Hardware monitoring of games on Linux

Gaming hardware monitoring software is a widely used tool among PC gamers. Many newcomers to the Linux gaming world were used to using applications like Fraps or Afterburner On Windows, and Linux have no idea how to monitor the performance of your hardware while playing.

hardware-monitoring-in-linux games

There are several hardware monitoring software available in Linux distributions. Some of them have the ability to display information in HUD form, as well as their Windows alternatives. There is currently no Linux software that works in exactly the same way as Afterburner, or is as complete as it is. However, there are some options that can help a lot in this regard.

All games we can run on Linux distros use the graphic APIs OpenGL or Vulkan. To monitor the system in games using OpenGL we will use the Gallium hud. In games that use Vulkan, we have two options: the dxvk_hud, it's the Vulkan Overlay Layer.

Gallium hud

Gallium Hud is the most complete of all three software that we will talk about in this article. With it you can view information about: FPS, frametimes, CPU Usage, Core CPU Usage, GPU Usage, Video Memory Usage, CPU Temperature, and more.

gallium-hud modes

Gallium Hud is included with Mesa Driver, and is already installed by default in all major distros. Because it is included with Mesa, it works only with drivers that use it, which are AMD and Intel GPUs, as well as Nvidia that use the "Noveau" open source driver. How you use it depends on how you installed the game. In the examples below, I will teach you how to enable Gallium Hud to display the following information: fps, frametime, GPU usage, CPU usage, and VRAM usage.

At Steam:

Right-click the game in which you want to enable HUD, click properties, click in Set boot options, in the window that opens paste the line below, and click OK.

GALLIUM_HUD = simple, fps, frametime, GPU-load, cpu, VRAM-usage% command%

Obs.: If you want Gallium Hud to also display the graphics, as in the image above, just delete the word simple of the parameter.

At Lutris:

Click on the Lutris cone in the upper left corner of the window. click in Preferencesin the lower right corner of the tab System Options click in Add. In the field Key, type it GALLIUM_HUDthen press Enter. In the field Value paste simple, fps, frametime, GPU-load, cpu, VRAM-usage, then press Enter.

access-settings-no-lutris utilize-galliumhud-no-lutris

Now just click Save, and ready! All your Lutris games that use OpenGL show off the HUD.

Others games:

For games not on Lutris or Steam, there are two options.

Via terminal, use the command below:

GALLIUM_HUD = simple, fps, frametime, GPU-load, cpu, VRAM-usage CommandForGame

Or edit the game shortcut using a menu editor.

If you do not know what, or how to use a menu editor. Watch the video below:

Dxvk_hud only works with Windows games running on Linux via DXVK or D9VK. For example, all Windows games that run through SteamPlay and use DirectX 10 and 11. Or games made under DirectX 9, which run via SteamPlay, with proton on the back. 4.11+, using the D9VK through the parameter PROTON_USE_D9VK = 1% command%. Dxvk_hud does not work with native Linux games. Dxvk_hud is included in DXVKIt is therefore not necessary to install it separately.

DXVK_HUD

Dxvk_hud is not as complete as gallium_hud. Among the most commonly used information by gamers, it is capable of displaying only FPS, frametimes, video memory usage and GPU usage. No options for CPU usage, temperatures, RAM, etc.

How to use?

The use of dxvk_hud is exactly the same as gallium_hud. Both at Steam and Lutris. The only difference is that you use the parameter below to enable it with the following voltages: fps, frametimes, video memory usage and GPU usage.

DXVK_HUD = fps, frametimes, memory, gpuload

Obs.: On Steam add % command% at the end of the parameter.

For more information about dxvk_hud: Github

Vulkan Overlay Layer

Vulkan Overlay Layer is a recent project, created by Intel and maintained with the community. The project is still in the experimental phase. VOL (Vulkan Overlay Layer) works with any game that uses Vulkan. Native or not.

vulkan-overlay-layer

Among the most commonly used hardware information by gamers, VOL displays only FPS and frametimes. However, as mentioned above, they are in the experimental phase. It is likely that over time new features and enhancements to the software will be released.

How to install?

VOL is already included in Mesa3D since version 19.1. However, as it is in the experimental phase, it is not yet installed in most distributions. However, you can use it in any district through Steam via Flatpak.

Install Steam in any distro via Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam

Check out our tutorial about installing Flatpak packages. Remember that you will need to add the Flathub repository if you have added support for Flatpak only on your system.

Installation of VOL on Manjaro, Arch and derivatives:

sudo pacman -S vulkan-table-layer

The latest version of Debian already has software installed by default.

Download and install VOL manually in any distro:

THE Claudiofrom the channel Mr Rob Linux Brazil made a video teaching how to install VOL in all major distros. Check out:

Obs.: The installation method shown in the video above is for testing purposes only. When installed in this way, the software will not receive updates, and may or may not stop working after any updates. When performing the video procedure, you will be accessing operating system files, so be careful not to remove or modify what you should not. Do it at your own risk.

How to use?

The way to use VOL is exactly the same as before. Just replacing the parameter with:

VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS = VK_LAYER_MESA_overlay

For more information about Mesa Overlay Layer: Gitlab

Do you usually monitor the performance of your hardware while playing? Did you already know any of these applications, or do you know any others? Tell us in the comments.

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