Meta patches increase FPS on Steam Deck by up to 32% thanks to the new EPP mode
- Meta released patches for the Linux kernel that change the operation of the amd-pstate driver.
- The new per-core EPP boost mode increases the minimum FPS on the Steam Deck by almost 32%.
- The mechanism switches cores to the performance profile when the load exceeds 50%.
- The approach can be applied to other devices with AMD APU under Linux.
Meta introduced updates to the Linux kernel aimed at gaming devices with AMD APU processors. The patches modify the operation of the amd-pstate driver, which is responsible for managing frequency and power consumption, and utilize the Energy Performance Preference (EPP) technology to balance performance and energy savings.
The standard EPP mode often proves ineffective in games where the main CPU thread is interrupted by short bursts of load. To address this issue, developer David Vernet implemented the per-core EPP boost mechanism. The new epp_boost module checks the load of each core every 10 ms; if the load exceeds 50%, the core is switched to the 'performance' profile. If the load does not return within 300 ms, the driver reverts to the previous power-saving mode.
The effectiveness of the innovation was tested on the portable gaming device Steam Deck in the game Civilization VI – a test sensitive to single-thread performance. According to the measurements, the minimum frame rate (1% low) increased by 31.8%, and the 99th percentile latency (P99) improved by 4.1%. The average FPS changed insignificantly, indicating a targeted increase in frame stability without increasing load.
Tests showed that the 30% gain relates to the lower threshold of frames, which is especially important for smooth gameplay in dynamic scenes. Meanwhile, power consumption during low-load periods remains at the same level, as the driver automatically returns to power-saving mode.
The developer notes that a similar approach could be beneficial for other devices running SteamOS or any Linux system with AMD APU. Patches are already available as source code and can be included in future versions of the Linux kernel.
The per-core EPP boost technology demonstrates how fine-tuning power management can provide a noticeable performance increase without changing the hardware. This is especially relevant for users who utilize open platforms and are looking for ways to enhance the efficiency of their gaming systems.
Overall, the implementation of Meta patches paves the way for more flexible use of AMD processor resources in a Linux environment, allowing for an improved gaming experience without compromising energy savings.
Source: 3DNews
