this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2025
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How can I tell if my GPU is being utilized properly? (programming.dev)
submitted 1 week ago by zamithal@programming.dev to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world
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I purchased a system76 Thelio Mira Elite With a AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT. I kinda regret not going with Nvidia at this point but it is what it is. I primarily use it as a developer workstation, but want to play games on it as well so I can be rid of my windows box.

I didn't expect it to be able to play the latest and greatest games but I did expect it to be able to play older titles reasonably well. Games launch from steam and seem to work, but I'm getting between 0 and 10 fps on the title screen of Kerbal Space Program. Other games are similarly functional but poorly performing.

Where do I start? How can I ensure my GPU is being leveraged? Is this as good as it gets?

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[–] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 31 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (7 children)

AMD GPUs are usually the best pick for Linux, and the RX 7900 XT is capable of a lot better performance than 0-10 FPS. (It will vary by game, settings, and resolution, of course. You didn't mention the latter two.)

It's possible your games are using the CPU's integrated GPU instead of your graphics card. (Your iGPU is made for desktop use; it's not suitable for most gaming.) Do any of your underperforming games have a screen that shows which GPU they are using? Is your monitor plugged into the motherboard's video port, or one of the graphics card's ports? Does an overlay appear in the top left of the screen if you put DXVK_HUD=1 %command% in an underperforming game's Steam Launch Options?

It could also be that you don't have a recent enough kernel, firmware, or mesa/vulkan drivers installed for that fairly new GPU model.

Since you bought from System76, I would guess that they have support staff who can help make sure these things are set up properly. They even have their own Linux distro, which I think is pretty well regarded. Have you called them?

Is this as good as it gets?

No. Not even close.

EDIT: Added note about DXVK_HUD in Steam Launch Options

[–] zamithal@programming.dev 6 points 1 week ago (6 children)

Do any of your underperforming games have a screen that shows which GPU they are using?

I haven't found any that do but I can try launching a few and searching.

Is your monitor plugged into the motherboard’s video port, or one of the graphics card’s ports?

GPU port, 100%

Since you bought from System76, I would guess that they have support staff who can help make sure these things are set up properly. Have you called them?

I had not thought of doing that for whatever reason, but I will in the daytime tomorrow.

Does an overlay appear in the top left of the screen if you put DXVK_HUD=devinfo %command% in an underperforming game’s Steam Launch Options?

For the 3 I've checked so far no, I don't see that.

[–] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Do any of your underperforming games have a screen that shows which GPU they are using?

I haven't found any that do but I can try launching a few and searching.

Take a look in each game's graphics settings. Not all of them show it, but some do. In Baldur's Gate 3, it's shown in Options: Video: General: Display Adapter. In Elite Dangerous, it's in Options: Graphics: Display: Adapter. There are other ways of trying to determine which GPU is likely to be used by default, but seeing it directly in-game is the best way to be sure.

Does an overlay appear in the top left of the screen if you put DXVK_HUD=devinfo %command% in an underperforming game’s Steam Launch Options?

For the 3 I've checked so far no, I don't see that.

The fact that you see no DXVK overlay when using that launch option suggests that either none of the games you tried use DirectX 9/10/11, or there's something missing/misconfigured/old in your Vulkan driver stack. I would expect System76 to be able to help with this more efficiently than we can, since they sold you the system for use with Linux and are known for being competent.

EDIT: I just noticed your other comment that shows Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS as your Linux distro. That release predates your GPU model by about a year, I think. It seems likely that you just need to get a newer kernel, firmware, and graphics drivers installed. This stuff is available upstream of your distro, so it shouldn't be too hard for someone who knows Pop!_OS well, like System76. :)

[–] zamithal@programming.dev 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Take a look in each game’s graphics settings. Not all of them show it, but some do. In Baldur’s Gate 3

KK will do.

I would expect System76 to be able to help with this more efficiently than we can, since they sold you the system for use with Linux.

I will certainly reach out to them, but it hadn't occurred to me until this post ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[–] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

BTW, I edited my comments; you might want to re-read them if you didn't catch the edits.

Don't worry. This seems more like a software setup problem than faulty or weak hardware.

Good luck!

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