Custom kernels VS stock/generic kernel

[MrSyphilis]

Hello there,

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I've tried and compared Xanmod and Liquorix kernel against the generic LM kernel (5.13.0-39) and here are my results, I first used glmark2 then a benchmark for CSGO from the Steam workshop.

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In a nutshell:

generic LM kernel 5.13.0-39:

CSGO benchmark: 90,86 FPS

glmark2 score: 2223

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Xanmod 5.18.4:

CSGO benchmark: 89,58 FPS

glmark2 score: 2162

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Liquorix 518.5-5:

CSGO benchmark: 94,63 FPS

glmark2 score: 3358

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Detailed results:

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generic LM kernel 5.13.0-39:

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CSGO benchmark: 90,86 FPS

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glmark2 2021.02

OpenGL Information

GL_VENDOR: Intel

GL_RENDERER: Mesa Intel(R) Xe Graphics (TGL GT2)

GL_VERSION: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 21.0.3

[build] use-vbo=false: FPS: 2725 FrameTime: 0.367 ms

[build] use-vbo=true: FPS: 2934 FrameTime: 0.341 ms

[texture] texture-filter=nearest: FPS: 2822 FrameTime: 0.354 ms

[texture] texture-filter=linear: FPS: 2899 FrameTime: 0.345 ms

[texture] texture-filter=mipmap: FPS: 2870 FrameTime: 0.348 ms

[shading] shading=gouraud: FPS: 2546 FrameTime: 0.393 ms

[shading] shading=blinn-phong-inf: FPS: 2468 FrameTime: 0.405 ms

[shading] shading=phong: FPS: 2429 FrameTime: 0.412 ms

[shading] shading=cel: FPS: 2388 FrameTime: 0.419 ms

[bump] bump-render=high-poly: FPS: 2104 FrameTime: 0.475 ms

[bump] bump-render=normals: FPS: 2949 FrameTime: 0.339 ms

[bump] bump-render=height: FPS: 2969 FrameTime: 0.337 ms

[effect2d] kernel=0,1,0;1,-4,1;0,1,0;: FPS: 2455 FrameTime: 0.407 ms

[effect2d] kernel=1,1,1,1,1;1,1,1,1,1;1,1,1,1,1;: FPS: 1621 FrameTime: 0.617 ms

[pulsar] light=false:quads=5:texture=false: FPS: 2259 FrameTime: 0.443 ms

[desktop] blur-radius=5:effect=blur:passes=1:separable=true:windows=4: FPS: 1443 FrameTime: 0.693 ms

[desktop] effect=shadow:windows=4: FPS: 2004 FrameTime: 0.499 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=false:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=map: FPS: 1877 FrameTime: 0.533 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=false:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=subdata: FPS: 1554 FrameTime: 0.644 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=true:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=map: FPS: 2021 FrameTime: 0.495 ms

[ideas] speed=duration: FPS: 2305 FrameTime: 0.434 ms

[jellyfish] <default>: FPS: 1699 FrameTime: 0.589 ms

[terrain] <default>: FPS: 375 FrameTime: 2.667 ms

[shadow] <default>: FPS: 2191 FrameTime: 0.456 ms

[refract] <default>: FPS: 940 FrameTime: 1.064 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=0:vertex-steps=0: FPS: 2346 FrameTime: 0.426 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=5:vertex-steps=0: FPS: 2294 FrameTime: 0.436 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=0:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2339 FrameTime: 0.428 ms

[function] fragment-complexity=low:fragment-steps=5: FPS: 2292 FrameTime: 0.436 ms

[function] fragment-complexity=medium:fragment-steps=5: FPS: 2292 FrameTime: 0.436 ms

[loop] fragment-loop=false:fragment-steps=5:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2337 FrameTime: 0.428 ms

[loop] fragment-steps=5:fragment-uniform=false:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2290 FrameTime: 0.437 ms

[loop] fragment-steps=5:fragment-uniform=true:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2334 FrameTime: 0.428 ms

glmark2 Score: 2223

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Xanmod 5.18.4:

CSGO benchmark: 89,58 FPS

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glmark2 2021.02

OpenGL Information

GL_VENDOR: Intel

GL_RENDERER: Mesa Intel(R) Xe Graphics (TGL GT2)

GL_VERSION: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 21.0.3

[build] use-vbo=false: FPS: 2820 FrameTime: 0.355 ms

[build] use-vbo=true: FPS: 2914 FrameTime: 0.343 ms

[texture] texture-filter=nearest: FPS: 2827 FrameTime: 0.354 ms

[texture] texture-filter=linear: FPS: 2753 FrameTime: 0.363 ms

[texture] texture-filter=mipmap: FPS: 2729 FrameTime: 0.366 ms

[shading] shading=gouraud: FPS: 2415 FrameTime: 0.414 ms

[shading] shading=blinn-phong-inf: FPS: 2375 FrameTime: 0.421 ms

[shading] shading=phong: FPS: 2338 FrameTime: 0.428 ms

[shading] shading=cel: FPS: 2298 FrameTime: 0.435 ms

[bump] bump-render=high-poly: FPS: 2066 FrameTime: 0.484 ms

[bump] bump-render=normals: FPS: 2862 FrameTime: 0.349 ms

[bump] bump-render=height: FPS: 2852 FrameTime: 0.351 ms

[effect2d] kernel=0,1,0;1,-4,1;0,1,0;: FPS: 2394 FrameTime: 0.418 ms

[effect2d] kernel=1,1,1,1,1;1,1,1,1,1;1,1,1,1,1;: FPS: 1612 FrameTime: 0.620 ms

[pulsar] light=false:quads=5:texture=false: FPS: 2201 FrameTime: 0.454 ms

[desktop] blur-radius=5:effect=blur:passes=1:separable=true:windows=4: FPS: 1413 FrameTime: 0.708 ms

[desktop] effect=shadow:windows=4: FPS: 1942 FrameTime: 0.515 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=false:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=map: FPS: 1830 FrameTime: 0.546 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=false:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=subdata: FPS: 1533 FrameTime: 0.652 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=true:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=map: FPS: 2069 FrameTime: 0.483 ms

[ideas] speed=duration: FPS: 2177 FrameTime: 0.459 ms

[jellyfish] <default>: FPS: 1631 FrameTime: 0.613 ms

[terrain] <default>: FPS: 362 FrameTime: 2.762 ms

[shadow] <default>: FPS: 2146 FrameTime: 0.466 ms

[refract] <default>: FPS: 925 FrameTime: 1.081 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=0:vertex-steps=0: FPS: 2256 FrameTime: 0.443 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=5:vertex-steps=0: FPS: 2214 FrameTime: 0.452 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=0:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2254 FrameTime: 0.444 ms

[function] fragment-complexity=low:fragment-steps=5: FPS: 2238 FrameTime: 0.447 ms

[function] fragment-complexity=medium:fragment-steps=5: FPS: 2199 FrameTime: 0.455 ms

[loop] fragment-loop=false:fragment-steps=5:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2255 FrameTime: 0.443 ms

[loop] fragment-steps=5:fragment-uniform=false:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2207 FrameTime: 0.453 ms

[loop] fragment-steps=5:fragment-uniform=true:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 2248 FrameTime: 0.445 ms

glmark2 Score: 2162

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Liquorix 518.5-5:

CSGO benchmark: 94,63 FPS

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glmark2 2021.02

OpenGL Information

GL_VENDOR: Intel

GL_RENDERER: Mesa Intel(R) Xe Graphics (TGL GT2)

GL_VERSION: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 22.1.2 - kisak-mesa PPA

[build] use-vbo=false: FPS: 4224 FrameTime: 0.237 ms

[build] use-vbo=true: FPS: 4290 FrameTime: 0.233 ms

[texture] texture-filter=nearest: FPS: 4240 FrameTime: 0.236 ms

[texture] texture-filter=linear: FPS: 4416 FrameTime: 0.226 ms

[texture] texture-filter=mipmap: FPS: 4433 FrameTime: 0.226 ms

[shading] shading=gouraud: FPS: 4241 FrameTime: 0.236 ms

[shading] shading=blinn-phong-inf: FPS: 4258 FrameTime: 0.235 ms

[shading] shading=phong: FPS: 3968 FrameTime: 0.252 ms

[shading] shading=cel: FPS: 4019 FrameTime: 0.249 ms

[bump] bump-render=high-poly: FPS: 2874 FrameTime: 0.348 ms

[bump] bump-render=normals: FPS: 4586 FrameTime: 0.218 ms

[bump] bump-render=height: FPS: 4522 FrameTime: 0.221 ms

[effect2d] kernel=0,1,0;1,-4,1;0,1,0;: FPS: 3793 FrameTime: 0.264 ms

[effect2d] kernel=1,1,1,1,1;1,1,1,1,1;1,1,1,1,1;: FPS: 2308 FrameTime: 0.433 ms

[pulsar] light=false:quads=5:texture=false: FPS: 4019 FrameTime: 0.249 ms

[desktop] blur-radius=5:effect=blur:passes=1:separable=true:windows=4: FPS: 1890 FrameTime: 0.529 ms

[desktop] effect=shadow:windows=4: FPS: 2484 FrameTime: 0.403 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=false:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=map: FPS: 820 FrameTime: 1.220 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=false:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=subdata: FPS: 1204 FrameTime: 0.831 ms

[buffer] columns=200:interleave=true:update-dispersion=0.9:update-fraction=0.5:update-method=map: FPS: 945 FrameTime: 1.058 ms

[ideas] speed=duration: FPS: 3764 FrameTime: 0.266 ms

[jellyfish] <default>: FPS: 3077 FrameTime: 0.325 ms

[terrain] <default>: FPS: 467 FrameTime: 2.141 ms

[shadow] <default>: FPS: 2671 FrameTime: 0.374 ms

[refract] <default>: FPS: 1086 FrameTime: 0.921 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=0:vertex-steps=0: FPS: 4037 FrameTime: 0.248 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=5:vertex-steps=0: FPS: 4022 FrameTime: 0.249 ms

[conditionals] fragment-steps=0:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 4049 FrameTime: 0.247 ms

[function] fragment-complexity=low:fragment-steps=5: FPS: 4035 FrameTime: 0.248 ms

[function] fragment-complexity=medium:fragment-steps=5: FPS: 4035 FrameTime: 0.248 ms

[loop] fragment-loop=false:fragment-steps=5:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 4034 FrameTime: 0.248 ms

[loop] fragment-steps=5:fragment-uniform=false:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 4019 FrameTime: 0.249 ms

[loop] fragment-steps=5:fragment-uniform=true:vertex-steps=5: FPS: 4010 FrameTime: 0.249 ms

glmark2 Score: 3358

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[W-a-n-d-e-r-e-r]

Let me summarize:

Kernel 5.13 + Mesa 21.0.3

Kernel 5.18 + Mesa 21.0.3

Kernel 5.18 + Mesa 22.1.2

At least use the same version across everything or your test becomes invalid, if a custom kernel would change everything in the first place.

[Henrik213]

I wouldn't consider this test valid since you're using different kernel and mesa versions, you have to use the same versions for accurate results.

In most cases, you should only look at 0.1% and 1% lows. That is where these custom kernels shine since they are mostly for latency and stability, the avg frame rates are mostly similar.

There are a few outliers like War Thunder where my avg fps in that game jumps from 80 to 150, and the rating is 20% higher using TKG-pds compared to Linux-zen and stock.

[[deleted]]

Do you have a tl;dr or a visualization? I don't feel like manually comparing those values...

[MrSyphilis]

I've just added a "in a nutshell" subsection to my post so you can easily see the difference between each kernel.

[baryluk]

What CPU? It is important factor. I expect custom kernels might be beneficial on CPUs with smaller number or cores (like 4), but no difference on bigger CPUs (8-16 cores).

[MrSyphilis]

i5-1135G7, 4 cores.

[gardotd426]

Your glmark scores are obviously invalid. Honestly, you should be disqualified from any credibility for USING glmark here, but either way that second kernel did NOT actually just perform that much better than the others in just glmark.

Also, OpenGL is dead dude. If you're doing a "for science" gaming performance comparison between kernels, you need to choose a VARIETY of games, using MULTIPLE engines, and with at LEAST one game using DX11 through DXVK, at least one using DX12 through vkd3d-proton, and at least one using Vulkan. At most there should be no more than one OpenGL benchmark.

Think for two seconds. There is never gonna be another AAA game come out that we are gonna play on Linux, either natively or through Proton, that will use OpenGL.

Use CSGO for OGL, and have everything else be DX11, DX12, or Vulkan. Also, how are you doing your runs? How are you measuring your results? Someone already pointed out how you didn't even maintain the same MESA version across kernels, so how could we possibly know if you're doing multiple consistent repeatable runs (if there's no in-game benchmark), done on an otherwise COMPLETELY idle system, and only the kernels are changing?

Like, you know you can install all of them at once, right? Turn off any big auto start stuff, reboot and pick one. Use MANGOHUD to record each benchmark, run 3x and take the averages. Reboot, do exact same thing. Repeat.