New AMD Linux Patch Boosts Low-End Gaming Performance on Steam Deck

New AMD Linux patch boosts low-end gaming performance on Steam Deck

Improved efficiency in EPP mode leads to ~32% jump in "1% low" frame rates.

New Linux patch could reduce stuttering on Steam Deck thanks to improved 1% lows performance

Last Updated on July 29, 2026 The Steam Deck already delivers a solid gaming experience thanks to SteamOS and Valve’s ongoing software updates. On top of that, Linux developers continue to find new ways to improve performance. Now, a newly proposed Linux kernel patch could make games feel much smoother on the Steam Deck by ...

Linux CPU Driver Patches Massively Reduce Game Stuttering on Steam Deck

In recent years, community-supported work on components like drivers and kernel improvements have made Linux distributions like SteamOS especially viable as gaming operating systems. Now, a new set of driver patches has been shared to the Linux kernel mailing list, and the developer behind the patches, David Vernet, claims to have improved 1% lows on AMD CPUs by as much as 31%. The new patches, which introduce the epp_boost feature to the AMD P-…

Linux kernel patch can boost the Steam Deck's 1% low frame rate by as much as 31% in early testing

A number of recent Linux driver patches has reportedly resulted in significant performance gains for the Steam Deck. Valve's handheld runs on the Linux-based SteamOS, and these patches can apparently improve the Steam Deck's 1% low frame rates by as much as 31%.A fresh 'epp_boost' feature for the AMD P-State driver is largely responsible for the performance boost. David Vernet, a Linux kernel hacker at Meta, is the developer behind it. The featu…