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What NVIDIA measured
As summarized by Phoronix on October 4, 2026, NVIDIA engineer Kamil Łysik presented an end-to-end measurement of the time from a key press to presentation. The test used a micro-controller and light sensor, with software for repeatable, automated testing. The report does not identify the exact equipment models or describe the procedure in enough detail to reproduce it fully. Phoronix’s account of the presentation does not include raw latency values.
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Reported test setup
| Component | Version or model |
|---|---|
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| NVIDIA driver | R610 branch |
| KDE Wayland compositor | KWin 6.7.4 |
| GNOME Wayland compositor | Mutter 49.7 |
| X.Org server | 1.21.1.24 |
| Measurement | Key press to presentation, using a micro-controller, light sensor, and automated software |
Was Wayland more laggy than X11?
Not in the broad sense supported by this report: Phoronix describes the measured results for X.Org and Wayland as very close, making it difficult to identify a clear winner. The report provides no numerical latency figures, sample count, or uncertainty intervals, so it cannot establish how small the difference was or whether one session consistently led.
For gaming, that means this particular test does not support a blanket claim that X.Org is faster than Wayland—or that Wayland is faster. The result concerns key-to-presentation latency on the named setup. It does not establish performance for other GPUs, drivers, refresh rates, games, input devices, or desktop environments.
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What the report says about XWayland
Phoronix says XWayland no longer added the extra frame delay seen in the past in the reported results. This is a finding from the described test, not a guarantee for every X11 application running through XWayland. Application behavior, driver, compositor, and display configuration are outside what the report establishes.
What changes when VRR is enabled?
The report says Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) drastically improves responsiveness and that latency is roughly similar between X.Org and Wayland sessions with VRR. It gives no numerical effect size or full test matrix, so the account does not quantify the improvement or show how it varies across refresh rates and configurations.
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How to apply the result to your Linux system
- Compare like with like: The reported finding is tied to an RTX 5070, the R610 driver branch, KWin 6.7.4 or Mutter 49.7, and X.Org Server 1.21.1.24.
- Check the application path: A program running natively on Wayland is not the same case as an X11 program running through XWayland; the report’s summary does not supply a complete breakdown for both.
- Account for VRR: The reported responsiveness improvement with VRR may matter more to a comparison than a small difference between the two session types, but the article does not provide figures to quantify either effect.
- Do not infer a universal ranking: The summary lacks raw values, sample counts, uncertainty intervals, and results across other hardware and configurations.
The most defensible takeaway is near parity in the reported NVIDIA test, not a universal verdict on which display system has lower input lag.
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