Install Linux if you want to play HD2 but you don't want a AC Tool with low level Kernel rights?

[Kobold]

If this is the case, then i found a solution, get rid (after time) of the Spy OS Win10/11 and install for example Manjaro/KDE (recommend by Valve) or other Distro's. For the first steps in Linux there is also recommendation to use Mint/Cinnamon.

Buy Helldivers2 in Steam and just install it through Steam/Proton and nProtect GameGuard won't get Kernel Access, because it doesn't has native Linux support.

Most FAQ's around Linux, Install & Gaming included in this Guide. AMD and Nvidia GPU's working today under Linux (AMD GPU's even better than my nvidia 2080Ti).

With Microsoft NEW Service Agreement to scan & use all (AI/Hatespeech/Advertising) your locale stored files, its a middle finger to the normal user. Set a clear sign to Microsoft to ♥♥♥♥ off and install Linux. Get your Privacy and control back!

Microsoft and this Rootkits (designed for Microsoft Products) own's your PC right now.
Show them you are not a sheep.

https://forum.manjaro.org/t/are-kernel-level-anti-cheat-like-in-helldivers2-for-example-a-security-issue-for-linux/156620

Linux is gaming ready today, we no longer need Microsoft! I'm mainly use Linux since almost 4 years now, as gamer! I have Win10 installed and used it only for VR Gaming today.

You don't have to decide between Linux or Windows, you can also use both and find the middle way between both worlds, you can do a slow progression, no one is forcing you!

Helldivers2 Steam Linux User Info's:
https://www.protondb.com/app/553850

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Information/Overview if you interested to try out Linux:

I just can recommend to everyone who is deciding to get his feet wet, instead jumping straight into Linux water, to buy another external/internal SSD (250-500GB should be enough). So you can easy decide which OS you want to boot when you start your PC and with a hotkey (for my Bios its F12) to choose which HDD/SSD you wanted to boot from, without messing around with dual boot function between Windows and Linux.
"You always need a additional USB Boot-Stick to install, same as installing Windows"

I bought 4 years ago a Samsung Portable SSD T5 (500GB) which performs really good and i can't even see the difference between my Linux Laptop which has a M.2 SSD.

"For (little) testing you can even install Linux on a USB stick, if you don't have the money for a second internal/external SSD, i think the bare minimum should be a 30-50GB USB Stick. Some people maybe try Virtual Machine, but a VM never gives Linux the performance as a native installation, at least not without advanced VM Settings!"

In the early phase i switched regularly between Win7 and Linux which gave me a good feeling for a better transition, to find program's for Linux that replaced my program's under Windows.

Distro (Fundament 40%) & Desktop Environment (Surface 60%):

Some Distributions allows to choose several different Desktop Environments. Depends on the liking and the eye candy or the age on your Hardware. I was in shock after i realised how much stuff rely on the DE and not the Distro.

So choosing a Desktop Environment (DE) is also a big decision, there are really beautiful DE's out there and you can (you don't have too) adjust them "MODDING" them, specially KDE has really good functions with Transparency Taskbar with Blur effects or to archive your old/retro Win2k or Win7 looks.

Youtube could probably give you a quick peek, KDE easy GUI Modification (no terminal needed) and I never was running into a single bug on my Rolling Release from this Layouts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJzfaqRLfpY

Budgie and Cinnamon DE's has probably also good layouts.
XFCE, LXQt and Mate DE's are for older hardware or just less RAM hungry.

Debian(noob)/Red Hat(Soldier)/Arch(Veteran) and their Distro's:

To choose a Distro is another Story, it depends on the Hardware (age) and Packages (age) that are available. A Rolling Release gets always the newest Kernel Updates (Device Drivers) for better performance/newer Hardware but that's require little bit more time for maintaining the OS. The support for Official Repositories, Flatpaks, AUR, AppImages and Snap's shows the amount of Package's/Program's for your Distro.

The Package Manager (GUI) like Pamac for example take care of that Packages. You just search your Progam's name> select it>click on apply to let it install, after that it shows up in your Taskbar. You can activate additional support for Flat/Snap/AUR under properties, that's not activated as default.

Some Distro's just give more freedom then others, while Mint is good for unexperienced users and mainly for people who just want to quick running their games, browse, print and don't care about adjustments... it also has its limitations.

So when you choose a Distro, get aware how old the package are... specially for gaming performance the Arch Tree and the Distro's that are based on Arch is the Ultimate gaming goal but probably at least Manjaro is only recommend for beginner who is willing to learn more. Red Hat Distro's like Nobara are in the middle. Debian Distro's are older but more stable.

I think its fair to say that some Distro's from Debian/Red Hat/Arch doesn't always follow the Big Tree Agenda and wants to make something special. Its your choice to chose, same as buying a car.

Arch Vanilla is the hardest Distro in Linux, while Manjaro (Arch) protect the user's and delay (per default branch) for 1-3 Weeks the packages when there are still bugs around that can't be fixed at the moment, downside in this situation's. People who using "heavily" AUR Packages (AUR not activated per default) are running into problem's, because AUR Updates won't get delayed.

Youtube Streamer's don't like that idea about package delay and downvoted Manjaro while at the other hand, they are unaware (incompetent) that you can switch Manjaro Branches between Stable (default), testing & unstable. The last branch are recommend for heavily AUR usage. https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Switching_Branches

Terminal:

Yes, a Terminal Window is sometimes needed for Linux and is a mighty tool, but you can reduce it to a bare minimum and a lot functions are there as a simple Graphics User Interface (GUI), the most Youtube beginner video's still fool people with information that they need to install/adjust all possible settings inside a Terminal, but in most situations its a lie. With a few mouse clicks the Package-Manager will install/remove or update "almost" everything at just one place.
KDE Partition Manager (or GParted) are visually more userfriendly as the integrated Windows11 Tools today!

Disable Bios Features:

Its recommend that you disable "Fast Boot" when using Linux, you probably run into issues sooner or later because of this feature.

Also Keep in mind, that the whole Arch Tree don't give official support for "Secure Boot". Deactivate "Secure Boot".

Win11 user's are forced to activate TPM/Secure Boot in Bios, while Win10 User's are free to chose, Microsoft wants to control the PC Boot and steal your local passwords with TPM Cloud storage. This has nothing to do with security its only advertising from Microsoft, its a hardware dongle from Microsoft and it gives Microsoft (not you) the security, so its a verification process and is designed against free and open source.

Pre-Install Tip, if you don't want to use Dual Boot on a Single Drive:

Disable your Windows Drive while installing Linux, you can do that in Bios and disable the SATA Ports or unplug the power connector from your drive's. This gives you 2 advantages, first you can't do a mistake with your partitions/files while you installing.

Second there is no connection between Linux/Windows. Keep in mind to do the same (vise versa) when you re-install Windows in future. Of course you can activate your Windows Drive after you done with the install.

Install with USB-Bootstick:

You can Download the Image (ISO) File from your chosen Distro, create a Bootstick with Ventoy,Rufus or Etcher (But Etcher has shady telemetry). What can be confusion, that you may see 2 times the same Linux Boot option shown in your Bios from your fresh created Bootstick.

One entry is for "Legacy BIOS also called CSM" Boot and the other is for "UEFI BIOS also called EFI" Boot. If you selected the wrong you will later see while installing on the drive a error, no big deal no dmg will happen... just try the other Boot-entry then and it should work.

Nvidia user's should use Nvidia Proprietary Driver:

The most Distro's has used per default the Free (reversed engineered) Nvidia driver called "Nouveau" while the driver is good for older GPU's like nvidia 1060-1080Ti (Pascal) and will doing a goodjob for normal Browsing/Media. https://nouveau.freedesktop.org/FeatureMatrix.html

It's not the first choice for gaming!!! Most Distro's has a simple UI to switch between this driver's. For Manjaro it is in Taskbar>Settings>Manjaro Settings Manager>Hardware Configuration.

Setup Linux Steam/Proton:

1.Steam should be Pre-installed in most distro's but it can easily added with your Visually Package Manager from your Distro. Search it/Select it and click apply, that's it. Steam looks 97% identical to the Windows Version.

2.Activate Proton in Steam: Open Top left Steam>Settings>Compatibility and choose Proton Experimental. Also activate the 2 Steam Play Switches! You only need a EXT4 Partition (instead NTFS) for maximum user experience and just install your games in your Steam Folder (default location is your Home Partition) or create a second library (same as in Windows to install on a second drive/another partition) more user friendliness isn't possible... In Steam its 1:1 the same feeling as under Windows. Around 80% of Steam Games works Plug & Play, the other's needs "maybe" a Steam launch command>Properties from your Steamgame and copy+paste it from ProtonDB Webpage, less then 3% of Steam Games will not run!

Wayland (NEW) vs X11 (old but still strong):

There is at the moment a big development change around the "Linux Display Server" inside the most DE's. Wayland will probably replace X11 over time and it will improve rendering performance.
AMD actually support Wayland better than Nvidia. While the most Program's still just working better under X11 right now, but this will change in future.

Its possible that you run into a Blackscreen with only a mouse cursor at the moment, when you using Nvidia. In KDE you can switch between X11 and Wayland at the bottom left of the Login Screen (SDDM).
From my viewpoint you may want to use Wayland for AMD GPU's and X11 for Nvidia, but it should be your choice. There is no right or wrong at this moment.

A little NTFS Warning just in case:

NTFS is a MS-Windows (emulated) Filesystem in Linux and could lead to data corruption, but "reading" files should be no problem. Better to mount it as Read-Only just in case. When you want to transfer data between MS-Windows and Linux use a (recommended) exFat Partition or Fat32.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Optional) Holding Hand's Install Linux Video Guide (Mint+Gaming):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyT4wfz5ZMg
(but with 4x critics from my side:)
1. Not telling about disabling Fast Boot
2. Using Balena "Etcher" has inbuilt Telemetrie, better is Ventoy.
3. Later he recommend to install Proton low level Kernel Anti Cheat Software
EAC or Battle-eye. This is against his own agenda to be against Kernel AC.
4. He failed with the explanation about the nvidia freedriver.

Win10 support end's at the end of 2025:

Older Hardware like (AMD) Zen1 or (Intel) Skylake don't have TPM and the newest Win11 Update 24H2 reject this system and bypassing is no longer allowed.

FPS Performance comparison Arch vs Win11:

https://www.computerbase.de/2023-12/welche-linux-distribution-zum-spielen/2/
(no need to watch part1 /its outdated):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5r1KSmOVss

Personal Manjaro Experience:

I had my first time with Linux (Red Hat "Caldera") as i was 14 years old, i uninstalled it pretty quick because nothing was running and it was very complicated this was 1997 (around Diablo1 times) and i saw nothing what Linux would give me at this time.
Windows wasn't all this years no data harvester but this changed finally with Win10.

Linux has developed greatly in the past 23 years. (But the outdated Rumor's from Windows user's, that Linux sucks are still there.)

So i started my real journey with Linux around 2020 collecting information about the big 3 Linux Tree's (Debian, Arch and Redhat) and it was a close decision between Mint and Manjaro the big difference im a Tech Nerd (not a coder) and i don't mind to learn and maintain my system. You get stable release (Kernel) updates every 2-3 Weeks pretty easy to install in the Package Manager UI and sometimes there are .pacnew files (config files, in general only 5 per year) or little bugs to fix and its required to look in https://forum.manjaro.org/c/announcements/stable-updates/12 the Forum to fix them, won't take long and they are rare but even as bloody noob i could pretty quick handle it. It was like destroying the final boss in Doom and i was total happy to archive the first experience and fight the little bug for Super Earth and Democracy, and that i don't need a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ MS Developer to get the job done xD

When i use my PC/Laptop around 12hours per day, i only spend maybe 1-2min with the Terminal per week average, no big deal for a average use case. Linux in general has really awesome driver support, you would be surprised even to boot into a Linux live environment how instant your PC is running without doing anything at all.. my yaw dropped to the bottom as the first time i booted from my Manjaro KDE (Full ISO)USB Stick and opened the filebrowser (called dolphin) to watch 30sec later Star Trek Voyager per drag+drop from NTFS drive in VLC Player, in a Linux OS without even installing it WTF.

My printer was instant running also, the sames goes with many other devices, "almost" everything just works. My Creative Soundcard X-fi was running instant, but my new Creative Soundblaster AE-5 is another story and required Alsamixer but still it was working with Forum help and this super Linux Brains which reversed Engineered the creative driver for my AE-5 Soundcard holy crap... take this Duke Nukem 3D Boss yaaay :D

It took me 6month to learn the most advanced stuff around Linux (like FSTAB, GRUB, Alsamixer, Timeshift, Pacman and most used Terminal Commands), when i remember how many years i need to learn the most stuff from MS-DOS, Win3.11, Win95... to Windows10 the road had stones too.

Im 40years old now and i could do it to learn Linux, you can do it too.

DONATION:

Don't forget to Donate Money to the smaller Open Source Projects and don't play the greedy card, this social coders need to eat too and they have a Soul... not like this closed source Demons :D I donated the last 3 years around 400€ and split the money to around 12 Open Source Projects.

[HighBall]

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

The second issue I have ran into so far is Linux doesn't seem to work with HDR at all, correct me if I'm wrong here. I play on a very high end 55" TV with all the bells and whistles, and it's pretty noticeable that HDR doesn't work nearly as well as it does in windows 11 (if at all). I haven't found a workaround for this, or if there even is one.

I think HDR support, across the Board is coming soon. KDE and Gamescope support HDR now though. You can install KDE on your current installation if you want HDR for your desktop. I'm not sure with Cinnamon, but with other Wayland Compositors (Compositor draws the windows on your screen), you can launch compositors inside compositors and this is what I run.

WAYLAND_DISPLAY=wayland-0 gamescope -w 1920 -h 1080 --hdr-enabled -b -e --expose-wayland -- steam -bigpicture

I just made a shortcut for that command.

I'm not sure if switching to KDE and having HDR supported, games will just, auto magically support HDR. If that doesn't happen, KDE is Wayland now, you would be able to launch the Gamescope compositor from inside KDE and have HDR.

Here is an article from https://www.phoronix.com/news/KDE-HDR-End-Of-2023 Few months old now, but I think it can give you a good idea on where the support is at.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

Got linux installed on my new drive fairly easily, getting ready to jump into the game this weekend on linux. Really liking mint (cinnamon) which is the distro I went with, but there are a few small issues.

Yaay welcome to linux, im glad you made it :)

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

The second issue I have ran into so far is Linux doesn't seem to work with HDR at all, correct me if I'm wrong here. I play on a very high end 55" TV with all the bells and whistles, and it's pretty noticeable that HDR doesn't work nearly as well as it does in windows 11 (if at all). I haven't found a workaround for this, or if there even is one.

Expect the newest feature and reversed engineered hardware support comes with delay
to Linux... but sooner or later there probably comes support, if the close source lobby don't fight (HDMI 2.1 brand new rejected from this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ lobby, you will find alot news around it) it and the features are broadly used.

HDR is supported in newest KDE 6 (Desktop) release and will be available in the next coming month to Manjaro and other distro's. But it will have a lot of bugs, since 6.0 is bloody new! I hope for a 4 month delay or even longer... for KDE 6.1 for included the first fixes.

Wayland or X11 API is actually free to choose, im not sure what cinnamon required and if HDR will get supported too in this DE or not.

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

First thing I ran into is Linux doesnt play very well with my AIO (kraken z73). There is no actual software to run it and the workarounds I have found in linux themselves aren't really that great either. The display simply doesnt work at all from what I have researched, at least the Z73 doesn't yet. Technically the display works, but it's "stuck" on whatever it read when it last communicated with the CAM software. Not ideal. My workaround as been booting up into windows first to let the CAM software fire up my settings for the AIO, then I boot into Linux and it will remember these fan settings until I power down the PC. This at least gets the fans/pump working correctly.

Very special, its strange that a AIO needs OS software... i prefer Aircooling but its up to you. Normally the sensors from Mainboard should be enough data to run Watercooling solution? I don't have experience and TBH i don't want to get any experience there... Watercooling is dangerous and there are really Top notch aircooling solutions available.

Kraken CAM software should replaced with Firmware adjustments, the data should be safed straight on a chip that adjust the pumps and not rely on a OS software.

Anyways, for special stuff like that... its possible that the AUR maybe has a maintainer for the Kraken AOI.

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

Overall though, I have been surprised on how much I'm liking Linux and it's just a few small nagging things that are going to keep me from switching over 100% of the time it seems.

*edit*
Fired up Helldivers tonight for the first time, works great on linux!

Im glad the most is working good for you.

The point is, not to set your standards to high but with a few workarounds or adjustments you maybe find your way in a few month...

[ZTEQ]

Originally posted by Kobold:

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

Got linux installed on my new drive fairly easily, getting ready to jump into the game this weekend on linux. Really liking mint (cinnamon) which is the distro I went with, but there are a few small issues.

Yaay welcome to linux, im glad you made it :)

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

The second issue I have ran into so far is Linux doesn't seem to work with HDR at all, correct me if I'm wrong here. I play on a very high end 55" TV with all the bells and whistles, and it's pretty noticeable that HDR doesn't work nearly as well as it does in windows 11 (if at all). I haven't found a workaround for this, or if there even is one.

Expect the newest feature and reversed engineered hardware support comes with delay
to Linux... but sooner or later there probably comes support, if the close source lobby don't fight (HDMI 2.1 brand new rejected from this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ lobby, you will find alot news around it) it and the features are broadly used.

HDR is supported in newest KDE 6 (Desktop) release and will be available in the next coming month to Manjaro and other distro's. But it will have a lot of bugs, since 6.0 is bloody new! I hope for a 4 month delay or even longer... for KDE 6.1 for included the first fixes.

Wayland or X11 API is actually free to choose, im not sure what cinnamon required and if HDR will get supported too in this DE or not.

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

First thing I ran into is Linux doesnt play very well with my AIO (kraken z73). There is no actual software to run it and the workarounds I have found in linux themselves aren't really that great either. The display simply doesnt work at all from what I have researched, at least the Z73 doesn't yet. Technically the display works, but it's "stuck" on whatever it read when it last communicated with the CAM software. Not ideal. My workaround as been booting up into windows first to let the CAM software fire up my settings for the AIO, then I boot into Linux and it will remember these fan settings until I power down the PC. This at least gets the fans/pump working correctly.

Very special, its strange that a AIO needs OS software... i prefer Aircooling but its up to you. Normally the sensors from Mainboard should be enough data to run Watercooling solution? I don't have experience and TBH i don't want to get any experience there... Watercooling is dangerous and there are really Top notch aircooling solutions available.

Kraken CAM software should replaced with Firmware adjustments, the data should be safed straight on a chip that adjust the pumps and not rely on a OS software.

Anyways, for special stuff like that... its possible that the AUR maybe has a maintainer for the Kraken AOI.

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

Overall though, I have been surprised on how much I'm liking Linux and it's just a few small nagging things that are going to keep me from switching over 100% of the time it seems.

*edit*
Fired up Helldivers tonight for the first time, works great on linux!

Im glad the most is working good for you.

The point is, not to set your standards to high but with a few workarounds or adjustments you maybe find your way in a few month...

It's good to see that HDR seems to be in the pipeline for Linux and will be coming to most of the Distros eventually, as on some games with a good GPU and Monitor it simply looks amazing.

The AIO issue isn't a huge deal as I was always planning on having a separate drive with windows alongside Linux, for things such as emulators (some simply just don't work in Linux at all) and the odd steam game that doesn't run. I can definitely see Linux becoming my preferred OS in the near future and that is something I didn't think I would ever be saying as a PC gamer.

[Kobold]

@ZTEQ
Didnt take long to find a Tool for your Kraken Watercooling:

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/02/have-a-nzxt-kraken-you-can-use-gkraken-to-configure-it-on-linux/

Your Z73 is supported.

I always recommend to first look within your Distro Package Manager, its more easy and also you are probably more protected against a Virus.... but it depends on the package.

I see it also in Manjaro, its available as AUR and Flatpak... i recommended the Flatpak version, as far as i know, Flatpak should be supported from most distro's and is also pretty easy to install.

[ZTEQ]

Originally posted by Kobold:

@ZTEQ
Didnt take long to find a Tool for your Kraken Watercooling:

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/02/have-a-nzxt-kraken-you-can-use-gkraken-to-configure-it-on-linux/

Your Z73 is supported.

I always recommend to first look within your Distro Package Manager, its more easy and also you are probably more protected against a Virus.... but it depends on the package.

I did see Gkraken when i was researching options, but as of 2023 this program is no longer supported. This program (nor any others that I could find) supports the display on the actual device which provides accurate Temp readings, which is one of the real selling points of the G73. If I remember right they recommended using a program called Coolero instead which lets you set fan curves using the Terminal, but didn't seem to work all that well when i was testing.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by ZTEQ:

Originally posted by Kobold:

@ZTEQ
Didnt take long to find a Tool for your Kraken Watercooling:

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/02/have-a-nzxt-kraken-you-can-use-gkraken-to-configure-it-on-linux/

Your Z73 is supported.

I always recommend to first look within your Distro Package Manager, its more easy and also you are probably more protected against a Virus.... but it depends on the package.

I did see Gkraken when i was researching options, but as of 2023 this program is no longer supported. This program (nor any others that I could find) supports the display on the actual device which provides accurate Temp readings, which is one of the real selling points of the G73. If I remember right they recommended using a program called Coolero instead which lets you set fan curves using the Terminal, but didn't seem to work all that well when i was testing.

If you struggle with it, i can recommend to create a new Topic in your distro Forum to gain help. Its always possible that you miss a additional package or some user rights.

I see the AUR package, just got updated 1 month ago but TBH i have no clue what that means and how far the changes are going.

https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/gkraken

[LongTimeAgo]

Honestly, with the amount of information and proper help from Linux users, beginning Linux users, professional Linux users and people willing to try it out... This should definetly be up on the General forum. Reading through some of these comments is fantastic. I also try to chip in wherever I can.

However, people who dont own the game can not ask questions there so it might die there instead of helping others' with questions...

In any case: Small question that somebody maybe knows?
My specs are the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro with RTX3070Ti and i7-12700H. Currently running Linux Mint (Cinnamon). It works abasolutely flawlessly at the moment with Dualboot Windows 11, secure boot on, GRUB2 menu, etc.

However, I noticed something, when I run Nvidia-smi in terminal, I get a neat little screen with all the details about my GPU. But one thing stuck out:
Sat Mar 9 17:30:34 2024
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 535.161.07 Driver Version: 535.161.07 CUDA Version: 12.2 |
|-----------------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| GPU Name Persistence-M | Bus-Id Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan Temp Perf Pwr:Usage/Cap | Memory-Usage | GPU-Util Compute M. |
| | | MIG M. |
|=========================================+======================+======================|
| 0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ... Off | 00000000:01:00.0 Off | N/A |
| N/A 37C P8 12W / 115W | 9MiB / 8192MiB | 0% Default |
| | | N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Processes: |
| GPU GI CI PID Type Process name GPU Memory |
| ID ID Usage |
|=======================================================================================|
| 0 N/A N/A 1168 G /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg 4MiB |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

(it's currently off because Intel integrated chip is running)

But for whatever reason, it doesnt recognize my card being the RTX 3070 Ti and it limits the GPU power draw to 115W instead of the 125W + 25W boost to 150W it has. This does not hinder gaming performance for the few games I currently play, but it's interesting to say the least. It does the same with the 525 driver.

Is this a (small) limitation to the limited support for (granted, relatively rare) some hardware? I'm curious if anybody knows, because I cant directly find anything about this online, which normally has forums full of it if you look for something.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by LongTimeAgo:

Honestly, with the amount of information and proper help from Linux users, beginning Linux users, professional Linux users and people willing to try it out... This should definetly be up on the General forum. Reading through some of these comments is fantastic. I also try to chip in wherever I can.

However, people who dont own the game can not ask questions there so it might die there instead of helping others' with questions...

You can put a link connected to my topic. People can still come here.
oh you dont own this game yet... i can quick post it there:

Originally posted by LongTimeAgo:

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 535.161.07 Driver Version: 535.161.07 CUDA Version: 12.2 |
|-----------------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| GPU Name Persistence-M | Bus-Id Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan Temp Perf Pwr:Usage/Cap | Memory-Usage | GPU-Util Compute M. |
| | | MIG M. |
|=========================================+======================+======================|
| 0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ... Off | 00000000:01:00.0 Off | N/A |
| N/A 37C P8 12W / 115W | 9MiB / 8192MiB | 0% Default |
| | | N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
But for whatever reason, it doesnt recognize my card being the RTX 3070 Ti and it limits the GPU power draw to 115W instead of the 125W + 25W boost to 150W it has. This does not hinder gaming performance for the few games I currently play, but it's interesting to say the least. It does the same with the 525 driver.

Is this a (small) limitation to the limited support for (granted, relatively rare) some hardware? I'm curious if anybody knows, because I cant directly find anything about this online, which normally has forums full of it if you look for something.

2080 Ti here with 5.50 driver... haha, take this Mint :D

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 550.54.14 Driver Version: 550.54.14 CUDA Version: 12.4 |
|-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+
| GPU Name Persistence-M | Bus-Id Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan Temp Perf Pwr:Usage/Cap | Memory-Usage | GPU-Util Compute M. |
| | | MIG M. |
|=========================================+========================+======================|
| 0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Off | 00000000:01:00.0 On | N/A |
| 25% 30C P8 8W / 260W | 459MiB / 11264MiB | 0% Default |
| | | N/A |
+-----------------------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+

260Watt looks okay for me, but maybe it depends on the Powerstate your nvidia card is running right now... your 115 Watt looks very limited... which model you are using?

Edit:
Verified, 260W is max power draw on my card:
https://geizhals.de/msi-geforce-rtx-2080-ti-ventus-11g-ocv1-a2035135.html

[LongTimeAgo]

Originally posted by Kobold:

-snip-

Yeah I dont own the game yet. Purely out of principle. Once the nPGG is removed I will instantly buy it. But this topic is useful nevertheless. Especially for the people that bought the game and only knew after that it had the very dubious AC but still like to play via an alternative OS with way better safety restrictions.

I have the laptop RTX 3070Ti. This GFX card has had a (very) limited run in only a few laptop models.
It's basically a better binned RTX3070 where they could up the Wattage and lower the clock speed, up the cuda cores and up the memory speed (I believe, could be mistaken en swapping a few details there).

When I run the following I get: ubuntu-drivers devices

== /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.0 ==
modalias : pci:v(removed-just-to-be-sure)
vendor : NVIDIA Corporation
driver : nvidia-driver-470 - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-535-server - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-525-server - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-535 - distro non-free recommended
driver : nvidia-driver-545-open - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-525 - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-470-server - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-535-open - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-535-server-open - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-525-open - distro non-free
driver : nvidia-driver-545 - distro non-free
driver : xserver-xorg-video-nouveau - distro free builtin

I have tried driver 545 already, but it has a ton of bugs for me. 535 is the absolute limit for now.
I guess the "5" at the end determines that its a mobile card I believe?

But I dont know why its wattage limited. Maybe because it thinks its a standard 3070? That might be causing the limitation in wattage.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by LongTimeAgo:

I have tried driver 545 already, but it has a ton of bugs for me. 535 is the absolute limit for now.
I guess the "5" at the end determines that its a mobile card I believe?

But I don't know why its wattage limited. Maybe because it thinks its a standard 3070? That might be causing the limitation in wattage.

We used this nvidia driver since 12/2023, so 10 days after release:

https://www.phoronix.com/news/NVIDIA-545.29.06-Linux

Nothing related to mobile i think. That you have problems with a other driver versions, should be normal... the graphic drivers has it dependencies with other Packages/Kernels or isn't this the case in Mint?

In Manjaro we have only 2 options here: Newest driver or Legacy Driver 470.xxx and that's it.

I don't really understand your question now about your Watt problem.
Is your Watt Limits in Windows higher?

[LongTimeAgo]

Originally posted by Kobold:

I don't really understand your question now about your Watt problem.
Is your Watt Limits in Windows higher?

Yep, its 125W with 25W boost via Lenovo Vantage (so basically 150W, if thermals allow) in Windows.
So I was wondering if this was known in the Linux (Mint)/Ubuntu community.

I also had to switch Kernels to a newer version to solve some other bugs as well. But thats a whole nother story. The other Kernel was also working fine for gaming.

[Kobold]

Originally posted by LongTimeAgo:

Yep, its 125W with 25W boost via Lenovo Vantage (so basically 150W, if thermals allow) in Windows.
So I was wondering if this was known in the Linux (Mint)/Ubuntu community.

Its possible that this feature was some kind of OC, like from MSI Afterburner the Powerlimit feature.

[Kraftkanzler]

So I have read through the wot. I have found an external SSD and a USB stick.
I have now understood it like this:

I download Linux mint or Manjaro, move it to the USB stick, reboot, activate the boot manager, select the USB stick, then the external SSD as target drive and voilà?

My questions are:

AMD driver? Have CPU and graphics card from AMD.
What about Spotify?
Logitech hub?
Mobo driver?
Firefox+add-ons?

To be honest, I haven't liked windows for years, the only reason I've avoided Linux so far is the knowledge required to learn any command lines for the console and that games don't all run.

I'm the average, lazy Windows user with little time. Install+click .exe = let's go.

I'm willing to learn the ropes, I just don't want to spend 20 hours tweaking things until something works.
But I also don't want to have any more of these junk windows programs, which basically take away all my privacy.


so, can i give it a try or should i just leave it alone?

[Kobold]

Originally posted by Kraftkanzler:

So I have read through the wot. I have found an external SSD and a USB stick.
I have now understood it like this:

I download Linux mint or Manjaro, move it to the USB stick, reboot, activate the boot manager, select the USB stick, then the external SSD as target drive and voilà?

There are a lot good Tutorials in youtube where you can follow the instructions.

Its recommend to disable the sata port with your Windows drive, while you installing Linux... just to make double sure, the bootfiles won't get connected with each other (Windows/Linux).

Connect your external SSD and your USB Bootstick with your prepared ISO that you downloaded, from the Distro and the Desktop Environment which you choosed.

I recomment a FULL ISO Image, with the most packages are already preinstalled... its more userfriendly.

Originally posted by Kraftkanzler:

My questions are:

AMD driver? Have CPU and graphics card from AMD.
What about Spotify?
Logitech hub?
Mobo driver?
Firefox+add-ons?

A lot stuff is preinstalled, AMD CPU/GPU and MOBO should work instantly, also your soundcard and other devices.

Firefox/Steam is mostly also pre-installed... you can install firefox addons the same as under Windows... no difference.

Spotify not sure, but i think you can get browser access? Just search for the program in your package manager from your distro... you can install alot stuff pretty easy there.

Originally posted by Kraftkanzler:

To be honest, I haven't liked windows for years, the only reason I've avoided Linux so far is the knowledge required to learn any command lines for the console and that games don't all run.

I'm the average, lazy Windows user with little time. Install+click .exe = let's go.

I'm willing to learn the ropes, I just don't want to spend 20 hours tweaking things until something works.

Its not this tough... a lot commands i just copied me in a txt file and pasted in Terminal, the most used commands.

Most games just run, at least Steam games are super easy to start...

Linux in average is easy to learn, but hard to master...
Just 1 step after another...

Originally posted by Kraftkanzler:

But I also don't want to have any more of these junk windows programs, which basically take away all my privacy.


so, can i give it a try or should i just leave it alone?

The first overview is in my Topic above... and what i can read here from you, looks promising.

[Kraftkanzler]

Originally posted by Kobold:

snip

ok only 2 questions left(promise)
manjora or mint? :D
gameguard wont mess with the os anymore? no kernel access, got that. it wont be in some other way too, thats what i understood so far, right?

i give it a try. linux isnt some alien tec. (hope)