Intel Lunar Lake sees up to 20% performance boost in Linux vs. Windows with iGPU caveats

We've reported before on how much faster Linux is when it comes to general compute performance. Although there have been questions from the Linux community about Intel's hybrid architecture and how scheduling would work on Linux, we can likely put those to rest, if these test results are anything to go by. According to a new set of tests run by Phoronix comparing Ubuntu version 24.10 and Windows 11. 

Phoronix tested the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in the Asus Zenbook S14, which impressed us in our review, thanks to its efficiency, performance, and build quality. On average, Ubuntu Linux was 14% faster than Windows 11, however, there were a few instances where Windows managed to gain back some ground — namely in 7-Zip decompression, where Windows gained on Linux by 1.15%. 

The biggest win for Linux came from creator workflows and 3D rendering. In Blender's Fishy Cat and Junkshop 3D rendering tests, Ubuntu was around 20% faster than Windows 11. Intel's Open Image Denoise 2.3, on the other hand, only saw marginal performance gains on Linux, while OSPRay, Intel's raytracing engine, was consistently faster across the board. A similar story played out when it came to audio and video encoding, with Linux demonstrating a significant lead over Microsoft's offering. 

While the CPU performance is impressive, Phoronix also found that the graphics performance of Intel's Xe2 iGPU on Linux was severely lacking. Although Intel is working to resolve those issues, it will likely be some time before a Lunar Lake laptop is a solid recommendation for anyone that needs GPU acceleration. 

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