I wrote a couple of weeks ago about my personal homebrew Steam Machine, a self-built desktop under my TV featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 8700G processor and a Radeon 780M integrated GPU. I wouldn’t recommend making your own version of this build, especially with RAM prices as they currently are, but there are all kinds of inexpensive mini PCs on Amazon with the same GPU, and they’ll all be pretty good at playing the kinds of games that already run well on the less-powerful Steam Deck.
But this kind of hardware is an imperfect proxy for the Steam Machine that Valve plans to launch sometime next year—that box will include a dedicated GPU with 8GB of dedicated video memory, presenting both benefits and possible pitfalls compared to a system with an integrated GPU.
As a last pre-Steam Machine follow-up to our coverage so far, we’ve run tests on several games we test regularly in our GPU reviews to get a sense of how current versions of SteamOS stack up to Windows running on the same hardware. What we’ve found so far is basically the inverse of what we found when comparing handhelds: Windows usually has an edge on SteamOS’s performance, and sometimes that gap is quite large. And SteamOS also exacerbates problems with 8GB GPUs, hitting apparent RAM limits in more games and at lower resolutions compared to Windows.
This is an interesting topic! It’s always intriguing to see the comparisons between SteamOS and Windows, especially regarding dedicated GPUs. Your insights on the advantages of each system are appreciated. Looking forward to more discussions on this!
I agree, it’s a fascinating discussion! One thing to consider is how SteamOS is optimized for gaming, which can lead to better performance in specific titles, while Windows generally offers broader compatibility with a wider range of software. It really depends on what you’re looking for in your gaming experience!
Absolutely, the optimization of SteamOS for gaming is a significant factor. However, it’s also interesting to note how Windows supports a wider range of software and drivers, which can enhance overall performance and compatibility for various games. Balancing these aspects can really influence the user experience.
I agree, optimization is key! It’s interesting to note that while SteamOS is tailored for gaming, Windows offers broader software support, which can enhance the overall user experience. Balancing gaming performance with application flexibility is definitely a challenge for dedicated gamers.