GPU Hitches when opening the Steam Overlay in-game

steamopen overlay

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12963 · opened 2026-03-08 by JosSamLoh · updated 2026-06-09 · 5 comments · github

JJosSamLoh 2026-03-08 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date): 1772859008 | Sat, Mar 7, 2026 4:40 AM UTC -08:00
Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch
Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
GPU: AMD | Radeon RX 9070 XT
CPU: AMD | Ryzen 5 5600XT

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Whenever playing in-game and opening the steam overlay I find that my GPU hitches and causes a slight stutter. I've tried with and without GPU Acceleration in the client and the issue persists. Seems similar to this issue #6857.

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2d9b8ae5-dbf2-4255-95c8-9f228fb7a02f

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Start game
Open steam overlay
GPU hitches whenever opening the overlay, causing stutter and lag

JJosSamLoh 2026-03-18 github

Not sure if it's a similar issue but now using Version 1773367340 | Fri, Mar 13, 2026 1:36 AM UTC -08:00 pretty much all web views cause consistent slowdown and constant stuttering in the overlay. I can go to someones profile and everything just becomes a bit of a stuttery mess. Tested with and without gpu accel.

steam-logs.tar.gz

Ccoruscnium 2026-05-16 github

I run into the same issue as well. Here is my inxi for some information. I'll attach logs shortly.

System:
  Kernel: 7.0.8-1-cachyos arch: x86_64 bits: 64
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.6.5 Distro: CachyOS
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: MPG B650 CARBON WIFI (MS-7D74) v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required> Firmware: UEFI vendor: American Megatrends LLC.
    v: 1.I0 date: 05/14/2025
CPU:
  Info: 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D [MT MCP] speed (MHz): avg: 3673
    min/max: 426/5053
Graphics:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 48 [Radeon RX 9070/9070
    XT/9070 GRE] driver: amdgpu v: kernel
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.22 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.11
    compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: amdgpu unloaded: modesetting
    dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu resolution: 1: 2560x1440~144Hz
    2: 2560x1440~144Hz 3: 1920x1080~60Hz
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 vendor: amd mesa v: 26.1.0-arch2.1 renderer: AMD
    Radeon RX 9070 XT (radeonsi gfx1201 ACO DRM 3.64 7.0.8-1-cachyos)
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: lact wl: wayland-info
    x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE driver: r8169
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE driver: r8169
  Device-3: MEDIATEK MT7922 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter
    driver: mt7921e
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 4.55 TiB used: 1.92 TiB (42.1%)
Info:
  Memory: total: 32 GiB note: est. available: 30.94 GiB used: 7.16 GiB (23.1%)
  Processes: 459 Uptime: 6m Shell: Zsh inxi: 3.3.40

Switching to any LTS kernel fixes this issue (Linux 6.18.x as of current)

YYalgrin 2026-05-21 github

Same issue here. For me it's especially noticeable when using a virtual menu with a Steam Controller trackpad or just browsing the controller settings in the overlay. As suggested above, switching to LTS kernel solves this issue. Problem occurs on kernel 7.0.9.arch1-1, but on the one below it works fine:

System:
  Kernel: 6.18.32-1-lts arch: x86_64 bits: 64
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.6.5 Distro: EndeavourOS
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: Gigabyte model: B650 AORUS ELITE AX V2
    serial: <superuser required> Firmware: UEFI vendor: American Megatrends LLC.
    v: F40 date: 02/06/2026
CPU:
  Info: 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D [MT MCP] speed (MHz): avg: 3858
    min/max: 426/5053
Graphics:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 31 [Radeon RX 7900 XT/7900
    XTX/7900 GRE/7900M] driver: amdgpu v: kernel
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Raphael driver: amdgpu
    v: kernel
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.22 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.11
    compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: amdgpu
    unloaded: modesetting,radeon dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu resolution:
    1: 2560x1440~144Hz 2: 1920x1080~144Hz
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 26.0.6-arch1.1
    renderer: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (radeonsi navi31 ACO DRM 3.64
    6.18.32-1-lts)
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: radeontop wl: wayland-info,wlr-randr
    x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210/AX1675 2x2 [Typhoon Peak] driver: iwlwifi
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE driver: r8169
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 7.28 TiB used: 2.18 TiB (30.0%)
Info:
  Memory: total: 64 GiB note: est. available: 61.91 GiB used: 8.7 GiB (14.1%)
  Processes: 502 Uptime: 9m Shell: Zsh inxi: 3.3.40

Issue persists regardless of whether X11 or Wayland is used.

Probably the same issue as #13203

MM45TR0 2026-06-07 github

Same issue with 7.0 , but LTS working fine.

  Kernel: 6.18.33-2-cachyos-lts arch: x86_64 bits: 64
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.6.5 Distro: CachyOS
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: B450 GAMING PLUS (MS-7B86) v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required> Firmware: UEFI vendor: American Megatrends LLC.
    v: 1.J5 date: 09/04/2024
CPU:
  Info: 6-core model: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 bits: 64 type: MT MCP cache: L2: 3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3679 min/max: 556/4612 cores: 1: 3679 2: 3679 3: 3679
    4: 3679 5: 3679 6: 3679 7: 3679 8: 3679 9: 3679 10: 3679 11: 3679 12: 3679
Graphics:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 44 [Radeon RX 9060 XT]
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel
  Device-2: HP HP 320 FHD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
  Display: wayland server: Xwayland v: 24.1.12 compositor: kwin_wayland
    driver: gpu: amdgpu resolution: 1: 2560x1440~144Hz 2: 2560x1440~144Hz
  API: EGL v: 1.5 drivers: radeonsi,swrast
    platforms: gbm,wayland,x11,surfaceless,device
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 vendor: amd mesa v: 26.1.2-arch2.1 renderer: AMD
    Radeon RX 9060 XT (radeonsi gfx1200 ACO DRM 3.64 6.18.33-2-cachyos-lts)
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.350 drivers: radv surfaces: N/A
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
    de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: amdgpu_top,lact wl: wayland-info
    x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    driver: r8169
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.73 TiB used: 1.65 TiB (60.6%)
Info:
  Memory: total: 32 GiB available: 31.26 GiB used: 6.84 GiB (21.9%)
  Processes: 467 Uptime: 10m Shell: fish inxi: 3.3.40```

BBeowulf1220 2026-06-09 · hidden on GitHub github

Likely the same root cause, with another symptom on the same GPU family: besides the
overlay GPU hitches, the Steam Game Recording in-overlay player ("Show Recording") is
extremely choppy/stuttery on 7.0.x kernels, while the game keeps running fine.

Clean kernel bisect on one machine (same recording each time):

Kernel	In-overlay playback
linux-lts 6.18.35	✅ smooth
linux 7.0.11 (mainline)	❌ choppy
linux-zen 7.0.11	❌ choppy
linux-cachyos 7.0.11	❌ choppy

Since it reproduces on plain mainline linux too and only 6.18 LTS is clean, this
points to an amdgpu/kernel regression after 6.18, not Steam/Mesa/distro patches.

System

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (RDNA4, gfx1201)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
OS: Arch Linux, KDE Plasma 6 (Wayland)
Mesa: 26.1.2
Steam: native package

Notes

The recording is only H.264 [email protected], 1920x1080@60, ~12 Mbps + AAC — trivial to
decode; it plays perfectly in mpv/VLC and when exported. Only the in-overlay CEF/DASH
player stutters.
VA-API encode/decode otherwise fine (vainfo OK).
Toggling "Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling" / "Hardware Video Decoding" in Steam,
lowering bitrate, and different Proton versions make no difference (expected — none of
those touch the kernel path).
Workaround: boot linux-lts 6.18.

Nothing extracted yet.