How to optimize Linux Mint for gaming - Ultimate Full Tutorial - Linux Switching series - Part 5

In this series of videos, I will cover how to switch to Linux from the beginning to the end.

This video is the fifth part of the series. You will find all the details for gaming on Linux Mint. Don´t hesitate to go through the chapters below to grab the info you need. Also, some of the tutorial parts can be applied on other distros.

Take in consideration the date of recording and the version of the software used: all this tutorial might become unrelevant in the coming years (I will create a new one no worries).

Enjoy!

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Software used:
►Linux Mint BTW (Linux Mint Challenge with GLF)
►GIMP
►DaVinci Resolve Studio 18.5

Settings and Equipment:

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Keywords: #linuxmint , #LinuxGaming , #A1RM4X

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
01:26 - Monitor refresh rate
02:16 - Nvidia settings for competitive gaming
05:43 - VSync on Linux
06:39 - GSync on Linux
08:47 - Mouse acceleration
14:24 - Deactivate compositor
16:28 - Upgrade kernel
19:58 - Kernel settings for gaming
21:49 - Custom Kernels
27:28 - Gamemode
28:05 - Mangohud
31:43 - Latency Flex
32:15 - Install and configure/optimize Steam
33:40 - Steam and NTFS
37:25 - Install Steam runtimes for gaming
40:46 - Install Lutris
41:38 - Lutris and discrete card (laptop config)
42:07 - Lutris Wine library
42:21 - Install ProtonUp-QT
46:16 - Apex Legends performance
46:37 - FlatSeal
48:06 - Surprise: OpenRGB for more FPS LOL

[Tuxm.]

I’ve recently moved to Debian and I’m loving this series 👍

[brunob.]

Im playing on a R5 5600x + 3070 with 64 GB DDR4 3600mhz. All i had to do to achieve a performance like this one on the video, was to update my kernel up to the 6.5 version. Linux Mint 21.3

[BjørjaBear]

Merci beaucoup for all your help in these videos. I've dualbooted Win 10 and Mint for a year now, with Mint being the daily driver. Some games still run better for me in Win 10, but once it is no longer supported in 2025, I will put 0patch on it, and take it semi-offline. Windows 11 is totally out of the question with the direction Microsoft has taken the OS in recent years.

I've tried a few other distros, but as a newb to Linux, Mint has been very easy to get along with. Thanks again for this video!

[bajablast_drinker]

Thanks for the video, it has helped me get used to Linux Mint gaming since Windows 10 is losing support next year. I think Mint will only get better with time as more people switch over.

[Glafuski]

Thank you. I had problem with Apex. I changed few settings that you suggested that should be changed and Apex started working 1000% better after that.

[ilaripori]

I cant overstate the quality of your content. Pretty much every little small detail is in.

[piplol]

When i go to the Nvidia Settings, it shows up with way less options than the one you have... weird

[Funkxg]

Je t'aime, tu es un super professeur de technologie. Mon Linux Mint est maintenant prêt à jouer

[jimkirk]

I have to thank you very very much again! It is so awesome, that you are sharing all your infos here - understandable, slow and complete. I started my linux experience on Pop!OS and had so many errors + very bad FPS and this distro is supposed to be for gaming. I switched to Mint, used your setup and now everything of my stuff is just running and it's running very good. No errors and much better FPS than in Pop!OS. Again: Thank you mate 😍🥰😍

[thelairofblair]

Amazing video! You really helped me out.

[Conquerz_Edits]

i got a problem... when i tried doing the openrgb udev rules and when i opened openrgb again nothing changed. can u help me with that?

[jesseskellington]

Do you have a video like this for older PC systems? :-)

[perfectheretic]

I hope you see this!

Could you please make a tutorial for Chicago95 theme setup? Couldn't find a Mint tutorial for it, and there's 3 ways of installing the theme


I didn't got the chance to try out Linux (didn't want to "gamble" over my computer parts) However, since I recently upgraded to DDR5, meaning most of the old rig parts had to be replaced, now I can try Linux with lesser risk, I decided to go for Mint XFCE, because I want that cool looking Chicago95 looks while also gaming and usual browsing.

[MouseHunteRn]

Great content 😁 very informative 💯 Keep Teaching.Thanks for the time you took to make these videos 📸.

[SupaFly]

on 21:08, what did you press to save and exit after pasting vm.max_map_count = 2147483642 ? (windows user here)

[Cosmic_idea]

I have to use ForceFull composite pipeline or i get screen tearing. I mean really extreme. This is the only thing i have tried that fixed that (the xrandr --output HDMI-A-0 --set TearFree on did nothing)

[Munky]

How well does Linux work for VR gaming, specifically with Oculus Quest headsets?
How well does Linux work for older, potentially abandoned DirectX games (ie DX8/DX9)?
How does the CPU load compare to windows, with newer processors like Intel 12/13/14th gen and AMD 5000/7000 (and now I guess 9000), [especially the X3D variants] -- with a focus on Single core/Single threaded situations?

[e-NDtj_y]

I really liked the content. In your experience have you found performance difference between distros?

[DerEchteAndrej]

Thank you for this series!

Its frustrating, though! I'm on i7-7820x @3.6, 32gb Ram @3200, RTX-3070ti.

Installed Mint 22 recently, with the 6.8 kernel, installed the nVidia 550 driver...did all the performance related stuff in this video...

...and get max. half of the Fps I would get on Windows 10 - no matter what game, how demanding it is, and if it is native Linux or via proton (worse with proton).

Trying to fix this for days now 🙁

[Kouga-lq]

For those with an amd gpu, i recommend to paste this in the terminal whenever you boot in your pc: echo high | sudo tee
It basically fixes all the visual lag you have on fps-locked games like elden ring. From stuttery it becomes buttery smooth. You could create a service that enables this line whenever your pc boots.