350SE +/- 1.40, N = 3SE +/- 0.24, N = 3SE +/- 1.14, N = 3SE +/- 0.21, N = 3SE +/- 1.29, N = 3316.84311.60310.19307.92305.96

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Preset: High - Scenario: Battle Benchmark

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterTotal War: Three Kingdoms 1.0.1Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Graphics Preset: High - Scenario: Battle BenchmarkGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org1224364860SE +/- 0.03, N = 3SE +/- 0.03, N = 3SE +/- 0.22, N = 3SE +/- 0.03, N = 352.451.551.450.7MIN: 17.8 / MAX: 67.7MIN: 5.6 / MAX: 270.8MIN: 5.8 / MAX: 177.1MIN: 38 / MAX: 106.8

Left 4 Dead 2

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: Vulkan

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterLeft 4 Dead 2Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: VulkanGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org80160240320400SE +/- 1.56, N = 3SE +/- 3.61, N = 3SE +/- 1.23, N = 3SE +/- 1.80, N = 3SE +/- 2.55, N = 3374.59369.47365.88364.92362.91

Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: OpenGL

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterHalf-Life 2: Episode TwoResolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: OpenGLGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma X.OrgKDE Plasma WaylandGNOME X.OrgXfce X.Org110220330440550SE +/- 2.02, N = 3SE +/- 1.15, N = 3SE +/- 2.28, N = 3SE +/- 1.77, N = 3SE +/- 0.50, N = 3501.95497.33495.13494.10491.81

Left 4 Dead 2

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: OpenGL

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterLeft 4 Dead 2Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Renderer: OpenGLKDE Plasma WaylandGNOME WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.Org60120180240300SE +/- 3.40, N = 4SE +/- 2.94, N = 13SE +/- 3.37, N = 3SE +/- 4.03, N = 3SE +/- 2.21, N = 3286.77286.67284.49283.22281.41

F1 2020

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: Ultra

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterF1 2020Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Graphics Preset: UltraKDE Plasma X.OrgGNOME WaylandKDE Plasma WaylandXfce X.OrgGNOME X.Org4080120160200SE +/- 0.58, N = 3SE +/- 2.33, N = 3SE +/- 0.88, N = 3SE +/- 0.88, N = 3SE +/- 2.00, N = 3197196195194194MIN: 139 / MAX: 259MIN: 134 / MAX: 257MIN: 140 / MAX: 261MIN: 134 / MAX: 263MIN: 133 / MAX: 262

Tesseract

Resolution: 3840 x 2160

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterTesseract 2014-05-12Resolution: 3840 x 2160GNOME WaylandGNOME X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgXfce X.OrgKDE Plasma Wayland2004006008001000SE +/- 3.28, N = 3SE +/- 2.89, N = 3SE +/- 2.88, N = 3SE +/- 2.86, N = 3SE +/- 83.68, N = 15822.93803.34798.00791.78438.29

HITMAN 2

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Quality Level: Ultra

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterHITMAN 2Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - Quality Level: UltraGNOME WaylandGNOME X.OrgXfce X.OrgKDE Plasma WaylandKDE Plasma X.Org20406080100SE +/- 0.06, N = 3SE +/- 0.09, N = 3SE +/- 0.09, N = 3SE +/- 4.01, N = 12SE +/- 3.93, N = 1292.4390.5889.0674.4970.93MIN: 92.31 / MAX: 92.5MIN: 90.49 / MAX: 90.76MIN: 88.95 / MAX: 89.23MIN: 61.85 / MAX: 92.04MIN: 60.91 / MAX: 89.61

HITMAN 2

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Quality Level: Ultra

OpenBenchmarking.orgFrames Per Second, More Is BetterHITMAN 2Resolution: 1920 x 1080 - Quality Level: UltraGNOME WaylandGNOME X.OrgXfce X.OrgKDE Plasma X.OrgKDE Plasma Wayland306090120150SE +/- 0.73, N = 3SE +/- 1.22, N = 6SE +/- 0.69, N = 3SE +/- 9.59, N = 12SE +/- 8.17, N = 12130.97122.48122.1150.5536.71MIN: 129.52 / MAX: 131.71MIN: 116.76 / MAX: 124.55MIN: 120.86 / MAX: 123.26MIN: 32.8 / MAX: 123.32MIN: 28.2 / MAX: 126.63

Phoronix Test Suite v10.8.5