VaM 1.x The VAM on Linux thread

This thread is an effort to collate existing threads on the topic and to expand with experiences about running VAM on linux.

Does VAM work on linux?
Yes!

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To dual boot or not to dual boot?
While you can run VAM in linux, dual booting with Windows can give you more options than going solo with linux.
Some reasons:

• Windows may give higher performance and options not available or not easily set up in linux
• A need for Windows-only* applications like Virtual Desktop, etc
• Other reasons

* probably no such thing as Windows-only but may be difficult to make it work in linux with similar performance/options

Dual booting is probably the most flexible option for most people. If you want to dual boot and run VAM on both the OS's, keep VAM on a NTFS partition to be available to both Windows and your linux distro.

Existing threads on the topic (may be more):


Guides:

Are you using VAM on linux?
Share a brief description of your experience and setup:

• Distro used and how long using VAM with it
• GPU brand + driver type
• Execution: Steam, Lutris, Proton, Wine, etc

Share also your results, experience, and anything else worth mentioning.

• Arch - started today
• NVIDIA - nvidia-open (official open source)
• Steam & Lutris - GE-proton

Works great so far and decent performance. Too early for me to compare with running on Windows.
Having it running on Arch was mostly following the wiki for the needed drivers and Vulkan, "gaming" page, installing Steam and/or Lutris, winetricks, and not much else of note.

I'm dual booting with Windows with VAM being on a NTFS drive. The intention for Windows is to only use for playing in VR with VAM and others, or running specific games. VAM on linux will be for making content and using desktop mode, which is most of my VAM time anyway.

I really hope more people try Linux! Mint is perfect for beginners and it's free.
The basic steps to make VAM run are:
Install Linux Distro + GPU drivers if needed (Mint has a Driver Manager for that, no need for cryptic terminal) + Steam + Proton.
Add VAM as custom game to Steam and enable Proton compatibility for it. That's it.

• 5-6 month
• Distro: Linux Mint 22.2 Cinnamon + Window 11 dual boot
• GPU: RTX5060Ti 16 GB, 580.95 open kernel driver (currently latest in driver manager)
• Execution: Steam + Proton or GE Proton

Experience:
The previous VAM-folder can just be reused as it is. I just copied it to a EXT4-linux formatted drive. Not sure that is actually needed.
Performance is better on Linux for me. It's not a night and day difference, but noticeable.

I'm running a configuration where Vsync to my 4K 60 Hz display is disabled and my framerate is capped to 60 Hz via a mangoHud configuration.
(MangoHud is a performance HUD similar to the one from MSI Afterburner.)
That gave me the smoothest frametimes - a perfect flat line with every frame 16.66 milliseconds.
https://discord.com/channels/363274293112602636/1380856122721701961/1381582247412629555
Overall I'd recommend to avoid Vsync specifically in VAM. Usually I like to keep it on, because I do not like tearing, but I have observed weird 30 to 60 framerate ping pong under certain conditions.
However with the manual 60 Hz software framerate limit it seems to be mostly in sync with the monitor. There is tearing, but barely visible.
Note I'm a desktop mode only user. Not sure about VR headset / hardware stuff.

In Steam I have added VAM two times with different Launch Options.

run in 1080p to 4K upscale: (was used to run VAM on slow GTX 1070 8 GB in 4K)
gamescope -w 1920 -h 1080 -W 3840 -H 2160 -F fsr --fsr-sharpness 0 -f -- env MANGOHUD=1 MANGOHUD_CONFIGFILE="/mnt/v/VaM_Gold/MangoHud.conf" %command%

run in 4K native:
MANGOHUD=1 MANGOHUD_CONFIGFILE="/mnt/v/VaM_Gold/MangoHud.conf" %command%

In last 6 month I only started Windows 11 once to give remote support for family relatives, which I actually could have done via Linux too. I just wrongly assumed the remote-software was for Windows only.
Personally I'm done with Windows and I will remove Windows 11 from my drives in the future.
Other games I enjoy on Linux: Core Keeper (has Linux version), Palworld (Proton), Factorio (Proton)

The OS-switch for me is not an option, it is required!
I was about to write a long in depth rant here about Microsofts Windows 11 ... I'll spare you all.
It's simply the worst OS in history and a foreshadowing of a more and more dystopian future from "big-tech"-companies.

Dual boot recommendation:
Set a simple UEFI / BIOS password to prevent overly aggressive Firmware- / Windows-Updates to mess up or reset settings.
Well known Notebook manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, etc. are for whatever reason able to publish updates via Microsoft for the Firmware/BIOS/UEFI that can reset or modify BIOS settings.
If unlucky this can mess up dual boot setups (especially risky with drive encryptions).

Minor Linux+VAM issue:
All post-processing plugins (specifically the LUT-part) cause a graphical glitch that renders colors wrong.
Probably driver- or old Unity-Engine-bug. Fortunately this can be toggled in the plugins.

First launch Pitfall:
Be patient on the first launch in Steam after you have set up everything. Proton silently downloads additional requirements automatically in the background.

Thanks for writing all that, Sally, they are very useful tips and show that the whole process of using VAM on linux is much simpler and performant than expected.

Do you use VR with VAM?
I am keeping Windows to play VAM in VR with Virtual Desktop and Heresphere for videos. I could probably spend some time investigating using those in linux with similar performance/options, or using alternatives like Wyvrn/ALVR, but for now using Windows for only those uses is for me quite acceptable.
For that reason I have my VAM in a NTFS drive for Windows to use, no issues so far.
There's also some AI tools that I ocasionally use and as my GPU only has 8 GB VRAM I need to use Windows for a memory fallback option in RAM to avoid crashes, so also stuck for that purpose. An acceptable compromise I guess.