AMD Linux Patch Boosts Steam Deck Gaming Performance

• A new AMD Linux patch targets low-end frame hitches on devices like the Steam Deck.
• The patch improves efficiency in Energy Performance Preference (EPP) mode.
• It addresses issues where the driver can misinterpret short thread sleeps as a signal to lower performance.
• The fix temporarily boosts affected cores to "performance" mode.
• Testing showed up to a 31.8 percent improvement in "1% low" frame rates in Civilization VI.
• P99 frame generation times also saw a 4.1 percent improvement.

A new patch for AMD's Linux drivers has been developed to enhance gaming performance on devices like the Steam Deck, particularly addressing frame rate hitches in Energy Performance Preference (EPP) mode. Kernel coder David Vernet identified that the current AMD driver can misinterpret short thread sleeps as a signal to reduce performance targets, leading to increased latency when those threads wake up. The new patch aims to resolve this by temporarily shifting affected cores to "performance" mode until the workload decreases, allowing a return to energy-saving EPP mode. Early testing on Civilization VI benchmarks demonstrated a significant improvement, with "1% low" frame rates jumping by 31.8 percent and p99 frame generation times speeding up by 4.1 percent. While the patch does not impact average FPS, it is expected to reduce jerky frame hitches, thereby extending the usable life of aging handheld hardware.