Moving to Linux Comprises to be made?

[smogsy]

So, Im considering moving my main Gaming Desktop (currently W8.1) to linux.
Now i know This seems a bad idea but looking for your feedback & answers on a few questions.

1. Does nvidia gsync work on Linux yet?
2. How is SLI on Linux nowdays?

Idea #1

1. Run Linux as on Gaming PC full move to linux, Currently 78/500 Games on my steam is supported.

idea #2

1. Make my Gaming PC. Auto Boot & load up Steam in Big Picture Mode (using W8.1)

2. Use Linux for everything else. including webbrowsing

idea #2 would also increase secruity of W8.1, lot less likely to get bad software/malware due to steam/Origin only.

whats your thoughts & have you done this?

 

[smogsy]

I use Linux at work a fair bit and famlair with ssh into and managing Linux servers

 

[smogsy]

I've moved 2 ssds over loving so far

 

[smogsy]

Why would you want to do this?

Heres my desktop so far

Full view

more to the question why not?
if games all ran on Linux would you even ask?


but to answer your question.
I believe in Linux more to not screw end-users

just few example that "could" happen:
Direct X is only for X OS
You must login into a MS account to use X features.
Windows store software only
looking at my data & reselling.

With Linux
New Kernels every few months
Less likely to screw over end-users
Someone would most likely find Looking for data code
Better Stability (in theory)


Now, i have Dual booted Got:
GSYNC working 1 tick box
SLI working 1 tick box.

Steam
TF2 = works better than Windows
(example: can move it to any screen inside gfx options & it doesn't crash like windows)

City Skylines = Works better in windows supports multi monitors out the box too.

going to try others. & try out Wine with EA/Uplay

Only downside i found was moving to The very latest release (experimental)
NV driver caused issues, but you would get that on Windows to running W10 with very early patches.

i want to move to move to Linux full time. the more that are linux, the bigger user base. big players will see Linux is viable for Games.

Steam have made a Complier for Linux
Steam are making a Linux debugger to help the community too.

Steam are on-board wont be to long till others follow. are you going to stay on windows if they do?

 

[smogsy]

I have been linux for a good part of 2+ years in a working environment and 100% prefer it over windows in a working environment.

I to have pondered moving to a linux OS for gaming although the only thing holding me back is the lack of driver support it has. There has been a fair few posts in about games running on Linux achieving higher FPS and better game play, LFD2 for example..

Once i see more driver support heading towards Linux i will be swapping without a doubt. and i mean real support not just running everything through wine lol.

I'll sub to this thread and keep an eye on your progress as i am rather interested.

What games have you currently got up and running in a playable state so far?

Cheers

waiting on Kernel 3.17 TBH which will bring some key game changes & Inbuilt Xbox One Controller support (Xbox360 already supported)
But new Input mechanics for ease of use. for all controller types

TF2 = no issues Better than Win
Shank 2 = issue with screen res easy done by changing resolution (it spanned across botth screens by default)

Cities Skylines = Works Perfectly

apparently kernel 3.20 is already available to use but no one has put in their distro yet

 

[smogsy]

From the games I play/played;
Borderlands series are pretty much the same as Windows
Chivalry Medievil warfare: isn't as good yet, but is still an early release.
Trine : As good as Windows
Minecraft: better than Windows
Cities skylines: still needs quite a bit of work on performance, but is being updated quite fast
Portal 1&2: same as Windows
HL2 +E1&2: better than Windows
TF2: better than Windows
Garrys Mod: better than Windows
Serious sam 3: no where near as good as Windows
Dolphin, Higan and PJ64 emulators; all much better than Windows (and pj64 is Wine)

It is still early days for Linux yet (for gaming), but it's not a bad time to switch now.

@Smogsy, I see you have a nvidia card, are you suffering from screen tearing at all?

Gsync baby working flawlessy

 

[smogsy]

This is my Post of Testing,
Ill try keep this up to date as much as possible on my testing only.

Should be Easy Installations
Installing Steam = PASS
- simply do:

sudo apt-get install steam

- follow prompts. (on Debain variants)

NVidia Drivers = FAIL
- you either try to add as additional drivers which fails for me every install or you add a custom edge PPA (easy)

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa

& ask it to install via

sudo apt-get install NVidia-XXX  "XXX" being first 3 numbers of driver

could be much better experience
this requires you purge this PPA if moving releases!

OR you try an run the .run file from NV which requires root & fails most of the time.

Software Functionality
- Steam = PASS
- Same functionality as windows

NVidia Features
- Gsync = PASS
- SLI = Acceptable...

SLI scaling 80-100% from my testing so far.
SLI does not work with Dual Monitors on (Requires more testing) but NV forum also states this.

Game Functionality
Testing
1. Game is One click install or (same as windows)
2. Game launches & works out of the box. with no fiddling
3. Game plays well With Good FPS no Glitches

TF2 = PASS
- works flawlessly even allowing you to switch screens inside the menu without breaking the game

Shank 2 = PASS
Minor Issue:
it saw my screens as in Span Mode (which it was) But when displaying was not correctly aligned Changing resolution fixed this. Pass due to easy resolution change & could see the menu without modification.

City Skylines = PASS
- No issues seen.

Rogue Legacy = PASS
- Works Perfectly out of the box no issues What so ever.

Xcom Enemy Unknown = PASS
- No issues seen.

 

[smogsy]

I use Linux every day for work on both a desktop and laptop. I have a linux home server, laptop and thin itx build with just a windows install for gaming currently.

I need X-fire support and BF4, ARMA 3 and GTA5 on Linux then I'm fully converted.

i believe X-Fire works now. might have to do a little digging but read it somewhere.

 

[smogsy]

@Steveocee

Would think twice on going AMD for gaming on linux. Their performance is well, crap compared to in windows. To ball park it on linux a single 290x just about matches a 750ti in performance.

I've read a few that have x-fire working though.

Just to note. AMD is fine stability wise it's just their opengl perf which is lacklustre.

Find that really funny considering their always say support opens ounce on Windows our opengl is good.. Yet on linux not so much. Midis used to get blamed for poor drivers on Unix seems it's swapped. It must have been the shield that forced them to do better on Unix and stem blistering them with bugs after their ports

 

[smogsy]

Xcom - works perfectly will update it nicely soon

Switched my ubuntu gnome to xfce
Gnome is so bloated and has a memory leak boot is 6% memory usage after 4 hours 14% idle

Xubuntu 3% after 6 hours idle

This is using 32gb ram 4% = 1.3gb

 

[smogsy]

Just to update,

been ill last few days.. But I've switched to Xubuntu Pretty much full time now.
I've not logged into windows for over a week from memory.

I'm also going to make a pledge also.
I'm only going to buy Games from now on that Support Linux As well as Windows/Mac.
im going to try keep this.

 

[smogsy]

The only real compromises I find for me are gaming related, I know people who do video editing and like to use Sony Vegas Pro and or are great lovers of Photoshop also find compromises in the lack of those programs on Linux ...but Linux does have alternatives, very good alternatives actually. Gaming though ...ehhh tough nut to crack really.

I would be happy enough to say, gaming is the only problem that can't be solved right now, unless all the games you like happen to run under Linux/Wine well that is.

gaming will be fixed & it will be this year or next where you will see it shining but it hits its peak.

1. Last year Linux had 200 titles this year steam has 1600

2. Valve want their steam box to do well of course this why they have been developing a tool set to compile migrate games from Win binaries to Linux.

3. this will be free for anyone to use to port their games to Linux (fairly easy to use according to Gaben)

4. Valve have already spoken to Nvidia to fix bug in their Linux driver, they known Linux is the future too Their android products was a great showing of that.

5. i believe Valve have spoken to AMD to but not heard them doing much.

6. Prediction one. Valve will port other companies games for them. with this tool if they wont. unlikely but possible.

7. Valve will also ask new developers to Steam platform to support Linux by default. This can be done with their Tool set. which will be ready available & with great documentation.

8. Source 2 will be free to use on All OSes.

9. Unreal 4 Works on Linux





We are in for a good year

give it 3 years theirs a possibility all our old games will be supported on linux. lets be fair what gaming company would not port their games to linux (if valve toolset works) if it mean more sales from a game thats 3+ years old?

The troubling developers are going to be EA,Ubisoft

Epic is on board, CDJ Projects is on board, 2k is onboard (xcom)