VRAM memory leak when gaming on Linux?

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
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I’m playing DayZ on Mint 22.2 + KDE Plasma (X11), 7800X3D + RTX3080Ti(12Gb).

When I first launch, I can put all the settings to high and it runs VERY smoothly - easily 200fps+, depending on the server / part of the game, 300-320fps… but only for about 2-5mins, then it turns into a slide show (10fps, if I’m lucky).

I enabled the Steam detailed stats overlay and I could see I was running out of VRAM pretty quickly: started at 10Gb and climbed up to 12Gb, which is when the slide show starts.

I tried dropping all the settings down to medium/low… and it now starts at ~4Gb-5Gb VRAM usage and this gives me 30-45mins, but I can see the VRAM usage constantly building until it hits 12Gb and the game grinds to a shuddery mess again.

Is there any way around this?

It feels like there’s some garbage collection / memory cleaning that just isn’t happening.

What are the suggestions? Is there a setting I can change, alternate drivers to try or should I just start saving for a RX9070XT?

EDIT: One other thought: I am currently running the Steam 120min recording buffer, which I’ll try disabling tomorrow.

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Are you having this issue on other games? If not I’d say it’s a DayZ issue.

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I wouldn’t bet on Nvidia making any significant improvements to their Linux driver support anytime soon.
It all depends on how much you value your time.
I currently also own an Nvidia card and have found that since then I only use my Windows VM for gaming, whereas before I had fun with Nobara and the 7900XTX.
But the driver problems didn’t take long to appear, and I see no point in fixing driver problems if I want to play.

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Seen this with Star Citizen and the Nvidia drivers. The nvidia drivers let games overallocate the amount of VRAM they can use and once the card’s physical vram is exhausted, that’s when your FPS tanks.

For SC, it’s been found that having DXVK report 2GB less VRAM than you have physical VRAM to the game helps to keep the game from triggering the issue. So for a 12GB Card, you’d have it report 10GB.

No idea if DayZ would also benefit from it.