Linux gaming performance overtakes windows

A few days ago Valve opened their official Steam for Linux blog, to inform users, developers and other curious souls about their progress in Linux gaming.

Their latest post “Faster Zombies”, described their current FPS situation in Left 4 Dead 2 running with these specifications:

• Intel Core i7 3930k
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680
• 32 GB RAM
• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64-bit
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Ubuntu 12.04 32-bit

Left 4 Dead 2 is running at 315 FPS on Linux. That the Linux version runs faster than the Windows version (270.6) seems a little counter-intuitive, given the greater amount of time we have spent on the Windows version. However, it does speak to the underlying efficiency of the kernel and OpenGL. Interestingly, in the process of working with hardware vendors we also sped up the OpenGL implementation on Windows. Left 4 Dead 2 is now running at 303.4 FPS with that configuration.

They were able to beat windows 7 (64 bit) by 32,8 fps using Linux (32 bit) and they’ve spent less time on the Linux version – as they describe it “counter-intuitive”. Why would they want to work on Windows, when Linux is able to reach higher FPS in less time?

Also Valve spent time working with hardware vendors like AMD, Nvidia and Intel to improve graphic drivers for Linux. The cooperation between hardware and software developers, allowed even more bug fixes and as Valve describes it: “should provide value to the Linux community at large.”

This is great news, and perhaps they’ll be able to reach even better FPS scores as they’ve been able to overtake Windows performance in such short time. This is just the start.

Valve is making great progress, and hopefully they’ll start beta testing soon. I myself am looking forward to beta testing, and hope to acquire beta aces for testing purposes.  Make sure to stay updated on the Steam for Linux blog.