I’ve dabbled with Linux and I’ve finally decided to try and switch to it for real, mostly because I’m starting a new job soonish that will require more Linux knowledge, but also because I’m getting sick of all the Windows privacy issues.
I’m actually liking it better than I thought. Taking an attitude that I’m sticking with it is giving me more of a drive to actually fix the issues I’m having rather than moaning about them, and it’s a good opportunity to learn.
The one thing I’m struggling with though is gaming. I’ve got a 2060S which I need for CUDA, but I’ve got the drivers working. I’ve not exactly been through my whole Steam library but I’ve not had anything running acceptably yet. DEATHLOOP, for example, on Windows runs at smooth at near 4k. On Wayland the input latency is unplayable and it crashes out every few minutes anyway. I improved it by switching to X11 but I’m still only getting 10-15 FPS when it was smooth in Windows. Even Skyrim has input latency and it’s clearly not running as fast as it should be.
When I check on ProtonDB for help I see no consistency in the settings people are using. Most of the time they just say Experimental, and I figure that changes over time anyway so it’s no help to me anyway.
Is there any helpful advice online as most of the time I just get told to try every proton version and fork until I find something that works? I’ve not even gotten into figuring out what stuff like Lutris is.
I’m on Fedora in case that’s important.
It does actually only have two slots, and the other one can’t fit anything because the 2060 is too big.
edit: Correction, I only have one full sized slot.
You could get an angled extension cable, which should be able to slip under and past your 2060. Something like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002364461314.html
Nonetheless getting a new graphics card is kind of the nuclear option. Would it actually help that much. DEATHLOOP would still crash surely?
Kinda agree. New graphics card is deffo a nuclear option. I'm running pop os and haven't come across a game I can't run as it's got the Nvidia drivers built it. I'd probably try swap distro before buying a new card just in case it's that. That's just time and effort rather than buying something that 'might' work.
Probably also worth noting that valve are updating the proton drivers all the time, they want the entire steam catalogue to work on steam deck so I would expect every game to work on proton over time. Might just be a waiting game tbh.
Are the built-in drivers somehow different to the ones you download?
Not sure if different or just tuned to work better with the distro or something else entirely.