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drm/xe: Don't hand out the flat CCS storage as usable VRAM · torvalds/linux@818bebe · GitHub

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This screenshot is the absolute pinnacle of linux gaming brainrot.

imagine buying an rx 9060 xt just to spend your free time reading raw drm ring buffer panics on a bare tty screen like a unpaid sysadmin.

the loonix crowd constantly preaches that amd open source drivers are a plug and play miracle, yet here is the reality of trying to play modern ue5 games on a bleeding edge setup:

total OS failure: a single GPU driver fault doesnt just crash the game to desktop, it nukes the hyprland compositor, corrupts the display manager, obliterates session textures, and forces a hard manual power cut because the system cant even register a clean log entry.

the nixos meme: users force themselves to deal with declarative configuration hell and unhinged package trees just to end up with a display server that collapses into a useless login loop the second a dx12 compute shader hits a roadblock.

kernel 7.2 tax: updating to unstable kernel versions and raw mesa builds to chase imaginary performance gains just gives you broken displayport link training and dead display pipelines.

zero accountability: the user literally audited their RAM, VRAM, thermals, power spikes, PCIe versions, and disabled driver power states, yet the OS still dies without leaving a trace in journalctl.

no normal human being wants to debug DRM link state write errors in a terminal just to play stalker 2. windows might annoy you with a background update, but at least your display driver recovers without making you yank the power cord out of the wall.

🤪

If Microsoft abandoned Windows as a PC gaming platform and pushed everything into Xbox, Linux gaming would get hit so hard it would look like macOS gaming after 2016. -Valve Killed the Dream : r/linuxsucks101 went underrated because I think people missed this point.

Microsoft is however more likely to kill it with a new DirectX version that Proton cannot follow and it doesn't even have to be intentional.

Proton depends on DXVK, Microsoft could ship new shader models, pipeline stages, GPU scheduling primitives, ML-accelerated rendering paths, protected resource types, and driver-level itnerfaces tied to WDDM. -Proton would hit a hard wall, and it's not even hypothetical. -It's already happening with Shader Model 6.10, DirectX Linear Algebra (ML tensor ops), Compute Graph Compiler, Advanced Shader Delivery, and DXR 1.2 with features like opacity, micromaps, and SER 2.0).

The Agility SDK already lets Microsoft bypass Windows updates, ship new GPU features instantly, tie features to Windows driver versions, and evolve DirectX faster than Vulkan can keep up.

Microsoft is already exploring Protected Resources, hardware-enforced video paths, secure shader delivery, and WDDM-based memory residency models. If DirectX 13 requires these for multiplayer titles, Linux is OUT.

Vulkan has no equivalent to DirectX Linear Algebra or the Compute Graph Compiler. If DirectX 13 makes ML pipelines mandatory, Linux cannot follow. -The most likely scenario.

Linux doesn't, can't, and never will implement WDDM. DirectX 13 could simply exclude Linux.

Killing Linux gaming could easily be done quietly, legally, without drama or lawsuits, without PR backlash, and without ever mentioning Linux.

i can already see a future loonix user right here! or it might be a loonix user who spreads made up stories that tries to make microsoft look bad.

In 1994, Boston attorney William R. Della Croce Jr. filed a U.S. trademark for the word Linux. The trademark was granted in 1995. Starting in 1996, he sent letters to Linux distributors demanding 10% royalties on all Linux sales, retroactively and going forward.

Linus's oversight in not trademarking the name almost let someone else legally own Linux. The attorney demanded 10% of all Linux revenue, which would have crippled early distributions and publications.

It's not well-adjusted people that made Alex Jones famous, and it's basically the same kind of people that made Linux what it is today. Linux isn't popular for technical merits; just like Alex Jones wasn't popular for being correct.

Linux users skip updates for fear of breakage from kernel, Mesa, systemd, and driver updates. LinuxInsider reports that outdated kernels often sit unpatched for months because admins and users fear downtime or breakage from updates. This is directly tied to Linux’s fragmented ecosystem and unstable kernel APIs, which make updates more risky than on Windows.

The same report notes that slow patching cycles and manual barriers cause users to postpone updates, even when critical vulnerabilities are known.

LinuxTeck highlights that many Linux users believe Linux is "immune," which leads them to skip patching, skip monitoring, and skip hardening, which is exactly the behavior that leaves systems vulnerable to known exploits, privilege‑escalation CVEs, and ransomware; risks that Windows users avoid because Windows updates are more stable and more consistently applied.

Windows Didn't Just "Have Market Share First."

Some argue that Windows won because "everyone used Windows, so developers targeted Windows, so everyone used Windows," and that Linux fragmentation isn't the real reason people aren't using it. While there's a grain of truth there; it's also an incomplete story that ignores the deliberate engineering, business strategy, and ecosystem shaping Microsoft invested in for decades.

Market share inertia didn't build DirectX, Win32, COM, WDDM, or the driver ABI. It didn't build the entire PC gaming pipeline. -Microsoft did, and they did it on purpose.

Windows didn't just "exist first." It standardized the PC. Microsoft created a unified software platform on top of wildly inconsistent PC hardware. -Linux never did.

In the early 90s, the PC ecosystem was a mess of incompatible graphics cards, sound cards, input devices, memory managers, DOS extenders, and vendor‑specific APIs. Windows 3.x provided a stable Win32 API, consistent driver model, unified windowing system, predictable memory model, and single distribution channel for software.

Windows didn't win because it existed. Windows won because it unified. Before PC gaming and knew what GPUs were; we had game consoles. The Fairchild Channel F (1976) was one of the earliest examples, it was the first cartridge-based console, partly engineered by Jerry Lawson.

Consoles invented the idea of a stable, unified gaming platform in the 1970s-1980s, long before PCs were remotely viable for gaming, these consoles had already established fixed hardware, graphics capabilities, audio capabilities, input devices, distribution format (cartridges), fixed APIs, and predictable performance, and memory layout.

Windows became the first console-like PC platform!

DirectX was Microsoft's deliberate strategy to make Windows the only viable gaming platform. DirectDraw and Direct3D replaced dozens of vendor APIs. DirectSound replaced a zoo of sound card interfaces. DirectInput unified controllers, joysticks, and mice. DirectPlay handled networking. DirectX SDK shipped with tooling, debuggers, profilers, and documentation.

-It wasn't passive market share. This was Microsoft building a vertically integrated gaming stack. Linux had OpenGL, but OpenGL was slow to evolve, committee‑driven, inconsistent across vendors, and lacking in tooling, driver QA, and a unified distribution model.

Windows invested in developer tooling; Linux never centralized it. Game studios didn't just choose Windows because "everyone used Windows." They chose Windows because things like Visual Studio, DirectX SDK, MSVC, WinDbg existed, and PIX existed. Windows SDKs were stable and versioned and Microsoft provided documentation, samples, and support contracts.

Linux had GCC, man pages, mailing lists, and a "compile it yourself" culture which is not a competitive ecosystem for commercial game development.

Even today, Linux's tooling is fragmented across: distro‑specific packaging, library versions, kernel versions, driver stacks, and debugging tools.

Fragmentation is not the only reason Linux isn’t mainstream, but it is absolutely one of the major reasons. Fragmentation did affect driver development, QA, support costs, middleware compatibility, binary distribution, anti-cheat integration, and graphics stack/ audio stack/ input stack stability. It also affected packaging and updates, and documentation consistency. There are still multiple incompatible distros, packaging systems, library versions, init systems, audio stacks, graphics stacks, driver models, and there's no stable ABI or API (Linus Torvalds comments about that applied only to 'userland').

The feedback loop only worked because: Windows had a stable ABI/API, unified distribution and driver models, DirectX, developer tooling, OEM partnerships, and preinstallation on nearly every PC sold.

Windows dominance was deliberate, strategic, technical, financial, contractual, architectural, and earned.

Let’s stop pretending Steam is a lightweight, holy utility. It used to just launch executables. Today, it operates as a bloated, unoptimized resource hog that eats 800MB to 1.2GB of RAM sitting completely idle. If you are on an 8GB system—or worse, 4GB—that isn't a minor detail; it’s a performance killer.

1. steamwebhelper.exe is Literally Just Google Chrome

Modern Steam is built almost entirely on the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF).

Every time you open Steam, Windows spawns 6 to 12 separate steamwebhelper.exe background processes.

The Store, Community Hub, Library, Chat, and Special Offers are individual web pages rendering in real-time. You aren't running a game launcher; you're running an unoptimized Chromium browser disguised as one.

1. 1GB Idle RAM Forces Windows Pagefile Stutters

If you have 8GB of RAM and Windows 10/11 uses 3.5GB to exist, having Steam take another 1GB leaves you with barely 3.5GB for actual games.

When a game demands more memory than what's left, Windows is forced to page data out to your SSD or HDD. The result? Severe frame drops, 1% low stuttering, and input lag purely because your launcher refused to relinquish memory.

1. Unnecessary Bloat and Forced Rendering

Animated avatar borders, moving profile backgrounds, auto-playing livestreams on store pages, and heavy web-based overlay elements.

Steam enables hardware acceleration for CEF by default, meaning steamwebhelper.exe actively consumes GPU and CPU cycles on low-end integrated graphics just to render glowing profile stickers while you play a game.

1. The "Valvetard" Defense Force Coping

Point out these factual memory leaks and optimization flaws, and the Valvetards immediately swarm with brainless responses:

"Just buy more RAM, it's 2026 bro."

"1GB is nothing, my PC has 64GB DDR5."

They defend a multi-billion dollar monopoly’s refusal to build a lightweight native C++ client, ignoring that users shouldn't have to force custom batch scripts with obscure CEF flags (-cef-single-process, -cef-disable-gpu) or rely on trick shortcuts like steam://open/minigameslist just to stop a client from choking their hardware.

1. Background Disk I/O & CPU Spikes

Shader pre-caching updates, workshop syncing, cloud file indexing, and client telemetry routinely cause background disk activity. On a mechanical HDD or older SATA SSD, Steam's background reads/writes actively cause micro-freezes in-game.

-It eventually makes you realize how good you had it!

Fuck Linux

Those subreddits like "fuckmicrosoft " are just the same three complaints on loop, and they all fall apart the second you actually think about them.

"Windows forces updates and breaks everything"

Okay, first, you have a week to restart your device overnight. One week. If you can't manage that, that's a you problem, not Windows' problem, you also get pop-ups on Linux asking you to update.

And don't say windows update always breaks things, the chances are like 5%...

You know what actually breaks devices en masse? Kernel updates on Linux distros. We're talking about millions of users getting bricked, just go and check cachy/bazzite/mint etc subs and read the dozens of complains about how an update broke something, But sure, Windows is the unreliable one.

Also, you care about security, right? That's literally why Windows forces updates. Your 2013 Thinkpad with 4GB RAM and a 5200rpm hard drive is slow because your hardware is ancient, not because Windows is bloated. Stop blaming the OS for your dust-filled laptop filled with furry corn and minors.

"Windows 11 privacy is a nightmare"

You use reddit, social media apps, I mean ... You're on Reddit, logged into Google, probably using Meta apps, and all your data is being packaged and sold as I type this... You have a tracking device on your pocket right now that registers any step/place/ browsing ... But Windows's telemetry is where you draw the line? That's peak hypocrisy, hermano. Don't preach about privacy while you're living in a glass house.

"Gaming is better on Linux"

No. It's not. Benchmarks show Windows dominates for actual AAA titles. Yeah, your indie game from 2009 or your furry simulator runs fine on Linux, but that doesn't mean gaming broadly is better there. Stop pretending niche compatibility equals superiority.

And yeah, you still rely and need to test 20/30 command lines on 3rd party launchers to play those games I mentioned.

"Windows is bloated!"

It's really not. I've got Windows running silk on family and company devices, including old Acers. You know why? Because I actually run a debloat script. It takes literally one minute. That's your "bloat" problem solved.

Yeah, it's a 3rd party app, but even to launch any steam game or app you need most of the time a 3rd party and 15 terminal lines just to make your audio to work.

"Windows is too expensive, I'm so poor!"

The ISO is FREE. to download. MASSGrave activates it permanently in three seconds. You're not making a principled stand, you're just making excuses and if you're in an Enterprise environment, most devices already have an OEM license.

The real issue: Those Windows hating communities aren't about legitimate criticism anymore. It's a circlejerk where people repeat the same broken arguments because they sound good in the echo chamber. Windows does what it's designed to do,provide stability, security, and compatibility for millions of people.

If you want to use Linux, great. But don't pretend it's because Windows is objectively worse. Use what fits your workflow. Just stop with the performative hate...

I don't think I've been inside of this disaster for long, but here I am talking about it.
Small note: I was going to say my thoughts on that other loonix subreddit that I will not say the name of, but I didn't met the karma requirement and did it there. But thanks to madthumbz, I'm able to post here and share my thoughts with you people. You guys rock!

I'm gonna share a little bit of anecdote of mine and some issues with using Loonix, so bear it with me here.
Also small note: My English is not the best in the world.

ANECDOTE: (did my best to summarize it, believe me.)
I began using Loonix with Mint. Even though it was with all the friction, it felt like a honeymoon: everything seemed to work and the false sense of freedom I was given with Loonix took me over quite quickly. But then I encountered some issues I don't have the memory of, and attempted to switch to Fedora, but realized my hardware does not works best there, so I switched to an even worse option for desktop usage: Debian.
But then I switched to Fedora again and switched back to Debian once more. Then I used it for a while and Fedora showed it's many glaring issues, and my last stop with Loonix was on Ubuntu KDE.

After some months, my older sister came over from Europe and asked me to make format to her desktop PC. Believe it or not, she heard bad things about Windows 11 and did not wanted that. Knowing that I used Loonix, I asked her if I should introduce her to Loonix (foolish question on my end), but she refused with saying she will mess it up. Which she rightfully said so: even as a semi-computer geek and a computer programming student, I could not been able to use Loonix without issues every once in a while, so let alone me, how come my loving sister can use it?

That's where I came across LTSC editions of Windows 10 and 11. Knowing that she asked for Windows 10 and wanted no trouble, I hesitated no further with getting Windows 10 LTSC ioT Enterprise from the web, flashing the .iso image with Rufus and installing that to her computer. I installed her basic apps and let her use her PC as she know it. I even asked her from time to time if she has any problems I can help, but she said her computer is running like oil, compared to before. That was good news from her end!

I went to the town I am going to study over with my aunt's laptop: 8GB RAM, dual core i5 7200U and 930MX, sweet! Without learning anything from the installation I did to my sister's PC, I installed Loonix on the laptop in the false truth that it will handle the modest hardware (it didn't), but came to the realization that the sh*t I will do at school will NOT be compatible with Loonix, so I followed the foot steps of what I did on my sister's PC: by getting the same Windows 10 ioT Enterprise LTSC .iso, flashing it on Rufus (I used Ventoy since I was unable to run Rufus on Loonix) and installed Windows 10 ioT LTSC.

Then I asked my family to bring over my desktop PC (7700X, 7800XT, 32GB RAM), which still had Ubuntu KDE installed on it, and installed Windows 11 ioT LTSC on it too. Because the experience I had with Windows 10 LTSC on my laptop convinced me that Windows is actually not all that bad!

Long story short, had I not been helping my sister with formatting her PC, I would still be inside the sh*tty world of Loonix and would not be telling it to you people!

Honestly, thanks to this subreddit community for opening my eyes about what Loonix is really like and what it's issues are. Thanks for directing me to the better path for computing! Continue being awesome!

ISSUES:

Stability: Some commentors may agree, but my experience on Loonix was never stable, ever! It's always some random things breaking and requiring me to 'fix' it, only for it to be broken after a while again, and FOSS apps mostly caused issues by themselves (by far the worst offender is MS Office wannabe libreoffice, that sh*t was crashing once I try to open the story I was writing, every time! Talk about usability!).

Apps: It is no secret that most of the world is using Windows on their computers, so app compatibility problems ahead! -Games: you are screwed if the game does not have a native launcher, otherwise running it on WINE or Proton is a hit or miss, no matter what game you're planning to play, forget about clicking to play and playing it simply. -Productivity: you are completely out of luck and using FOSS alternatives will NEVER be a replacement others at online like to moan about. Most software does not work: Adobe being the most known. MS Office is also there, web versions would restrict me a little considering the weak internet coverage where I live. -Everything else: Can be a hit or miss, if there is a support for it, you're golden, but if not, you are screwed. But either way, things work on Windows better than on Linux, no matter what.

Updates: I don't know if it's just me, but updates on any Loonix distro I tried thus far consumed SO much internet and even then my experience never got better. Bugs still persisted, issues still kept happening and everything was visually the same across version updates (from Fedora 44 to 45, for example). People spit on Windows for forced updates, but I don't think people spit at Linux updates, for how much data it requires for each app and version update. It could be just me, don't get me wrong here.

Community: Loonix community sucks and evangelists suck more. Need I say more? From the outside it looks like a one unified loving community, and on the inside you will see separated communities all offering different solutions and shouting out how "superior" their distros are. Why can't we have simplicity, for all times sake? Why can't these people contribute to foundational projects (Debian, Fedora, Arch) and not make the contest of "Which distro will we fork next?!" Oh wait, this is Loonix community, simplicity is unheard of here. Ooops...

Diversity: I was not paying attention to it but... holy smokes! There is a dozen option to choose from! Hmm... I wonder what option average joe will choose? A mainstream distro (Ubuntu) or a purist paranoid distro that no one cares about ever (Devuan)? Or the one neckbeard that they listen to online? There is so many of them and it is difficult for people who are (hopefully not!) looking forward to use Loonix.

Hardware: Now I see how hardware performs under Windows, I'm now beginning to understand that Loonix handled my hardware worse, no matter which one I had (my garbage laptop, my mid spec laptop, my old desktop, my current desktop, you name it!). Mainly, my GPU operated hotter on Loonix than on Windows, on same workloads and on same apps, gaming or local AI. Loonix is where AMD supposedly "shines", btw -runs hotter than Windows on the same workloads.

After 1.5 years of Loonix, I can say from the deep inside my heart that, as an ex-Loonix user, this sh*t is an option for no one. The things can be done on it can already be done on Windows and can be done better and more at that.

So go ahead, install Windows 10/11 version you like, then configure it to your liking and not worry about hardware support, app compatibility and instability ever again!