I have this question. I see people, with some frequency, sugar coating the Nvidia GPU marriage with Linux. I get that if you already have a Nvidia GPU or you need CUDA or work with AI and want to use Linux that is possible. Nevertheless, this still a very questionable relationship.

Shouldn’t we be raising awareness about in case one plan to game titles that uses DX12? I mean 15% to 30% performance loss using Nvidia compared to Windows, over 5% to 15% and some times same performance or better using AMD isn’t something to be alerting others?

I know we wanna get more people on Linux, and NVIDIA’s getting better, but don’t we need some real talk about this? Or is there some secret plan to scare people away from Linux that I missed?

Am I misinformed? Is there some strong reason to buy a Nvidia GPU if your focus is gaming in Linux?

Edit: I’m adding some links with the issue in question because I see some comments talking about Nvidia to be working flawless:

https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/directx12-performance-is-terrible-on-linux/303207

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/1nr4tva/does_the_nvidia_dx12_bug_20ish_performance_loss/

Please let me know if this is already fixed on Nvidia GPUs for gaming in Linux.

  • filister@lemmy.world
    103·
    2 days ago

    Even though I hate Nvidia, they have a couple of advantages:

    • CUDA
    • Productivity
    • Their cards retain higher resale values

    So if you need this card for productivity and not only gaming, Nvidia is probably better, if you buy second hand or strictly for gaming, AMD is better.

    • megopie@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      52·
      2 days ago

      It depends on the type of productivity TBH. Like, sure some productivity use cases need CUDA, but a lot of productivity use cases are just using the cards as graphics cards. The places where you need CUDA are real, but not ubiquitous.

      And “this is my personal computer I play games on, but also the computer I do work on, and that work needs CUDA specifically” is very much an edge case.

      • filister@lemmy.world
        21·
        2 days ago

        As far as I am aware they are also better at video encoding and if you want to use Blender or similar software, yes, it is niche, but a credible consideration. As always, it really depends on the use case.

        • reliv3@lemmy.world
          61·
          1 day ago

          Blender can be CUDA accelerated which does give Nvidia an edge over AMD. In terms of video encoding, both nvidia and AMD cards are AV1 capable, so they are on par for video encoding; unless a program does not support AV1, then the proprietary nvidia video encoders are better.