A KDE developer has managed to bring Linux's graphical performance closer to Windows' in gaming. After connecting a microcontroller to their system to measure real latency, they discovered that Windows responded faster. They applied patches to KWin that reduce delay by up to 1.2 milliseconds in windowed games with V-Sync, a notable advancement for Linux gamers.
Microcontrollers as a tool to measure latency in KWin 🎮
The developer used a microcontroller to accurately measure the latency between user input and on-screen response. They detected that Windows showed a temporal advantage in games with V-Sync enabled. The patches applied to KWin optimize the window compositing flow, reducing delay by up to 1.2 milliseconds. This improves the experience in titles where vertical synchronization is necessary, without compromising system stability.
Windows still wins, but now by less than a blink ⏱️
In the end, the microcontroller confirmed what many suspected: Windows is faster, though now the difference is so small you could blink and miss the delay. With 1.2 milliseconds less latency, Linux users can boast of having closed the gap. Of course, if you lose a match, you can no longer blame the system: now the culprit is you and your koala-like reflexes. 😅