---
title: "Gaming Configuration Overview"
description: "Directory overview for Linux gaming setup with Steam Tinker Launch (STL), Proton, and NVIDIA RTX 4080 SUPER. Covers standard config baselines, per-game docs, DRM-free archives, and hardware specs."
type: context
domain: gaming
tags: [steam, proton, stl, nvidia, gamescope, mangohud, linux-gaming]
---

# Gaming Configuration Context

## Technology Overview
Steam Tinker Launch (STL) provides advanced configuration options for running Windows games on Linux through Steam's Proton compatibility layer. This directory contains configurations, scripts, and documentation for gaming setups.

## Key Components

### Steam Tinker Launch (STL)
- **Purpose**: Advanced Proton configuration and game-specific tweaks
- **Config Location**: `~/.config/steamtinkerlaunch/`
- **Game Configs**: `~/.config/steamtinkerlaunch/gamecfgs/`
- **Global Settings**: `~/.config/steamtinkerlaunch/global.conf`

## Hardware

- **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8C/16T)
- **GPU**: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER (16GB VRAM)
- **Display (primary)**: 2560x1440 @ 120Hz OLED with HDR
- **Display (secondary)**: 2560x1440 @ 60Hz (no HDR)

## Configuration Patterns

### Standard Baseline (all games)
```bash
PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI="1"           # Required for GPU detection
PROTON_HIDE_NVIDIA_GPU="0"        # MUST be 0 - do NOT hide GPU
DXVK_ASYNC="1"                    # Reduce shader compilation stuttering
USEGAMEMODERUN="1"                # Enable GameMode
USEMANGOHUD="1"                   # Performance monitoring
WAITEDITOR="0"                    # Skip STL popup - edit configs via Claude Code
```

For per-game settings (RT, DLSS, HDR, retro games), see the **steam-game-setup** skill:
`.claude/skills/steam-game-setup/SKILL.md`

## Directory Structure
```
/gaming/
├── CONTEXT.md              # This file - technology overview
├── troubleshooting.md      # Error handling and debugging
├── stl-config-changes.txt  # STL config change log
├── palworld/               # Palworld (1623730)
│   ├── stl-config.md      # Client STL configuration
│   └── server.md          # Dedicated server (LXC 230)
├── ready-or-not/           # Ready or Not (1144200)
│   ├── examples/          # Working configs and setup scripts
│   └── scripts/           # Game-specific scripts
├── space-scum-demo/        # Space Scum Demo (3777540)
│   └── README.md         # Archived — demo ended
├── stackmon/               # Stackmon (3729550)
│   └── README.md         # Archived — playtest ended
└── scripts/               # General gaming automation scripts
    └── CONTEXT.md         # Script-specific documentation
```

## Best Practices

### Configuration Management
- Keep per-game docs in `gaming/<game-name>/`
- Document hardware-specific settings clearly
- Test one setting at a time when troubleshooting
- Backup working configurations before changes

### Performance Optimization
- Start with GE-Proton for best compatibility
- Enable GameMode for CPU scheduling
- Use GameScope for resolution/scaling control
- Monitor GPU usage with MangoHUD

### Troubleshooting Approach
1. Verify base Proton compatibility
2. Test without STL modifications first
3. Add settings incrementally
4. Document working combinations
5. Check hardware-specific requirements

## DRM-Free Game Archives

Backup archives of DRM-free Steam games stored on TrueNAS at `/mnt/truenas/media/Games/`.
Each game has its own subdirectory with a `.tar.zst` archive and `README.md`.

| Game | App ID | Archive Size | Status |
|------|--------|-------------|--------|
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 1086940 | 125 GB | DRM-free backup |
| Factorio | 427520 | 5.1 GB | DRM-free backup |
| Into the Breach | 590380 | 564 MB | DRM-free backup |
| RimWorld | 294100 | 458 MB | DRM-free backup |
| Space Scum Demo | 3777540 | 721 MB | Archived — demo ended |
| Stackmon | 3729550 | 1.1 GB | Archived — playtest ended |
| Stardew Valley | 413150 | 643 MB | DRM-free backup |
| Tactical Breach Wizards | 1043810 | 1.4 GB | DRM-free backup |

See `/mnt/truenas/media/Games/README.md` for extraction and play instructions.

## Integration Points
- **Monitoring**: Use MangoHUD for performance metrics
- **Scripts**: Automate common gaming tasks
- **Networking**: Configure for multiplayer gaming