Serious gaming on Linux has transitioned from a mere aspiration to a tangible reality. The landscape has evolved, with modern games not only being playable on Linux but also exhibiting impressive performance metrics. Some enthusiasts even argue that Linux outperforms Windows 11 in certain gaming scenarios.
To explore this assertion, a performance comparison between Windows 11 and CachyOS, a Linux distribution optimized for gaming, is conducted. The test utilizes Windows 11 25H2 build alongside CachyOS March 2026 build, chosen for its focus on delivering peak performance in both everyday tasks and gaming.
Windows 11 vs CachyOS in gaming: Detailed performance comparison
Before delving into the benchmarks, let’s review the specifications of the testing system:
Test system specifications
| Specifications | Details |
| Monitor | Cooler Master GA27127-inch VA panel QHD resolution 16:9 aspect ratio 100Hz refresh rate 250 nits peak brightness |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 12400F |
| Memory & storage | 24GB DDR4 3200 MT/s (8+16) 512GB PCIe NVMe Gen 3 SSD 1TB HDD |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT with 12GB VRAM |
| Operating System | Windows 11 25H2 with Radeon Adrenalin 26.3.1 driver CachyOS with Mesa 26.0.4 driver |
| Power Supply | Adata XPG Pylon 650W |
This dual-boot setup ensures both operating systems are fully updated, allowing for an accurate comparison of gaming performance. While games on Windows 11 run natively, those on Linux utilize a compatibility layer known as Proton, which introduces a performance overhead but is essential for accessing modern Windows titles on Linux.
Performance benchmarks
The following table outlines the performance of both operating systems across several contemporary games:
| Games | Windows 11 | CachyOS (Linux) |
| Dead Space Remake (All Medium settings but Lighting set to Ultra) |
70 FPS | 76 FPS |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake (All High/Max settings but Shadows Quality and Volumetric Lighting set to Medium) (Hair Strands Off) |
84 FPS | 95 FPS |
| Scorn (All High settings) |
118 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Silent Hill 2 Remake (All High settings but Shadows and Shaders set to Medium) (FSR Quality) |
53 FPS | 54 FPS |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen (All Ultra+ settings but Crowd set to High) (FSR Performance) |
95 FPS | 111 FPS |
Note: FSR Upscaling and FG are turned off unless mentioned specifically.
On average, CachyOS outperformed Windows 11 by 8.6% across the five games tested, despite the inherent performance cost of the Proton compatibility layer. Notably, titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake and The Witcher 3 showcased even more significant gains, with improvements of 13.1% and 16.8% respectively. This highlights the efficacy of AMD’s Linux Radeon driver compared to its Windows counterpart.
However, the narrative shifts when ray tracing (RT) is introduced. The following table illustrates the performance in RT-enabled games:
| Games | Windows 11 | CachyOS (Linux) |
| Resident Evil 4 Remake (All High/Max settings but Shadows Quality and Volumetric Lighting set to Medium) (Hair Strands Off) (RT High) |
77 FPS | 83 FPS |
| Silent Hill 2 Remake (All High settings but Shadows and Shaders set to Medium) (FSR Quality) (RT enabled) |
30 FPS | 24 FPS |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen (All Ultra+ settings but Crowd set to High) (FSR Performance) (RT GI, RT Reflections, and RT AO enabled) |
51 FPS | 51 FPS |
Note: FSR Upscaling and FG are turned off unless mentioned specifically.
The performance of ray tracing on CachyOS varies by title. In the case of Resident Evil 4 Remake, Linux outperformed Windows 11, while the latter excelled in Silent Hill 2 Remake. However, it is worth noting that the RT implementation in Silent Hill 2 is not particularly optimized for AMD GPUs. In The Witcher 3, both operating systems demonstrated nearly identical performance.
Game compatibility
It is essential to recognize that most PC games are primarily designed for Windows, allowing them to run natively on that platform. In contrast, Linux games require the Proton compatibility layer, which can complicate performance. Furthermore, many multiplayer titles that depend on anti-cheat systems face compatibility issues on Linux, as these programs often do not function under Proton or are intentionally blocked by developers. While a few multiplayer games, such as Halo Infinite, operate smoothly, the majority do not.
In single-player gaming scenarios, Linux has not only matched but, in several instances, surpassed Windows 11, particularly for users with AMD GPUs. The situation is less favorable for NVIDIA graphics card users, as the proprietary drivers provided by NVIDIA hinder the optimization of Linux gaming performance. Conversely, AMD’s open-source Radeon drivers allow for greater optimization opportunities, enabling Linux to compete effectively with Windows in gaming performance for AMD users. However, in the realm of multiplayer gaming, Linux remains significantly behind Windows 11 and is likely to continue in this position for the foreseeable future.
