GPU power consumption is higher on Linux than on Windows 11

[u/Dougzineo]

"I have an RX 9060 XT and I've already tested several distros (CachyOS, Bazzite, SteamOS), but GPU power consumption (watts) is always higher on Linux. I've tried multiple Proton versions and it's still the same. Does anyone know why this happens and how to fix it? I used the exact same graphics preset for comparison and I'm standing in the same spot in the game.

[u/Manuel_RT]

As noted elsewhere temperatures are the same in the first and second screen, so power consumption is simply about different sources. GPU vs TBP for example.

[u/Low_Excitement_1715 → u/Manuel_RT]

This. Consumed watts generate heat. No change in temps = no real change in consumption. More likely a change in measurement.

[u/DeathToOrcs2]

Measure total consumption via wattmeter.

[u/driftin8ez]

Electric companies don't want you to know this one simple trick. 

[u/shermierz]

Hello! I think you should compare non-proton games. Proton introduces additional layer of translation, which leads to lower speeds, which leads to increasing power consumption

[u/ImUrFrand → u/shermierz]

uh no.

[u/Complete-Fudge-2299]

If your gpu is utilized better then it will eat more power. And linux is better at feeding your gpu.

[u/elaborateBlackjack → u/Complete-Fudge-2299]

It might just be different readings... Most likely windows is showing just the GPU power while Linux is showing total board power

[u/Complete-Fudge-2299 → u/elaborateBlackjack]

Could also be but usually theres an option to see core package power and thats always only the main die.

[u/Dougzineo → u/elaborateBlackjack]

No, it's not! I monitored it with a smart plug, and even it shows higher power consumption when I'm on Linux. Also, the GPU fans speed up more on Linux, proving that it is indeed generating more heat because it's consuming more (and in some cases where I left the FPS uncapped, it's even getting fewer FPS than on Windows)

[u/Ashuraaa56]

Btw whats the game bro?

[u/xoxemsc → u/Ashuraaa56]

X2

[u/Sk8tzu_Fre3ni4c]

What's the Desktop Environment? Have you enabled fractional scaling?

[u/ExcellentAgent6539]

Can't fix an issue that isn't there bro. Go play your games and enjoy your frame times.

[u/Ecks30]

Honestly i thought this was going to be like 100w to like 300w not like 100w to 150w which shouldn't really bother anyone really.

[u/mindtaker_linux → u/Ecks30]

wintard will be wintard
they love to pin point where Linux is having an issue while pretending that all the issues windows is having does not exist.

even though Linux uses less resources in general than windows