Poor graphics performance in games

Hi guys, im still not so familiar with linux (and have poor english), but i’ll try to explain myself as good i can.

The problem:
When i run 3D applications, my integrated GPU (AMD Vega VI) performance is comparable to something like an old intel HD graphics. I tried games from steam or via lutris like need for speed underground 2 and i noticed tremendous input lag and low frame rate (even in nfs underground 2 from 2004). Using Mangohud i see my gpu working at 99% but at low frequencies from 200mhz in some games up to 1000 (still lower than 1400 mhz) and my CPU works at 5-8W (but the maximum is around 18-20W) and never hitting turbo boost frequencies.

inxi -fazy output:

CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U with Radeon Graphics bits: 64 type: MCP
    arch: Zen 2 gen: 3 level: v3 note: check built: 2020-22
    process: TSMC n7 (7nm) family: 0x17 (23) model-id: 0x60 (96) stepping: 1
    microcode: 0x8600109
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 6 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 384 KiB
    desc: d-6x32 KiB; i-6x32 KiB L2: 3 MiB desc: 6x512 KiB L3: 8 MiB
    desc: 2x4 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1399 high: 1400 min/max: 1400/2375 boost: enabled
    scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq governor: schedutil cores: 1: 1400 2: 1400
    3: 1400 4: 1400 5: 1397 6: 1400 bogomips: 28462
  Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm adx aes aperfmperf apic arat avic avx avx2 bmi1
    bmi2 bpext cat_l3 cdp_l3 clflush clflushopt clwb clzero cmov cmp_legacy
    constant_tsc cpb cppc cpuid cqm cqm_llc cqm_mbm_local cqm_mbm_total
    cqm_occup_llc cr8_legacy cx16 cx8 de decodeassists extapic extd_apicid
    f16c flushbyasid fma fpu fsgsbase fxsr fxsr_opt ht hw_pstate ibpb ibrs ibs
    irperf lahf_lm lbrv lm mba mca mce misalignsse mmx mmxext monitor movbe
    msr mtrr mwaitx nonstop_tsc nopl npt nrip_save nx osvw overflow_recov pae
    pat pausefilter pclmulqdq pdpe1gb perfctr_core perfctr_llc perfctr_nb
    pfthreshold pge pni popcnt pse pse36 rapl rdpid rdpru rdrand rdseed rdt_a
    rdtscp rep_good sep sha_ni skinit smap smca smep ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1
    sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 stibp succor svm svm_lock syscall tce topoext tsc
    tsc_scale umip v_spec_ctrl v_vmsave_vmload vgif vmcb_clean vme vmmcall
    wbnoinvd wdt xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveerptr xsaveopt
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed mitigation: untrained return thunk; SMT disabled
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow mitigation: SMT disabled
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; STIBP:
    disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected

important notes:

  • Im using manjaro on unstable branch.
  • I updated my kernel to the latest stable version (6.8.7 - 2024/04/17) (and nothing changed).
  • Same behaviour using Wayland or X11.
  • Currently using open-source amd drivers.
  • The same laptop worked fine on windows.

This is my first post and im still learning about linux (please be kind with me :slight_smile:).
Thanks for any advice!

Hello @FilippoB,

at first please run inxi again with this command and repost the output:

inxi -Fazy 

In most cases linuxsystems make a different between upper and lower case. So ‘inxi -Fayz’ and inxi -fayz’ show different results.

And we need the big F. :grinning:

Hi @FilippoB and welcome to the Manjaro community.

Perhaps this is something you should not be doing if you are:

…but, at least you’ll have first-hand exposure to problems before most everyone else. :slight_smile:

There is no comparison between Linux and Windows.

I’ve seen several issues raised on this topic. Your system seems capable enough, however, when it comes to Games, it can be difficult to gain the performance you might expect on Linux.

If these are Steam games, I saw one mention of changing to another server (via Steam) that apparently made some difference. If you are trying to run these games via WINE, or another WINE-based method, I doubt general performance will ever improve.

A little housekeeping…

As a new user, please take some time to familiarise yourself with Forum requirements; in particular, the many ways to use the forum to your benefit. To that end, some or all these links will be invaluable:

And last, but not least, the Stable Update Announcements, which you should check frequently for important update related information. Occasionally an issue might be directly related to a particular update; it’s always best to check those announcements.

Cheers.

Hi, thanks for trying to help me!
Im sorry, that’s the right output:

System:
  Kernel: 6.8.7-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.8-x86_64
    root=UUID=9fdf8f08-90e4-4f43-aff8-3a785578a7f7 rw quiet splash
    resume=UUID=b65bfc5e-0288-4dd4-b8d6-e502374154a8 udev.log_priority=3
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.0.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.1.0
    wm: kwin_x11 vt: 2 dm: SDDM Distro: Manjaro base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Convertible System: HP product: HP ENVY x360 Convertible 13-ay0xxx
    v: Type1ProductConfigId serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 31
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: HP model: 876E v: 12.54 serial: <superuser required>
    part-nu: 1A8Q7EA#ABD uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: Insyde v: F.24
    date: 09/07/2023
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT1 charge: 22.8 Wh (53.3%) condition: 42.8/51.0 Wh (83.9%)
    power: 5.3 W volts: 11.3 min: 11.6 model: Hewlett-Packard PABAS0241231
    type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: discharging
  Device-1: hid-0018:04F3:2AF1.0001-battery model: ELAN2514:00 04F3:2AF1
    serial: N/A charge: N/A status: discharging
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U with Radeon Graphics bits: 64 type: MCP
    arch: Zen 2 gen: 3 level: v3 note: check built: 2020-22
    process: TSMC n7 (7nm) family: 0x17 (23) model-id: 0x60 (96) stepping: 1
    microcode: 0x8600109
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 6 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 384 KiB
    desc: d-6x32 KiB; i-6x32 KiB L2: 3 MiB desc: 6x512 KiB L3: 8 MiB
    desc: 2x4 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1397 high: 1400 min/max: 1400/2375 boost: enabled
    scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq governor: schedutil cores: 1: 1400 2: 1397
    3: 1400 4: 1394 5: 1397 6: 1397 bogomips: 28462
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed mitigation: untrained return thunk; SMT disabled
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow mitigation: SMT disabled
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; STIBP:
    disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Renoir [Radeon RX Vega 6 ] vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: GCN-5 code: Vega process: GF 14nm
    built: 2017-20 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4
    speed: 16 GT/s ports: active: eDP-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 04:00.0
    chip-ID: 1002:1636 class-ID: 0300 temp: 34.0 C
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.13 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6
    compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: amdgpu unloaded: modesetting
    alternate: fbdev,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22")
    s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 mapped: eDP model: AU Optronics 0xdb8c built: 2019
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 166 gamma: 1.2 size: 293x165mm (11.54x6.5")
    diag: 336mm (13.2") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi
    device: 1 drv: swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi
    inactive: gbm,wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 24.0.5-manjaro1.1
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon Graphics (radeonsi renoir
    LLVM 17.0.6 DRM 3.57 6.8.7-1-MANJARO) device-ID: 1002:1636 memory: 500 MiB
    unified: no
  API: Vulkan v: 1.3.279 layers: 9 device: 0 type: integrated-gpu name: AMD
    Radeon Graphics (RADV RENOIR) driver: mesa radv v: 24.0.5-manjaro1.1
    device-ID: 1002:1636 surfaces: xcb,xlib
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1637
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: snd_rn_pci_acp3x v: kernel alternate: snd_pci_acp3x, snd_pci_acp5x,
    snd_pci_acp6x, snd_acp_pci, snd_rpl_pci_acp6x, snd_pci_ps,
    snd_sof_amd_renoir, snd_sof_amd_rembrandt, snd_sof_amd_vangogh,
    snd_sof_amd_acp63 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4
    speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.5 chip-ID: 1022:15e2 class-ID: 0480
  Device-3: AMD Family 17h/19h HD Audio vendor: Hewlett-Packard
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3
    class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.8.7-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8822CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: rtw_8822ce v: N/A modules: rtw88_8822ce pcie:
    gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000 bus-ID: 01:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:c822 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Realtek Bluetooth Radio driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 1.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 3-1:2 chip-ID: 0bda:b00c
    class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: rfkill ID: hci0 rfk-id: 2 state: up address: see --recommends
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 129.36 GiB (27.1%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: MZVL2512HCJQ-00BH1
    size: 476.94 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: HPS2NGXH temp: 29.9 C
    scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 467.84 GiB size: 459.43 GiB (98.20%)
    used: 128.81 GiB (28.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 296 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 60 (default) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: yes
    compressor: zstd max-pool: 20%
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 8.8 GiB used: 559.2 MiB (6.2%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 35.5 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 34.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
  Memory: total: 8 GiB note: est. available: 7.15 GiB used: 2.59 GiB (36.3%)
  Processes: 240 Power: uptime: 10h 50m states: freeze,mem,disk
    suspend: s2idle wakeups: 1 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 2.84 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,upowerd
    Init: systemd v: 255 default: graphical tool: systemctl
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1477 libs: 386 tools: pamac,paru pm: flatpak
    pkgs: 0 Compilers: clang: 17.0.6 gcc: 13.2.1 Shell: Zsh v: 5.9 default: Bash
    v: 5.2.26 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.34

I also forgot to say that i tested my laptop with a fresh manjaro installation from another disks and had the same performances.

I appreciated your tips:

  • I know the “risks” of using Unstable, and i chose it just to experiment linux. Maybe i’ll consider a “rollback” since i also use my laptop as note-taking instrument everyday.
  • I also make a comparison with windows only to let you know that the pc hardware is not faulty or something like that. Im ““complaining”” about my graphics performance, beacuse i personally ran the same games (the lightests) on a Celeron N3050 with similar performances (i just did it for pure fun), so i have a sort of “comparison” about performances in specific games in linux.

Thank you for recommending this links to me, i’ll read them.

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