NVIDIA Beta driver 595.45.04 released for Linux - looks to be an exciting one

NVIDIA released Beta driver 595.45.04 for Linux and it includes support for some new Vulkan extensions that could help improve gaming performance.

The real interesting one here is VK_EXT_descriptor_heap, as previously written about on GamingOnLinux - this could end up really helping performance with Windows games via Proton with DirectX -> Vulkan. But, to keep expectations in check here, it still needs to be fully hooked up in Wine / Proton (including DXVK and VKD3D-Proton) before you may see some benefits from it.

Eventually though, we should see some of the performance gaps between Windows and Linux close even further. Especially with NVIDIA hiring more driver developers for Linux.

Here's everything that's new / improved:

• Added support for the VK_EXT_descriptor_heap extension.
• Fixed a bug that caused GPU hangs and Xid errors in Black Myth: Wukong.
• Added support for DRI3 version 1.2.
• Added support for the VK_EXT_present_timing extension.
• Fixed hang when NVIDIA Smooth Motion is enabled in applications that use VK_KHR_present_id2.
• Modified nvidia.ko to handle video memory preservation on its own when the open kernel modules are in use if NVreg_UseKernelSuspendNotifiers=1 is enabled. When the proprietary driver is in use, or if kernel suspend notifiers are disabled, video memory preservation requires using the /proc/driver/nvidia/suspend interface for suspend and resume notifications.
  See the chapter titled "Configuring Power Management Support" in the README for more information.
• Enabled the nvidia-drm.ko modeset=1 parameter by default.
• Updated the driver to allow nvidia-smi to reset GPUs while nvidia-drm is loaded with the modeset=1 parameter enabled, as long as no other processes are using the GPU.
• Added a new application profile - CudaNoStablePerfLimit - that allows CUDA-using apps to reach P0 PState. See the 'Application Profiles' appendix of the driver README for details.
• * Raised the minimum supported Wayland version to 1.20.
• * Fixed a bug that prevented the PowerMizer preferred mode dropdown menu in the nvidia-settings control panel from functioning correctly on Wayland.
• * Raised the minimum supported glibc version to 2.27.
• * Improved the performance of recreating Vulkan swapchains. This helps prevent stuttering when resizing Vulkan application windows.
• * Raised the minimum supported X.Org xserver version to 1.17 (video driver ABI version 19).
• Fixed a bug that caused adaptive sync displays to go blank when connected with an active USB-C-to-HDMI adapter.
• Fixed a bug that could cause Vulkan swapchains to stop presenting new frames on X11.

Source: NVIDIA

However, it seems some of that changelog is actually from a previous driver version (590.48.01 - I've noted those with an Asterisk*). Not entirely clear why they're listed again. But still, sounds like a good Beta driver release.