While we have been charting the rise of Linux/Ubuntu against Windows 11 in recent months, Microsoft's platform is ending the year with a win. Phoronix reports its test looking at gaming performance on AMD graphics GPUs shows that Windows 11 outperforms Linux Ubuntu.
Specifically, the firm compared Windows 11 Pro running version 22H2 with build 22621 with Ubuntu on Linux kernel 6.2.
Let's be clear, Ubuntu did a solid job, but it was Windows 11 that offered the best performance and gaming experience on AMD GPUs. Phoronix says Microsoft's OS did particularly well running on AMD's new Radeon RX 7900 series of graphics processors.
Below is the full test system:
- Intel Core i9-13900K
- 2x 16GB DDR5-6000 CL36
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Solidigm P44 Pro 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
- Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 22621
- Ubuntu 22.10 (Linux kernel version 6.2-rc1)
Phoronix conducted its tests across a variety of games and benchmarks, mixing older and newer benchmarks and games:
- Hitman 3
- Left 4 Dead 2
- Portal 2
- Quake II RTX
- Strange Brigade
- X-Plane 12
- GravityMark 1.72
- Unigine Heaven 4.0
- Unigine Superposition 1.0
On the newer AMD Radeon 7900 XTX GPU, Windows 11 was around 11.1% better than Ubuntu. On older graphics processors the gap was smaller. For example, the 6800 XT PC saw Microsoft's platform be 6.27% faster.
Recent Ubuntu Success
Back in September, I reported on a Phoronix test showing Linux Ubuntu 22.04 is outperforming Windows 11 when running the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. Later, Phoronix found Windows 11 2022 Update falls behind Linux/Ubuntu in several metrics running the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.
It seems on next-gen hardware from AMD, Windows 11 is losing its performance edge compared to Linux 6.0 kernel and Ubuntu 21.10. It is worth noting the test was done without 3D V-cache enabled.
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