CachyOS vs Bazzite: The Truth About Linux Gaming Performance on AMD BC-250

CachyOS vs. Bazzite Gaming Performance

The video compares gaming performance on CachyOS and Bazzite using the same AMD BC-250 hardware. It also explains why Linux gaming benchmarks depend on more than the distribution alone.

How Windows Games Run on Linux

Most Windows games use DirectX. On Linux, Proton/Wine and graphics translation layers handle these games:

• DXVK translates DirectX 9–11 to Vulkan.
• VKD3D-Proton translates DirectX 12 to Vulkan.

Vulkan then works with Mesa/RADV, the Linux kernel, and the AMDGPU driver before reaching the hardware. Changes anywhere in this stack can affect performance, compatibility, or shader compilation.

Software Versions and Test Setup

Software versions differed between the tested systems:

System Kernel Mesa Bazzite 7.2.4 26.2.1 CachyOS 7.2.3 26.2.4

The test used the same BC-250 hardware on both systems:

• 36 GPU compute units running at 2 GHz
• Eight CPU cores running at 3.85 GHz
• Async Compute enabled

The tester also matched settings such as the swap file, VRAM allocation, and memory governor to focus the comparison on the operating-system software stack.

Benchmark Results

Overall, CachyOS and Bazzite performed practically the same. Individual games varied by a frame or two in either direction, but there was no consistent winner.

Because kernels, Mesa, Proton, and translation layers are updated frequently, benchmark results can become outdated quickly.

Why SteamOS Was Excluded

SteamOS was excluded because the tester wanted to compare stable releases. SteamOS 3.8.28 Stable used an older kernel, version 6.18.50, although its Mesa version had been updated to 26.2.0. SteamOS 3.10 had moved to a 7.2 kernel but was still a development release.

The video argues that SteamOS uses the same fundamental gaming technologies as the other systems, so the Valve name alone does not guarantee a major performance advantage on the BC-250.

Choosing Between CachyOS and Bazzite

• CachyOS is a mutable, Arch-based system for users who value control, newer components, and experimentation. It may require more maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Bazzite is an atomic, image-based system designed for easier rollback and a more console-like, hard-to-break experience. Deep system modifications may be less convenient.

Source: The video’s narrator from the Old Lamer channel.