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SteamOS expands beyond Steam Deck
(store.steampowered.com)
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this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2025
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Dude, you don't need SteamOS for a desktop. Just download a more widely used desktop distro. I use Garuda, and it's great for starting up gaming.
SteamOS will be great for a console-like experience out of the box, which is not what you want for desktop.
That is exactly why many of us want it. We know what we’re asking for. And yes we know bazzite exists.
The comment above says they want to replace their W10 desktop, so it isn't what they want. If it's what you want then fine, but I was writing the comment for someone who wants a desktop, not a console. If you want a console, go ahead and wait or use Bazzite. If you want a desktop then the best options are already available and SteamOS isn't going to be it.
ok 👍
Bump for Garuda. It's decent, as simple as any installation I've ever had to do, comes well configured out of the box, and has a very active forum that the Devs keep an eye on and answer questions quite quickly.
I've heard linux has problems with laptops with Nvidia cards, like I have. Is this still an issue? I'm getting pretty fucked off with windows but frankly don't have time to embark on an ongoing technical challenge.
I've been running pop_OS! on my Razer Blade for a few years with no issues. They install Nvidia drivers by default and also have power profiles that support hybrid graphics out of the box.
On my desktop gaming PC (with an APU and NVIDIA 10-series GPU), I've tried EndeavorOS and Garuda but I haven't been able to get waking up from sleep to work on either, it crashes my graphical session everytime
I've got a laptop running Garuda, it has and Intel APU(so integrated graphics) and a dedicated Nvidia 1660. Working better than with Win 11 on it. I did have to configure Heroic launcher to default to the dedicated gfx card, but that was about 7 mouse clicks tops. Steam games tend to just assume that you'll be wanting the dedicated gfx to do the work, but some games ask. That said, out of the box, I had to fight win 11 for about 25mins to get it to agree that yes I did in fact want the Nvidia card to be used to run games.
I think that's mostly fixed at this point. I have AMD, but I've heard Nvidia is handled better now. Nvidia keeps everything closed source, so everyone is fucked, but support is improving. Make a Bootable USB of Garuda (or whatever distro you choose, but Garuda Dragonized I'd expect to have the drivers) and try it out. It's very low effort to try.
AMD open-sources everything, so their stuff works everywhere. That's why FSR is always available, because it works on any device and is open source, so it's easy to support. DLSS only works on Nvidia devices and requires a lot more effort for developers to support, so they often only do it if Nvidia pays them because it costs them money to implement an extra solution and not everyone will even be able to use it.
Hmm yeah I was thinking about possibly trying to boot from a usb. Haven't done that with linux since the 90s, I guess I assumed the linux os thingie would be too big or too slow. Maybe I'll give that a try, thanks for the suggestion.
Yeah I've been out of the loop with tech for fuckin decades. Bought the laptop a while back without knowing about the Nvidia ting. TBH I mostly start the laptop up maybe once a week for spreadsheets, calibre, and as a file transfer medium. I'd planned on using it for gaming too but then I got a steam deck. But yeah, there's some stuff I can't easily do on steam deck and I'm really getting sick of fuckin windows. Every time I start the machine it's trying to install some new AI shit or something. I don't need that, just want a working computer!
But you're right - next time I buy a laptop - if I need to - I'm thinking AMD for sure.
Edit - also because of my living situation (I don't live in a house, all my electric comes from a solar panel) power consumption is a real issue for me. And that laptop is power hungry.
Trying from a USB or virtual machine is just a good idea in general. Use Ventoy to put several distros into a single USB stick and try them out. Try your hardware, check which UI you like the most.
The main thing stopping me is that I only use my PC for gaming, and I know the support for drivers etc isn't as good on Linux (though I know this is debated).
However if Linux became more centralised, with a "gaming first" distro like this, the graphics drivers would have a "main test case" to work with.
This is my theory anyway.
If you have the exact hardware supported by the SteamOS then you'll be fine. However, I don't even know of they support nvidia video cards yet, I believe most of their stack is optimized for AMD cards.
In that sense, installing a more generalist linux distribution will net you a better driver compatibility.
Linux gaming is at a fantastic state right now, you install steam and games work. 20 years ago I would have never believed it to be possible.
I've recently gotten sick of windows and changed my gaming rigs to Nobara and Mint, both with AMD processors and 3090s. Zero issues gaming, or modding games, on either one.
Edit: you could dual boot into a Linux distribution just to try it and keep your windows just in case you don't like it.
Yeah, the driver thing is pretty much solved at this point. If you have AMD there's literally nothing to worry about. If you have Nvidia, you're probably also good to go, but slightly less guaranteed. Make a Bootable USB of the distro you choose and try it to see if your hardware is supported. It's low effort and no risk.
Something you might not know is the drivers come packaged with the kernel, so you literally never have to worry about updating your drivers. They're just there in the background up to date. It awesome.
The experience with Linux is so much smoother than Windows because the system manages most things for you. All your applications will be updated by the package manager, so you don't need to go to websites to download updates. Graphics drivers are just there. Everything is just handled for you.