Should I try SteamOS?

[u/Fritz-Futermann]

I'm a recent Linux convert. Started with Mint, didn't like the gaming experience, the console use requirement and the lack of HDR, now I'm on Bazzite KDE Plasma and it's great. However, I'm a big fan of Valve and I'm wondering if SteamOS would be good for me. I'm running a RX9070XT, 9850X3D and I'm mainly using my PC for gaming, music, some office stuff and photo printing. I don't use Game Mode.

Would SteamOS be adequate for me, or should I stick to Bazzite?

[u/Bookkeeper-Empty]

I had bazzite on my 9070xt build but now I’m on cachyos it performs better but u will need to use the terminal a little bit but easier to set up dual boot, I like cachy

[u/Fritz-Futermann → u/Bookkeeper-Empty]

It performs better? Can you elaborate? 

[u/Bookkeeper-Empty → u/Fritz-Futermann]

Wider support for modern hardware components, bleeding edge proton, better 1% lows, higher frame rates, daily updates, better dual screen support, bt audio driver issues, rEFInd is baked into the setup process, better controller support, I love bazzite for its simplicity and ease of use, but cachy is the goat if u want the best Linux distro for gaming. I think bazzite is best for people who want a living room Linux discrete build who won’t play it for a week or two, if u just want something that just works with an nvidia card especially although cachy support that quite well too

[u/Fritz-Futermann → u/Bookkeeper-Empty]

According to many benchmarks and tests, Nobara, PikaOS, CachyOS and Bazzite are performing within the margin of error. Aren't Nobara and Bazzite using CachyOS' base kernel? Anyway, I'm happy you found your favorite, I'm sticking with mine. This is the wonder of so many Linux distros after all.

[u/williamodavis]

Just stick with Bazzite, it'll make a lot of your non-gaming stuff easier

[u/AcceptableCry2876 → u/williamodavis]

Or CachyOS if you want something closer to SteamOS but more functional.

[u/Retro10ten]

I quit windows when I maxed out my am4 platform. 5800x3d and 9070xt. I still have windows on a micro sd just in case but I haven't needed it in the 2 months since I installed stream os.

I haven't found anything i can't do yet on steam os. Chat gpt can walk you through just about anything.

I'd vote yes, go for it!

[u/Sw00p10]

CachyOS is going to be better for a desktop PC. At least until the next major SteamOS update since there’s a “default to desktop mode” feature currently in the beta. I’m gonna try daily driving SteamOS for a while once that’s out and see if I like it more or less.

[u/Fritz-Futermann → u/Sw00p10]

Why do you think CachyOS is better? 

[u/Sw00p10 → u/Fritz-Futermann]

Read past the first sentence

[u/Fritz-Futermann → u/Sw00p10]

Yeah, when compared to Bazzite.

[u/winterarioch]

This will be a Hot-Take:

SteamOS is the Linux to go to eventually for most gaming.
It’s not clear how long the other gaming-centric linuxes will be supported.
Steam, on the other hand, is backed by a company who has resources and will stick with it for years.
I do think some other gaming Linux’s work better for many games, especially the older ones, but over time fixes will be published and SOS will become the de facto standard.
Being an early adopter on SOS won’t hurt you. It won’t be a dead end.

[u/motivatedbytacos → u/winterarioch]

I recently moved to SteamOS from Fedora and I share this view. If your PC use is primarily gaming, it’s an unbelievably smooth and simple experience. Updates and system maintenance are easy peasy. I also personally saw FPS gains across a couple of my recently played titles.

[u/oSyphon]

I've been with SteamOS on my 9070xt for like 10 months now

[u/GentleGesture]

Personally, I would go with SteamOS. A fresh boot up always starts with your Steam
library, but when you get into Desktop Mode, it’s a full Linux experience. Going with SteamOS gives you the support of a company with some skin in the game (the need to be profitable), while allowing you all the freedom of open source too

[u/Eozef]

It won't hurt to just load it up on a separate SSD and see if it fits your needs. The idea is pretty solid, running a Linux-based immutable OS means you don't have to deal with all those system level settings. You just sign into Steam and start playing games, while also opening up emulation options.

For me, SteamOS turned my PC into an option for the living room, and paired with the Steam Controller, I intend to use it to preserve games that I can no longer access on my consoles. But it has yet to replace my consoles in the living room.

I like the idea, but the overall experience just isn't there yet.

[u/system_error_02]

I prefer CachyOS over both as its not immutable. But really you cant go wrong. But if I were to choose between bazzite and SteamOS id choose SteamOS.

[u/User5281]

If this is a general purpose pc that you happen to game on I’d stick with bazzite or even consider aurora/bluefin instead.

Steamos is built around gamemode and doesn’t have much upside for desktop use relative to bazzite.

[u/wrongsub-]

Im trying steamos at the same time as cachyos, after a while on bazzite.

They share an Ext4 drive with my steam library on it, its been nice

I like steamos a lot But cachy is winning me over bit by bit.

[u/Sw00p10 → u/wrongsub-]

Are you running the beta branch of steamOS? You can set it to default to desktop mode on boot. What is it about cachy that’s winning you over so far? Rolling updates and the fact it’s not immutable? Hyprland?

[u/wrongsub- → u/Sw00p10]

Beta branch steamos

Cachy just feels really snappy compared to the other two. But it ultimately just comes down to the imutibility like you guessed.

I have yet to try setting steamos to boot to desktop, ive read it can cause some headaches when switching between modes, unless valve has recently changed the "return to gaming mode" script.

[u/rileyrgham]

It brings next to nothing over a mainstream os. I use arch, Debian and steamOS. I wouldn't dream of using steamOS for my development work. For me, it's game pc in living room only.

[u/baltimoresports]

I’ve been slowly moving away from Bazzite and found that SteamOS is now the most stable option for using the “Deck Gamescope Gaming Mode” for like couch gaming. It’s a bit of a pain to install but once it’s on it’s extremely stable.

I’ve flipped my general purpose PC to CachyOS and so far it’s very nice. A bit more manual to setup but so far it just works without a lot of the bugs I saw. I still think SteamOS is a better option for that style of gaming versus CachyOS-Deck but either option is solid based on your needs.

[u/Minute-Macaroon-20]

I have converted most of my pcs to steamos and it is such an awesome os... I really recommend it and my stress levels have gone down to normal from not using windows...