LINUX HDR?

[lockwoodcody566]

Hello all! Iv been kind of back and forth with some gaming distros and i love the idea of getting away from windows. Im looking at Nobara 41 specifically (Fedora based) and my only real hangup at this point is HDR. I just got a nice OLED and i want to still be able to use HDR for gaming. All i do with my computer is game and youtube. Im seeing a lot of different answers with how this is setup or if it even works? Any help would be appreciated. If i can get an answer ill load up a USB rn.

[Zef]

I thought nobara included that support by default no?

Bazzite does at least, that's already basically glorified steam OS.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Pick a different distro...


As of recent updates, the most popular Linux distribution with HDR support is KDE Neon, which utilizes the KDE Plasma desktop environment that has recently introduced experimental HDR capabilities in version 6.0 and above; making it a good choice for users looking to try out HDR on Linux.

Key points about HDR on Linux:

KDE Plasma 6:
The primary desktop environment offering HDR support currently, with ongoing development to improve its functionality.

Wayland limitations:
HDR support on Linux is still considered experimental and may not be fully implemented in all Wayland display servers.

Distro choice:
While KDE Neon is a good option due to its focus on the latest KDE Plasma features, other distributions using the KDE Plasma desktop can also access HDR functionality by updating to the latest version.

[lockwoodcody566]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Pick a different distro...


As of recent updates, the most popular Linux distribution with HDR support is KDE Neon, which utilizes the KDE Plasma desktop environment that has recently introduced experimental HDR capabilities in version 6.0 and above; making it a good choice for users looking to try out HDR on Linux.

Key points about HDR on Linux:

KDE Plasma 6:
The primary desktop environment offering HDR support currently, with ongoing development to improve its functionality.

Wayland limitations:
HDR support on Linux is still considered experimental and may not be fully implemented in all Wayland display servers.

Distro choice:
While KDE Neon is a good option due to its focus on the latest KDE Plasma features, other distributions using the KDE Plasma desktop can also access HDR functionality by updating to the latest version.

Nobara uses the latest KDE with HDR support but it does not extend beyond desktop. Everywhere is telling me it needs to be enabled through gamescope somehow? Just looking for someone that is familiar that can walk me through that.

[lockwoodcody566]

Originally posted by Zef:

I thought nobara included that support by default no?

Bazzite does at least, that's already basically glorified steam OS.

Its not supported beyond desktop without gamescope setup. I just dont know how. Nobara comes with gamescope and everything. Iv tried Bazzite.

[r.linder]

KDE has experimental support for HDR, the only gaming implementation I've seen so far as been through gamescope but it doesn't work for every game.

[lockwoodcody566]

Originally posted by r.linder:

KDE has experimental support for HDR, the only gaming implementation I've seen so far as been through gamescope but it doesn't work for every game.

Thats what im looking for, how to enable it through gamescope. Sorry if i wasnt clear.

[r.linder]

Originally posted by lockwoodcody566:

Originally posted by r.linder:

KDE has experimental support for HDR, the only gaming implementation I've seen so far as been through gamescope but it doesn't work for every game.

Thats what im looking for, how to enable it through gamescope. Sorry if i wasnt clear.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/KDE#HDR

Not Nobara but some of it could be useful

[lockwoodcody566]

Originally posted by r.linder:

Originally posted by lockwoodcody566:

Thats what im looking for, how to enable it through gamescope. Sorry if i wasnt clear.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/KDE#HDR

Not Nobara but some of it could be useful

I appreciate that. Looks like exactly what i need.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Also what Display do you have. Many can't enable FreeSync/GSync and HDR at the same.timw and having either Sync option is a much bigger "plus" then the HDR

[TheTrippyHippie]

Originally posted by lockwoodcody566:

Originally posted by Zef:

I thought nobara included that support by default no?

Bazzite does at least, that's already basically glorified steam OS.

Its not supported beyond desktop without gamescope setup. I just dont know how. Nobara comes with gamescope and everything. Iv tried Bazzite.

If you have an AMD RDNA 1 or 2 GPU and install the Desktop-deck ISO of Bazzite

HDR works in steam deck mode, on Bazzite I can manually turn it off or on by holding the Xbox button and pressing down on the D-pad to bring up a little screen that lets you enable lots of little features Like FSR, HDR, performance stats etc.

A pop up briefly comes up on my TV screen telling me HDR is on if I manually enabled it in deck mode

But my TV is a cheaper HDR TV where the HDR works but It's .... well its a cheap 4k TV so :)

So according to my TV HDR is on if I manually enable it.

[r.linder]

Gamescope being a microcompositor is basically the only way to get HDR working for games atm but there are caveats and various issues with gamescope itself, like VRR stuttering while HDR is enabled, of which there is no patch at all for NVIDIA users

It works best on the steam deck as that's what it's made for, imo people should wait until HDR is properly supported if they want good and stable results as it's still very experimental in general

[lockwoodcody566]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Also what Display do you have. Many can't enable FreeSync/GSync and HDR at the same.timw and having either Sync option is a much bigger "plus" then the HDR

lg 27gs95qe WOLED true black 400 or peak 1000

Originally posted by TheTrippyHippie:

Originally posted by lockwoodcody566:

Its not supported beyond desktop without gamescope setup. I just dont know how. Nobara comes with gamescope and everything. Iv tried Bazzite.

If you have an AMD RDNA 1 or 2 GPU and install the Desktop-deck ISO of Bazzite

HDR works in steam deck mode, on Bazzite I can manually turn it off or on by holding the Xbox button and pressing down on the D-pad to bring up a little screen that lets you enable lots of little features Like FSR, HDR, performance stats etc.

A pop up briefly comes up on my TV screen telling me HDR is on if I manually enabled it in deck mode

But my TV is a cheaper HDR TV where the HDR works but It's .... well its a cheap 4k TV so :)

So according to my TV HDR is on if I manually enable it.

You can enable it in Bazzite but in game is HDR available in settings? Thats the true test becuase if its off in game its HDR signal over SDR and wont look right.

[lockwoodcody566]

Originally posted by r.linder:

Gamescope being a microcompositor is basically the only way to get HDR working for games atm but there are caveats and various issues with gamescope itself, like VRR stuttering while HDR is enabled, of which there is no patch at all for NVIDIA users

It works best on the steam deck as that's what it's made for, imo people should wait until HDR is properly supported if they want good and stable results as it's still very experimental in general

Yeah iv been scouring the web since posting and honestly looks like if i want good HDR in game im best to stick with W11 for now. When calibrated correctly it makes such a huge difference on this nice display. And honestly i bought it with HDR in mind. OLED is amazing.

[r.linder]

Originally posted by lockwoodcody566:

Originally posted by r.linder:

Gamescope being a microcompositor is basically the only way to get HDR working for games atm but there are caveats and various issues with gamescope itself, like VRR stuttering while HDR is enabled, of which there is no patch at all for NVIDIA users

It works best on the steam deck as that's what it's made for, imo people should wait until HDR is properly supported if they want good and stable results as it's still very experimental in general

Yeah iv been scouring the web since posting and honestly looks like if i want good HDR in game im best to stick with W11 for now. When calibrated correctly it makes such a huge difference on this nice display. And honestly i bought it with HDR in mind. OLED is amazing.

Games that support modding can look nice without HDR too, for example, Cyberpunk 2077 has LUT, Reshade, etc. which can be a "replacement" for HDR which is basically broken in general for Cyberpunk anyway

[lockwoodcody566]

Originally posted by r.linder:

Originally posted by lockwoodcody566:

Yeah iv been scouring the web since posting and honestly looks like if i want good HDR in game im best to stick with W11 for now. When calibrated correctly it makes such a huge difference on this nice display. And honestly i bought it with HDR in mind. OLED is amazing.

Games that support modding can look nice without HDR too, for example, Cyberpunk 2077 has LUT, Reshade, etc. which can be a "replacement" for HDR which is basically broken in general for Cyberpunk anyway

Ill look into that, honestly Cyberpunk looks absolutely amazing in HDRon my OLED. Better than SDR fs. I follow a guy on Youtube for HDR settings. Black levels may not be perfect But theyre very acceptable and Specular highlights are fantastic.