4 ms·

> I have a Windows VM on a NixOS host for gaming, was really quite convenient to set it up, I set it up on a separate drive to be able to boot native too I've

> I have a Windows VM on a NixOS host for gaming, was really quite convenient to set it up, I set it up on a separate drive to be able to boot native too I've been planning on doing exactly this, but haven't had the time to figure out the best way of going about it. Is there a good guide/write up you'd recommend? (I already have a Windows 10 install on a separate SSD, but I rarely boot it because I can't stand the OS)

gallexme 5y ago
I use https://github.com/danielfullmer/nixos-nvidia-vgpu https://github.com/danielfullmer/nixos-nvidia-vgpu + https://looking-glass.io/ https://looking-glass.io/ very successfully Can theoretically game on Linux and windows at same time with just a single gpu (2080 ti), mainly use it cause I only have single gpu and I don't want to loose hardware acceleration on Linux, the nixos module both applies a the vgpu unlocker for consumer graphic cards (so u can split a gpu in multiple virtual gpus) https://github.com/DualCoder/vgpu_unlock https://github.com/DualCoder/vgpu_unlock And merges it with the GeForce drivers so the host gpu does not stop having display output And I just passthrough the vgpu and Xbox controllers to the vm with qemu and my main windows nvme disk (windows naturally just works inside and outside a vm for me, dual boot)
- caevee 5y ago
  Hi I'm still a noob at NixOS and Linux in general. Would it be possible for you to help me set up something similar?
  - gallexme 5y ago
    Possibly, can't be a 3xxx Nvidia gpu though afaik, and you'll need some way to get a vgpu license /activation which I can't help you with
    - caevee 5y ago
      I've got a 1060. Where can I hit you up?
      - gallexme 5y ago
        Added email to hacker news profile, also got discord and other chats, just hit me up with ur Id/handles/invites via email
lillecarl 5y ago
So first I did this I did it on manjaro using this archwiki article: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PCI_passthrough_via_OVMF https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PCI_passthrough_via_OVMF When I moved to NixOS I just did a normal NixOS install and applied the same parameters to kernel boot as before and passed the GPU through. I was using looking-glass at first, but my computer is too slow and crappy (memory bandwidth seems to choke) to run 144fps in overwatch. You just pass the entire block device into the VM if you wanna keep your setup, or pass it through with as PCIE if it's an NVMe device. I thought it'd be hard, but you'll be up and running in a day
- smoldesu 5y ago
  Overwatch is also highly optimized via Wine, if you're looking to play. I'm on 6-year-old hardware (i5 4460, GTX 1050ti) and I have no problem hitting 120+ FPS in-game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voXc1nCD4IA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voXc1nCD4IA This video is a pretty good demonstration of how neck-and-neck the performance is these days. Frankly, I feel like it stutters less in Linux, but I might just be imagining things.

gallexme 5y ago

I use https://github.com/danielfullmer/nixos-nvidia-vgpu https://github.com/danielfullmer/nixos-nvidia-vgpu + https://looking-glass.io/ https://looking-glass.io/ very successfully Can theoretically game on Linux and windows at same time with just a single gpu (2080 ti), mainly use it cause I only have single gpu and I don't want to loose hardware acceleration on Linux, the nixos module both applies a the vgpu unlocker for consumer graphic cards (so u can split a gpu in multiple virtual gpus) https://github.com/DualCoder/vgpu_unlock https://github.com/DualCoder/vgpu_unlock And merges it with the GeForce drivers so the host gpu does not stop having display output And I just passthrough the vgpu and Xbox controllers to the vm with qemu and my main windows nvme disk (windows naturally just works inside and outside a vm for me, dual boot)

caevee 5y ago
Hi I'm still a noob at NixOS and Linux in general. Would it be possible for you to help me set up something similar?
- gallexme 5y ago
  Possibly, can't be a 3xxx Nvidia gpu though afaik, and you'll need some way to get a vgpu license /activation which I can't help you with
  - caevee 5y ago
    I've got a 1060. Where can I hit you up?
    - gallexme 5y ago
      Added email to hacker news profile, also got discord and other chats, just hit me up with ur Id/handles/invites via email

lillecarl 5y ago

So first I did this I did it on manjaro using this archwiki article: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PCI_passthrough_via_OVMF https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PCI_passthrough_via_OVMF When I moved to NixOS I just did a normal NixOS install and applied the same parameters to kernel boot as before and passed the GPU through. I was using looking-glass at first, but my computer is too slow and crappy (memory bandwidth seems to choke) to run 144fps in overwatch. You just pass the entire block device into the VM if you wanna keep your setup, or pass it through with as PCIE if it's an NVMe device. I thought it'd be hard, but you'll be up and running in a day

smoldesu 5y ago
Overwatch is also highly optimized via Wine, if you're looking to play. I'm on 6-year-old hardware (i5 4460, GTX 1050ti) and I have no problem hitting 120+ FPS in-game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voXc1nCD4IA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voXc1nCD4IA This video is a pretty good demonstration of how neck-and-neck the performance is these days. Frankly, I feel like it stutters less in Linux, but I might just be imagining things.