Steam FPS Overlay showing onboard GPU instead of dedicated one.

steamopen overlay

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12571 · opened 2025-12-21 by Shinusagi · updated 2026-08-05 · 12 comments · github

SShinusagi 2025-12-21 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date):

Steam Beta Branch:  Stable Client
Steam Version:  1766177208
Steam Client Build Date:  Fri, Dec 19 17:01 UTC -03:00
Steam Web Build Date:  Fri, Dec 19 17:20 UTC -03:00
Steam API Version:  SteamClient023

Steam Logs

Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Linux Mint
Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes]
Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes]
GPU: GPU Intel (Both Onboard disabled and Dedicated in use)

System:
  Kernel: 6.14.0-1018-oem arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.3.0 clocksource: tsc
  Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.4.8 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: Muffin v: 6.4.1 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.30.0
    Distro: Linux Mint 22.2 Zara base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: PRO B760M-E (MS-7D48) v: 3.0 serial: <superuser required>
    uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: H.60 date: 07/08/2024
CPU:
  Info: 6-core model: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12400 bits: 64 type: MT MCP smt: enabled
    arch: Alder Lake rev: 5 cache: L1: 480 KiB L2: 7.5 MiB L3: 18 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1046 high: 1198 min/max: 800/5600 cores: 1: 1073 2: 1127 3: 941 4: 799
    5: 1196 6: 1187 7: 801 8: 1160 9: 1197 10: 1198 11: 1084 12: 800 bogomips: 59904
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Battlemage G21 [Arc B580] vendor: ASRock driver: xe v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 ports: active: HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-3 empty: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, HDMI-A-2,
    HDMI-A-4 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:e20b class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: xe display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1848 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x489mm (20.00x19.25") s-diag: 705mm (27.76")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 pos: bottom-r model: HDMI serial: <filter> res: 1366x768
    hz: 60 dpi: 85 size: 410x230mm (16.14x9.06") modes: max: 1366x768 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: HDMI-A-3 mapped: HDMI-3 pos: primary,top-left model: Samsung S22D300
    serial: <filter> res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102 size: 477x268mm (18.78x10.55")
    diag: 547mm (21.5") modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel iris platforms: device: 0 drv: iris device: 1 drv: swrast gbm:
    drv: iris surfaceless: drv: iris x11: drv: iris inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: intel mesa v: PPA glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes
    renderer: Mesa Intel Arc B580 Graphics (BMG G21) device-ID: 8086:e20b
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Raptor Lake High Definition Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:7a50 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Intel vendor: ASRock driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: Unknown lanes: 63
    bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:e2f7 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.14.0-1018-oem status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    RTL8111/8168/8411 driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 3000
    bus-ID: 06:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp6s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: wlxdc6279499446 state: down mac: <filter>
Info:
  Memory: total: 24 GiB note: est. available: 23.24 GiB used: 4.19 GiB (18.0%)
  Processes: 394 Power: uptime: 3h 19m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep wakeups: 0
    hibernate: platform Init: systemd v: 255 target: graphical (5) default: graphical
  Compilers: gcc: 13.3.0 Client: Cinnamon v: 6.4.8 inxi: 3.3.34

03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Battlemage G21 [Arc B580] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Subsystem: ASRock Incorporation Device 6021
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 151, IOMMU group 14
	Memory at 81000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
	Memory at 4000000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=16G]
	Expansion ROM at 82000000 [disabled] [size=2M]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel driver in use: xe
	Kernel modules: xe

geriel@JOHTO-MINT:~$ lspci -v | egrep -i --color 'vga|3d|2d'
	Memory behind bridge: 82400000-82dfffff [size=10M] [32-bit]
03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Battlemage G21 [Arc B580] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])

geriel@JOHTO-MINT:~$ sudo lshw -class display
  *-display                 
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Battlemage G21 [Arc B580]
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
       logical name: /dev/fb0
       version: 00
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pciexpress msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom fb
       configuration: depth=32 driver=xe latency=0 resolution=1920,1080
       resources: iomemory:400-3ff irq:151 memory:81000000-81ffffff memory:4000000000-43ffffffff memory:82000000-821fffff

geriel@JOHTO-MINT:~$ switcherooctl list
Device: 0
  Name:        Intel Corporation
  Default:     yes
  Environment: DRI_PRIME=pci-0000_03_00_0
geriel@JOHTO-MINT:~$ lspci -n -n -k | grep -A 2 -e VGA -e 3D
03:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Battlemage G21 [Arc B580] [8086:e20b]
	Subsystem: ASRock Incorporation Device [1849:6021]
	Kernel driver in use: xe
geriel@JOHTO-MINT:~$ glxinfo | grep -e OpenGL.vendor -e OpenGL.renderer
OpenGL vendor string: Intel
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa Intel(R) Arc(tm) B580 Graphics (BMG G21)

More Vulkan Info:

geriel@JOHTO-MINT:~$ MESA_VK_DEVICE_SELECT=list vulkaninfo
WARNING: [Loader Message] Code 0 : terminator_CreateInstance: Received return code -9 from call to vkCreateInstance in ICD libvulkan_dzn.so. Skipping this driver.
selectable devices:
  GPU 0: 8086:e20b "Intel(R) Arc(tm) B580 Graphics (BMG G21)" discrete GPU 0000:03:00.0
  GPU 1: 10005:0 "llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.8, 256 bits)" CPU 0000:00:00.0

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

The option for Overlay monitoring on FPS should show info about CPU, GPU and RAM usage, which does mostly fine but the GPU it is using seems to be the onboard (disabled one), so I can't check the info on the Dedicated which is in use:

Screenshot

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Go into Option - Settings - InGame
Scroll down to "Overlay Performance Monitor" and enable "Show performance monitor" on any place you want, then below that on "Performance detail level" select "FPS, CPU, GPU and Ramm Full Details"
Launch any game and you should see the GPU usage as not being in use.

Sorry but I searched a lot first and I found most of the time posts about people not being able to "use" the dedicated GPU on the games, but I know for sure I am using it, just the Overlay Monitor is taking the onboard it seems to show but I can't find any way to force it to use the PCI-E Dedicated Graphic Card.

EDIT: I forgot to mention how I went into disabling the Integrated Intel HD Card, it was because issues with it, and the help I received in this thread:

Linux Mint Forums Thread

Also thanks to @kisak-valve for editing the tag, sorry I forgot about some details, was focused on giving all the possible info and didn't check that.

SShaun-Meechan 2026-01-10 github

Having a similar issue but with no usage reported at all on Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS with a Nvidia GTX 970 on the main steam branch. I've got something running on my 2nd monitor so I'd expect some usage reported as that runs on my integrated but not getting anything, it looks like in my case it can't find any GPU to report.

Ssmswz 2026-01-17 github

Same issue with Fedora 43. RTX 3080 Ti with a Ryzen 9800X3D. Game runs on the dedicated video card, but the performance monitor is showing:

0% 50C 0/2.0GB

NNKO55 2026-05-01 github

Same issue here. This overlay was working perfectly fine with Nvidia driver 580, but after an update to 595, it started malfuctioning. So currently it is showing iGPU info instead of dGPU.

Also, if I go the "System information" in the top menu, it also doesn't recognize my GPU correctly. This issue only affects the Steam client itself it seems, as games still run perfectly fine on the dGPU without any extra steps.

I tried to fix this myself by editing the steam.desktop launcher file.

If I change this file's parameter "PrefersNonDefaultGPU" to "true", then Steam hardware info gives me this reading:

Video Card:
Driver: AMD AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 12-Core Processor (radeonsi, raphael_mendocino, LLVM 20.1.2, DRM 3.64, 6.17.0-22-generic)
Driver Version: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL Version: 4.6
Desktop Color Depth: 24 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 143 Hz
VendorID: 0x1002
DeviceID: 0x164e
Revision Not Detected
Number of Monitors: 2
Number of Logical Video Cards: 2
Primary Display Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Desktop Resolution: 3760 x 1920
Primary Display Size: 27.56" x 15.75" (31.73" diag), 70.0cm x 40.0cm (80.6cm diag)
Primary VRAM: 512 MB

And if I change the "PrefersNonDefaultGPU" to "false", Steam gives me this reading:

Video Card:
Driver: Mesa zink Vulkan 1.4(AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 12-Core Processor (RADV RAPHAEL_MENDOCINO) (MESA_RADV))
Driver Version: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1
OpenGL Version: 4.6
Desktop Color Depth: 24 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 143 Hz
VendorID: 0x1002
DeviceID: 0x164e
Revision Not Detected
Number of Monitors: 2
Number of Logical Video Cards: 2
Primary Display Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Desktop Resolution: 3760 x 1920
Primary Display Size: 27.56" x 15.75" (31.73" diag), 70.0cm x 40.0cm (80.6cm diag)
Primary VRAM: 21474 MB

So it looks like the "false" setting makes Steam kinda try to read the correct GPU... but not quite. It now shows something about Vulkan, but still mentions other iGPU info. Also VRAM amount is now changed, yet is still wrong. Curious, that it does recognize that there are 2 logical video cards in the system.

=======

Correct system specs:
OS: Zorin OS 18.1
Kernel: x86_64 Linux 6.17.0-20-generic
DE: GNOME 46.7
Wayland
Nvidia driver version: 595.58.03
Nvidia RTX 5080

YYevhenChernenko 2026-05-02 github

Same for me on Ubuntu. Please please please address it.

FFedericoHeichou 2026-05-03 github

Same problem with Ryzen 7800x3d, nvidia 595 and wayland
I don't know if it is helpful but webhelper_gpu.txt has

...
[ problems ]:
        [ problems[0] ]: WebGPU has been disabled via blocklist or the command line.
            [ tag ]: disabledFeatures
            [ affectedSettings ]:  webgpu
        [ problems[1] ]: Accelerated video encode has been disabled, either via blocklist, about:flags or the command line.
            [ tag ]: disabledFeatures
            [ affectedSettings ]:  video_encode
        [ problems[2] ]: Program link fails in NVIDIA Linux if gl_Position is not set
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  init_gl_position_in_vertex_shader
        [ problems[3] ]: MakeCurrent is slow on Linux with NVIDIA drivers
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  use_virtualized_gl_contexts
        [ problems[4] ]: NVIDIA fails glReadPixels from incomplete cube map texture
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  force_cube_complete
        [ problems[5] ]: Framebuffer discarding can hurt performance on non-tilers
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  disable_discard_framebuffer
        [ problems[6] ]: Unpacking overlapping rows from unpack buffers is unstable on NVIDIA GL driver
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  unpack_overlapping_rows_separately_unpack_buffer
        [ problems[7] ]: Disable KHR_blend_equation_advanced until cc shaders are updated
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  disable(GL_KHR_blend_equation_advanced) disable(GL_KHR_blend_equation_advanced_coherent)
        [ problems[8] ]: Expose WebGL's disjoint_timer_query extensions on platforms with site isolation
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  enable_webgl_timer_query_extensions
        [ problems[9] ]: Some drivers can't recover after OUT_OF_MEM and context lost
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  exit_on_context_lost
        [ problems[10] ]: Disable GL_MESA_framebuffer_flip_y for desktop GL
            [ tag ]: workarounds
            [ affectedSettings ]:  disable(GL_MESA_framebuffer_flip_y)
[ workarounds ]:
    [ workarounds[0] ]: disable_discard_framebuffer
    [ workarounds[1] ]: enable_webgl_timer_query_extensions
    [ workarounds[2] ]: exit_on_context_lost
    [ workarounds[3] ]: force_cube_complete
    [ workarounds[4] ]: init_gl_position_in_vertex_shader
    [ workarounds[5] ]: unpack_overlapping_rows_separately_unpack_buffer
    [ workarounds[6] ]: use_virtualized_gl_contexts
    [ workarounds[7] ]: disabled_extension_GL_KHR_blend_equation_advanced
    [ workarounds[8] ]: disabled_extension_GL_KHR_blend_equation_advanced_coherent
    [ workarounds[9] ]: disabled_extension_GL_MESA_framebuffer_flip_y
...
[1][7982:7982:0503/092123.822249:WARNING:vaapi_wrapper.cc(1524)] : Skipping nVidia device named: nvidia-drm

Probably just chromium gpu acceleration, but I can't be sure

Vviniasbr 2026-05-06 github

Same issue, on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, with an RTX 5070 and a Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Perf monitor is showing the iGPU info, while the game is running on dGPU

11337haXXor 2026-05-11 github

Keeping the train going, I have it on the 580 drivers, 3090, using MX Linux 25.1. I don't think it was an issue before I recently upgraded from MX 23.6 (but I could be misremembering).

LLukeDeWaal 2026-05-16 github

Same issue on Ubuntu 24.04 with Ryzen 9 7900X and 4070 Super running Nvidia driver version 595.58.03

PPHP4Life 2026-05-17 github

Same issue here on

Hardware Information:

Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900X × 24
Graphics: Intel® Arc™ B580 Graphics (BMG G21)
Graphics 1: NV106
Mesa 25.2.8

Software Information:

Firmware Version: 1.E0
OS Name: Zorin OS 18.1 Core
Kernel Version: Linux 6.17.0-22-generic

Sstarfighterwinter 2026-06-24 github

I have the exact same issue as well.

Linux Mint 22.3 (cinnamon)
Ryzen 5 3600
Intel Arc B580

The GPU section of the overlay only shows 0's, everything else is fine.

WWheatleyWL 2026-07-29 github

Exactly the same issue for the past 3-4 months on KDE Neon (Plasma with Wayland). IIRC it was working OK with proprietary 570 Nvidia driver, but since I've updated from 40-series card to 5070 Ti the OS refuses to work with said driver, so I've switched to nvidia-open and upgraded to 590 instead and since then Steam shows integrated GPU's usage instead.

Ryzen 9 9900X
Nvidia 5070 Ti with nvidia-open-595.84 driver
Steam Version: 1784934043 (Beta branch)

11337haXXor 2026-08-05 github

I'm wondering if anyone else with this issue is ALSO having the issue of Steam Big Picture mode being super slow? I've toggled the hardware acceleration on and off and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

So I'm wondering if Steam reading the iGPU for the FPS Overlay could mean it's stuck using the iGPU for the Big Picture UI (and maybe that's why it shows its own 0.0% usage in the overlay)?

Or maybe it's just me..

Launch options

MESA_RADVx1 2026-05
MESA_VK_DEVICE_SELECT=listx1 2025-12