Windows vs Steam OS for your deck?
Windows vs Steam OS for your deck?
Have any of you switched to windows? Just curious how it went and if it's preferred over the og os
Absolutely SteamOS, and I say that as someone who vastly prefers Windows over Linux.
But you can't beat a system designed by the hardware manufacturer for that device. Everything from specific graphics driver patches to the ease of use of the interface.
SteamOS all the way. No way am I gonna install a data harvesting OS or kernel level anticheat.
I fled Windows to Linux 4 years ago, I got SO tired of the BS and annoyances. Have not regretted that decision one iota ever.
So if Windows ever gets installed on my Deck, you can just assume someone stole it from me.
Right? My Linux instance has been the same for 8 years. Same workflows, same no-nonsense. Every time I open the start bar on my work computer and it lags for 5 second to load some bull shit I don't need I get so mad /rant
Sorry, but I just had to get that off my chest. What's your setup like?
I had been running Pop OS on my aging laptop, which finally died a week before my Deck arrived last year. The Deck completely removed any thought of replacing it lol.
So now I just run a Deck, with the ability to dock to my projector or work monitor if I wish, with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard that I can move where ever when I dock to one of those points.
I also have a super-lightweight 13" travel tablet-type monitor left over from an old set up, and I'm working on getting everything together that I need to be able to quickly mount it on top of my Deck when I'm playing handheld, for a screen upgrade for my 40s eyes. I don't mind the extra power, as I'm normally plugged in when playing.
I don't care for Game Pass, if I can't play a certain game that's fine, I have so many others that run on SteamOS.
I'm not giving up the excellent OS with game suspend and easy TDP and framerste limiting for Windows. SteamOS runs so well.
Tried it out for a while and it's definitely not as smooth of an experience. Went back to steamOS and I don't see myself changing back for the foreseeable future.
I have not switch over my Steamdeck to Windows 11. But, I did pick up an ROG Ally b/c I apparently lack impulse control. IMO, the experience with Steam OS on Steam deck is far and above Windows 11 on a similar-ish handheld.
In 3 months or so Linux on the Ally should be in good shape. There's a fix for sound coming in 6.5, and it sounds like wifi support has someone on it but the patch might not be ready or something. Then Chimera or some other Linux distro that tracks the latest kernels would be the way to go.
That's great news! I intend to watch it closely as it progresses. Thank you for sharing the links.
I would stick with steamOS, it's designed for the hardware. Windows will only hinder the device IMO. I plan on getting one soon and everyone I've known that has one sticks to the stock config in regards to the software.
A friend of mine switched to windows because he plays a particular popular online fps that has windows dependent DRM, and he's happy with that but it's also the only game he plays.
Setting up dual boot isn't difficult, though, you can do both if there is a particular reason you need windows. I think there is no benefit to switching to windows unless you have a specific need for it that steamos can't accommodate (cod, destiny, etc.)
I retired from competitive shooters long ago and use steamos exclusively on my deck and have not had many issues that would be resolved by using Windows instead.
+1 If you can't clearly state why you need Windows, you'll probably be happier on Steam OS.
I remember some people being absolutely fixated that they needed Windows when the Deck first released. Have fun with that, when some drivers barely worked at the time on Win!
Switched, no. Tried, yes.
With how much work Valve has done on SteamOS compatibility and polish the one or two games I might play that aren’t compatible are not a big loss compared to the overhead of maintaining Windows.
Same experience here. I tried putting Windows on it just so that I could access my gamepass library, but there's just too many nice quality of life features on SteamOS for me to commit to windows fully. I could see me putting it back on once they get dual booting working better. I've got a 1TB internal with like 600GB free so plenty of space for a side by side install
I'm currently dual booting mine, and I'd definitely prefer Steam OS for sure.
Right now my Windows instance is only for playing online games with anti-cheat (Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact) while my Steam OS instance is for everything else. I'm currently enjoying playing modded Fallout 4 and Stardew Valley on Steam OS. It took a while to set up the mods, but the end result of being able to play them anywhere I go is awesome.
I prefer SteamOS although I have tried installing Windows 11 on an SD card for the sole purpose of playing Genshin Impact on it but that didn't quite work out since the SD card I bought for that was too small to fit Genshin Impact beside Windows 11 on it. (128GB) But just installing Windows 11 went pretty smoothly.
If you were to show this comment to someone 10-20 years ago you would have blown their mind:
- installing an OS on a microSD card
- 128GB microSD cards
- using it to run a game
- an OS + a single game using more than 128GB
Windows (10 - I haven't checked 11) alone takes over 20 GiB. That's right after running the installer, before the installation of any additional user software.
On the cheapest Steam Deck that would already fill about 1/3 of the internal storage, not counting any space for temporary files, the swap file, etc.
(Not that SteamOS would be much lighter. Afaik it takes up a 5 GB partition on the Deck, with a second 5 GB partition that's used as a fallback during updates.)
I replaced an aging laptop with mine, and I have to say, Windows is fine on the Steam Deck. It's obviously not going to have all the same bells and whistles but performance for most games is the same and it is more flexible on compatability since it runs natively instead of via Proton.
I've been using dual boot for this and started since I got my Deck in early July last year, and a lot of the hate is really overblown. It's good if you just want to use the Deck the same way as any other computer or with applications that cannot work in Steam OS and it's a completely fine experience, and applications like Handheld Companion or Steam Deck Tools make it simpler.
I would just say that it's up to preference and need since it does need setup and tweaking, so if all you care about is playing a few games that work fine in Steam OS, there is not much reason to dual boot for Windows and Steam OS is simpler to set up. But if you want more freedom on application choices and compatability or even just to use it for more everyday purposes like any other computer, Windows runs perfectly fine on it. It will be ultimately up to preference and use case.
Is performance really the same under Windows? How do the controller layouts work under Windows? I've been wondering if it would be worth it to try Windows for a few games that have issues with Proton.
By default, controller layouts won't immediately work, but there are multiple fan software that works fine in giving full access/control. Steam Deck Tools will very easily just make it work in that it will allow you to use it as a controller, but I use Handheld Companion because I can map the ... button to keyboard, STEAM to showing the home screen, and the back controls I've mapped to changing mouse modes or even screenshots/recording. You really have tons of flexibility and these software get updates often for more features.
Steam Deck Tools also has options for other Steam OS features like FPS/performance tracking, fan control, etc. so I'd recommend checking them out if you do end up going with them. There's also other software for similar purposes like Glossi and SWICD, but those have a few issues/are a bit outdated versus Handheld Companion and Steam Deck Tools.
TLDR: works pretty well!
My hate isn't for the performance and game compatibility of windows. It's because they gained a monopoly through illegal business practices and they use that power to snuff innovation and compatibility for anything non windows.
I wouldn't really say they use that power to "snuff innovation," Windows was the operating system which is why everything is built around it most of the time and they worked on making sure XCloud would work with the Steam Deck. It's just how it works with any operating system being different in that you'll need to jump through additional hoops to make something from other operating systems work with other ones. Not saying Windows isn't flawed or that Microsoft doesn't have its own corrupt practices, but I wouldn't say that they attack compatibility for non-Windows things.
It seems like almost all the improvements are being made on the Steam OS side. The next Steam OS update (3.5) should have some wonderful new features related to shader compilation, etc. Valve can really tune the OS to the device and they'll continue to do so.
Yes it's true that you can't play specific games - but there are so many games that you can play. Eventually as SteamDeck becomes more common you'll see more and more mainstream support.
I'll definitely stick with Steam OS.
Na thanks. I’ll never use windows ever again.
I'd like to get a card to boot Windows sometime just to play Destiny on the Deck
I tried it in a dual boot configuration for a month or so to try and get Gamepass stuff running locally instead of through Cloud Gaming. While it's great that it's an option for some people, it's definitely not preferable.It wasn't a great experience and Gamepass installs were just as buggy as was the last time I tried it. I ended up reverting mine completely back to SteamOS and am using Moonlight/Sunshine to connect to my windows rig as needed. It's been a great experience to play in the house when my wife is watching something else on TV. I've even pushed it over the internet (with a little lag) using Tailscale.
@rangerzenith. I have it on an external drive for a secondary boot....which I've not touched in forever.
I'm waiting for chimeraos to have tdp support for the ally before I eval one I like steamos so much.
IMO you should wait at least for kernel 6.5 and for chimera or whatever distro to be using it, as some fixes for the Ally should be in place by then like sound and hopefully wifi.
The dev version of chimeraos has the compatible kernel but they haven't gotten the tdp controls into the plugins for the steamos gui.
It's really close!
Honestly, not really sure what all the talk is about Windows on Steam Deck. I've never felt the need to consider booting Windows on it. All the games that I tried just work on SteamOS and they work flawlessly. Maybe there's some games out there that don't play nice with SteamOS, but I haven't found it yet.