SteamOS CONSOLE: the BEST gaming experience, but not worth it

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#steamdeck #steam #linuxgaming
00:00 Intro
00:45 Sponsor: Secure your internet connection
01:43 What I wanted from this SteamOS Console
02:48 Console in name only
04:39 The specs
06:03 SteamOS / HoloISO: not easy
11:40 Performance: top notch
14:10 Not worth it, but I love it!
15:51 Support the channel
Fix for AMD GPU bad performance bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.p...
I went for a Micro ATX PC, which means that, yes, it doesn't look like a console, but it was easy to install the GPU, it has ample room for cooling, and it sort of fits in my TV cabinet, so who cares. It's a Tuxedo Cube.
So here I have an intel core i7 12700,. I have 32Gigs of 3200Mhz RAM, I have a 1TB PCIE4 SSD, with a 750W modular power supply. For the GPU, I got a Radeon 6650XT off Amazon for 300 euros.
The total cost is a bit less than 1400€, which isn't cheap.
On it, I installed HoloISO, which had issues:
First, the default kernel they pick doesn't work with a lot of hardware, it lacks support for a bunch of things, so I had no Wifi and no Bluetooth support. Fortunately, they also ship with the holoiso kernel, which is more mainline, and does support a lot more things. You can select it during boot, with GRUB.
So I turned to the controversial Grub customizer, that's a graphical app that lets you tweak your grub boot options. HoloISO, like SteamOS, is based on Arch, but they don't really ship a correct pacman config with the correct repos, so I had to manually edit the pacman config to add the necessary repos to it, and then run a full system update, followed by the install of Grub Customizer.
And it flat out didn't work, it couldn't open the grub config file. That's because that file is preconfigured with conditions to boot with specific options on certain devices. I just commented all these conditions, and then Grub Customizer managed to open the file, and I could set the HoloISO kernel as the default boot option.
All games ran at 720P max. Of course, a simple web search gave me the answer, it's because SteamOS is meant for the steam deck, but you can change all that in the game's properties to select the max resolution you'll allow.
Then, the performance was horrible. I couldn't manage 1080p60 in Spiderman at medium details, Jedi Fallen Order had to run at 768p on medium to even get close to 60FPS, it was a mess, and this system should have been able to give me a lot more.
After a few hours of looking online, I found a solution: some AMD cards on Linux run in low power mode by default, and don't move to full power when you need them to.
But how's the performance then? Well, I can play virtually everything at least at 1440P, max settings at a smooth 60FPS.
I've completed a full playthrough of Spiderman, also running at 1440p high settings, upscaled to 4K through in game FSR. I've played about 13h of Cyberpunk at max details, 1440p upscaled to 4K through the in game FSR, with sharpness turned to the max, and it maintains 60FPS no problem, even when driving around in the city.
I played about a third of Red Dead Redemption 2, also running at 1440p, high settings, upscaled to 4K through HoloISO, at a smooth 60 fps as well. Everything can run at 4K High details, from 50 to 60 FPS.
And so this makes this console a better performer than a PS5, because PS5 rarely runs AAA games at 4K60, generally, if you want 4K high details, you're using quality mode, and you're running at 30FPS, not 60.
The performance mode on PS5 generally runs games at 1440p, and either medium or high details.
Cost wise, compared to a PS5, it's very expensive for a marginal visual improvement. And yet, I love it, and I plan to play everything I can on this and not on the PS5.
Because it runs Linux, and I love Linux. It also works with an Xbox controller, which I prefer to the dualsense 5. Also, my game library is mostly in Steam these days. I can also start a playthrough on my TV, and then pick up my Steam Deck, make sure my saves are synced, and go play on that outside, or in bed, or on holidays.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

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[@BrianJones-wk8cx]

This is the icing on the content cake of this video-an unexpected gem that I had never heard of before, great sponsor!

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

You are completely correct, the PS5 is the worst looking console made. PS3 second revision was slim and smooth, like a little sports car, and it fit in with HDTVs, and gave you a BluRay player too. Be sure to cover OS 3.4 Update, if you didn't cover all the new changes... I am looking forward to Steam OS 4.0 as a full desktop environment, no more need for Windows ever again.

[@ninetendopesaitama2107]

The ps5 is superugly. Design crime imo. ☮️

[@Wahid_on_youtobe]

you dont like build your own pc ? why ?

[@christianmino4073]

You say it's not worthit but that's SOLEY because you didn't build it. I can do this same build with a better, albeit used, gpu for about $600 and in that case this machine is absolutely worth it. for an extra 20-35$ you could throw windows on another 500GB/1TB M.2. You also dont have to go with such a nice GPU either but the 1080ti can still hang. You could drop another $200 and geta 3080ti and that would be a BEAST of a console PC still for less money than you spent. About half of what you spent if I remember your price correctly it was like $1600 US Case 60 PSU 40 GPU (used GTX 1080ti) 150 1TB M.2 30 Mobo - 50 i7 12700k 200 32GB DDR4 50 $630

[@MrCarabryne]

You did not take into account the fact that the PS5 is sold for cheap by Sony because they make a huge markup on the games, whereas PC games can be had for much cheaper, so on the long run, the PC SteamOS machines becomes more financially sensible, on top of the fact that you don't have to pay for multiplayer, and that you can upgrade it with new components.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Yep, absolutely! But for the end user, who will switch to PS 6 5 years after their purchase, they’ll have spent maybe 1400 for 12 years of gaming, which is just way less than a PC with its upgrades mid-way :) Of course, the real price of a PS5 is probably it closer to 800€

[@Plueschtroll]

@@TheLinuxEXP "The typical end user" will amass a ton of old games and will end up with a lot of old consoles in their living room with old games still sealed on a pile of shame - DON'T JUDGE ME! Hence, PC games are longer lasting, as long as Valve exists. MrCarabryne therefore has a point. You really have to take everything into account which costs something.

[@afrofantom6631]

@@Plueschtroll Not promoting sailing the seven seas, but if you have a copy of the license on steam; which is really the only way to have games on PC, I feel it becomes ethical for you to pirate it if your tolerance permits.

[@SnowyRVulpix]

@@TheLinuxEXPA PC can go a decade without an upgrade if you start strong out of the gate. A 3080 now could very well be still serving you in 2033

[@bernardbautista6209]

@@SnowyRVulpix i still have my 1660 and not planning on upgrading until my PC dies of old age, until then il buy the newer one.

[@paladingeorge6098]

You gotta admit...SteamOS is a pretty good console/hybrid OS. I really hope they release it for broader use sometime soon.

[@powerpc64]

another steam machine/console would be really cool imo

[@s01itarygaming]

Next year if we're lucky. There's still a lot of work to be done before it's ready for general desktop use.

[@KillahMate]

Valve said they're working on it, so it'll definitely be released sometime between now and the heat death of the universe.

[@subjectnether959]

​@@KillahMatesteam deck 2, steam deck 2 episode 1, steam deck 2 episode 2, steam deck alyx

[@mrblackrock555]

For me even if they charged us £10/$10 ish for it then I will happily buy it! If that charge gets me some extra QoL features that allow the experience to smooth out even further in future I'm all for it.

[@adfury]

Couple of things. 1. Is legacy support. Each console manufacturer can't guarantee that they will support last Gen titles. Not even from a technical aspect. It's a licensing thing. 2: mod support and workshop features. The consoles are still behind on that too.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Yep, that’s true!

[@elbowsout6301]

and 3: to play online there is an added cost on consoles. PC free!

[@s4shrish]

I mean, we might as well mention the games being resellable on consoles. Or just shareable, by handing over the disc/cartridge.

[@VintageCR]

@@elbowsout6301 Technically PC isn't 'Free' ... you still have to pay your ISP (internet service provider) to give you access to the internet. of course this should also be included with consoles but not many people seem to stand still by this very fact lol so if you compare pc to console, internet is indeed free on pc.

[@VintageCR]

@@s4shrish but you can't play together at the same time as you only have 1 disc or cartridge or whatever.. with pc you can offline but still possible. im not sure how far steam family sharing has come but maybe it is possible to run 1 bought game on 2 separate systems. i have not looked into this fact so bare with me.

[@Waifu4Life]

This is why I'll be waiting for the official SteamOS. Let's hope we'll get it before the Windows 10 End of Life.

[@MArKiTo79]

I also have a Steam console. I run ChimeraOS on it without any issues. Wireless XBox controllers worked out of the box, steam controller as well. Even wii controllers work fine for emulation of wii games. After the installation I didn't need a keyboard or mouse anymore. Perfect console experience.

[@qchtohere8636]

My console is a 2017 HP laptop with ChimeraOS, and honestly it's the best videogame machine I have had, haven't even missed not having a Stream Deck yet. I literally installed, plugged a PS4 controller (through Bluetooth), and have never looked back at consoles (and yeah, 720p is more than enough for me).

[@gorgismorgi6608]

ChimeraOS is great, and it supports NVIDIA cards, though not the best experience. I have this issue where I have to reconnect my bluetooth controllers each time, but besides that it works wonders. I don't need a console anymore for playing on the TV

[@zeroturn7091]

I did a Holo ISO build, and they locked desktop mode down something serious. Hope that Chimera’s desktop is more open.

[@RedSaint83]

Woah, that looks very promising. I didn't even know about ChimeraOS. Love that it supports GOG games as well 😻

[@MrGamelover23]

Some games still require a keyboard and mouse. Like, I can't even play Genshin Impact with a controller without using a mouse to click twice, as well as to allow The anti-cheat to turn on every time I run the game. Of course, I can't even run that game on Linux, which is why I only have windows on my gaming PC, but at least LTSC makes it a much better experience, combined with replacing the explorer shell with Steam big picture mode.

[@Overionised]

It might not be wort it, but it's Linux.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Yeah!

[@cameronbosch1213]

Better than any current console!

[@koghs]

So, problematic and barely working?

[@Overionised]

​@@koghsI was thinking functional, free and efficient

[@Masqueey]

This is so me

[@appsaucetech]

Man I love linux. The community, support, and most of all stability performance and security! I was so glad when they released the steam deck l, which runs arch. It brought so much people to linux and support for most things have sped up significantly. Love your videos and continue on with the awesome open source news.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

The Steam Deck was an absolute game changer!

[@appsaucetech]

@@TheLinuxEXP It really was and still is! With all the new people using linux, it has given developers and companies the incentive to get working on driver support, which really helps as my usb WiFi dongle works out of the box, whereas before I had to clone a github repository and install the kernel headers, which requires an internet connection, which is the very reason I even got the dongle.

[@tacokoneko]

@@appsaucetech unfortunately when that happens you have to predict the code you need and download it at the same time as you downloaded the operating system originally

[@appsaucetech]

@@tacokoneko It was mostly annoying as the WiFi router is downstairs so I had to carry my chonk of a pc downstairs to use ethernet to download the drivers and back up the stairs, I'm no bodybuilder.

[@MrGamelover23]

Linux out of the box is actually very insecure, you can make it much more secure but you have to do that yourself. And it might also degrade some of the performance. Anyone who works in security will tell you that a secure system is a slow system, or at least slower. And while it's nice that the operating system isn't selling your data, everything else you use on it is, so at that point I'm not sure how much more private it really is here. Look, I love Linux, and I'm never giving Microsoft money after the artificial arbitrary hardware requirements for Windows 11 caused a hugee e-waste pile, But I like having everything work on one system rather than having to dual boot. One of the games I play the most is Genshin Impact, and it's anti-Cheat doesn't support Linux, and I don't want to risk getting banned by patching it, and since Windows 10 LTSC exists, I have no reason to put Linux on my gaming PC.

[@BUDA20]

I did a "console" in the ~2000, it was for emulation and multimedia, the awesome thing about it, was the ability to just take it to a friend house, plug any usb controllers and play pretty much all Arcade and 2D games of the 90s

[@RyanWAFFELYoung]

The sync between PC and steamdeck is the biggest draw. It's also the main reason I play Zelda totk on emualtor rather than my switch, because I can play it on my PC, then using syncthing, pick up my deck and pick up the same save file on my lunch break at work. I'm still playing on my desktop, but definitely miss gamescope, which also fixes some games inability for steam to hook in controller support. I'm sure there's a way to add a gamescope instance to the logon, I just haven't delved into that.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Oh yeah, being able to pick up where you left off when you’re on the go is just wonderful!

[@theautomaticfiend]

I did the same with totk. Sure it doesn't run as well on deck as switch but it's damn close and way better on my desktop.

[@xXx_Regulus_xXx]

cloud saves over syncthing? 🤯 awesome!

[@stevoisiak]

How do you sync your emulator saves?

[@RyanWAFFELYoung]

@@stevoisiak I use syncthing. Moved save folder into my syncthing folder and then made a symlink back to where yuzu expects. Easier way is to just point your "nand' folder in yuzu settings to a syncthing folder.

[@thingsiplay]

We need the ability to dock an external GPU to the Steam Deck. While the CPU wouldn't get upgraded this way, it would make lot of things easier too without building and maintaining an additional PC. A Dock with GPU could stay connected to the TV and you could dock your Steam Deck anytime to transform it into a more capable computer. I wonder what the performance would be. Hopefully the future Steam Deck 2 can do that.

[@Michael-Archonaeus]

That would be amazing!

[@weltsiebenhundert]

You mean like Samsung Smartphone DEX or Apple Laptop Thunderbold ?

[@Michael-Archonaeus]

@@weltsiebenhundert More like the Nintendo Switch if they had put a GPU in the dock.

[@thingsiplay]

@@weltsiebenhundert More like an apple to apple comparison with ROG Ally or OneXPlayer, which are Windows handhelds with external GPU capability. There is even a dedicated connection eGPU which Steam Deck could integrate in a high end model.

[@Syping]

The Steam Deck weakest point is the CPU, the Zen 2 CPU often runs in power limit, so when would dock a External GPU, it would only help when you don't increase any CPU load.

[@pascalvorbach6829]

I did build a dedicated PC for the same reason as well. I got me a Ryzen 5 5600 16gb RAM 256tb nvme SSD Rx6600xt I did choose Chimera OS, since the Holo OS build didn't let me update the system 🤷🏼‍♂️. Works pretty great for me.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Very nice!

[@fliptight]

Nice! I did the same thing. I bought a used small form factor office PC ($90), added an RX 6400 ($110) to it and now I have a dedicated "console" for playing party games with friends.

[@snafuu90]

At 3:36 there is still the cases slot cover over the second slot of the GPU. If you want to keep using this system in this configuration you might want to remove this as it reduces airflow and might make the GPU louder or run hotter than otherwise.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Yeah, I could remove these as well

[@linuxretrogamer]

I did this over a year a go. Been running HoloISO for around 18 months now. The initial build cost me around £1100. More tgan double the cost of the Series X I ditched for this set up... And... It has been more than worth it! Why? - No PS Plus, XBox Live, Gamepass subscriptions. - I can fully backup game files for all games downloaded - Steam Sales - Emulation. Seriously, emulation! I essentually have Pong, Atari 2600, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, SNES, PS1, Win98SE, XBox, XBox 360, PS3, and Steam versions of PS4, PS4Pro and Series X titles. All in one box. Instantly accessible from the HDD. From one nice games console UI. Using a Steam Controller.

[@GraveUypo]

you can do emulation on xbox too, though.

[@linuxretrogamer]

@@GraveUypo i did emulation on Series X before I ditched it. My current set up is far better. More integrated.

[@MrGamelover23]

​@@linuxretrogamerAnd also far more expensive, I'm sorry but that's just a deal breaker for 90% of us. My PC cost like $600 to build and that was like the cheapest I could make a decent system in March 2023. Use your head, up front cost trumps all benefits and long-term savings. It was worth it for you, which is great, but for most of us it's not.

[@linuxretrogamer]

@@MrGamelover23 Never claimed it was right for everyone. Games Consoles are popular for a very good reason. I just said that I've found it to be both worth the money and the best overall experience I've had. Like I say I ditched an XBox Series X with RetroArch in developer mode for this setup.

[@MrGamelover23]

@@linuxretrogamer and my PC was absolutely a massive upgrade, Genshin Impact at 60 fps is sublime. But I wish I had $1,000 to piss away on a computer like that.

[@mglsj]

Going up to a 6700 series card would definitely smooth gaming performance, as they are currently very cheap.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Yeah the prices went down even for 7000 series a month after I bought it 😅

[@felixokeefe]

If you really want 4k gaming you need a 6900xt card

[@felixokeefe]

6650 cards are 1080p cards

[@Killjoy1204]

@@felixokeefeyes I was wondering how is he managing such frame rates at 4k with 1080p midrange card

[@MyurrDurr]

You can set the resolution for each game in their properties to "Native" and it will automatically use the highest resolution of whatever you plug the computer into! Which is great on the Deck for me because I Dock it pretty often and games automatically run at 1080p and then 800p when not docked without needing to change anything

[@TheRandomGuyTheFarNoGameCat]

This makes me want Launchbox to FINALLY come to Linux even more.

[@samzick6301]

What's even better than a console attached to the TV is a "Game Server". Sunshine and Moonlight is perfect, because you can essentially play from any screen in your house! Mine is rack-mounted on my network rack.

[@davidnotonstinnett]

I honestly think this is the future of conputers in general. Why has 10 $1000 machines when you can have 1 $5000 machine and then you get nice accessories for each location you want to use your central system. If we accept this as just a part of “home infrastructure”, then we can include the PC with the cost of the house and so you can boost the price but also the hardware and capabilities. Many new homes are built with Ethernet installed at outlets and leading back to where this PC would live.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Only if you have Ethernet everywhere. Over WiFi, the experience is quite lackluster!

[@joshua_lee732]

Wifi is objectively better here in North America with our stick built homes.

[@abubakrakram6208]

What are Sunshine and Moonlight (in this context, of course)? I ask because this is something I've wanted to do for a gaming solution for a while, and the possibility that I can maybe do it is the only thing that's held me back from swapping out my MacBook for a Linux gaming laptop.

[@softwarelivre2389]

@@TheLinuxEXP Time to bring X11 back with their remote display solutions?

[@gigalodon14]

For anyone thinking about doing this themselves: You can get pre-built PCs with the same or even better performance for much less money. The only thing that might not always be linux compatible is the bluetooth, but even if so you can just get a 10-20€ dongle

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Where?? A pre built with an i7, 32 gigs of RAM and an RX6650XT plus 1TB of pcie4 SSD and WiFi 6? Believe me, I looked. Full ATX, maybe, not micro ATX.

[@coopercummings8370]

@@TheLinuxEXP That just isn't a smart config for gaming. The i7 has minimal or no performance gains over an i5 or r5 in gaming, 32gb of ram is nice but unnecessary, pcie4 ssds have no noticeable performance advantage for gaming compared to pcie 3.0 or even a good sata one with a DRAM cache, if you cut those back you have room for a significantly better gpu. I'm not sure about prebuilt manufacturers because parts and availability can be all over the place with them, but at a 30 second glance looking at the pcpartpicker build guides, there is a configuration for a system with an r5 7600x, 32gb of ram 2tb of pcie 4.0 ssd and a 6800XT for $1233. That one uses an ATX case, but the board is mATX and the case used is $99, you could swap that out for a cheaper mATX one.

[@gigalodon14]

@@coopercummings8370 tbf the cost for a pcie4 ssd is almost negligible nowadays. Also Im sure he meant matx cases and not mainboard

[@thierrybo6304]

@@coopercummings8370 to be fair you can't compare Us $ and Eu €. Generally in Europe they set the price before tax nearly the same numeric value that the Us price whereas you have roughly 1,10$ for 1€. So we get +10% already. Then you have to add 18/20% tax that LinuxExperiment did not payed because it bought it as a company. As a normal consumer, for the base system we had to pay 1071,43 ×1.20 = 1 285,72€ or 1 409,02$

[@zeroturn7091]

The Steam Deck runs DDR5. Your suggestion will get you a decent playing experience.

[@Alex090]

Darn, you should have teamed up with the LTT gang for a coop vid for this! Having them doing a goofy hardware setup and then you doing the software run-through would have been cool.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

I wish!

[@malcaniscsm5184]

@@TheLinuxEXP Make the suggestion - they might go for it!

[@xard64]

Considering that you got this far with the project using only deck + community resources I bet it wouldn't be that monumental task anymore for Valve to make a comparable but affordable and polished product.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Probably!

[@smileyguyz]

Didn't Valve try to roll out consoleish things at one point? I remember around the time of the Steam controller's launch and existence, there were a few options from Alienware and I want to say MSI. They were small ITX sized computers, basically mid range laptops shoved inside a small ITX case. They sold terribly though. Maybe if Valve created a semi proprietary design, all under the Steam brand, and took a Deck-like route with the overall design it'd do well.

[@OptimumSlinky]

@@smileyguyzThey did, but that was before Proton, so they were DOA since maybe 5% of games worked.

[@CLOYO]

Yes, it's called a Steam Deck!

[@MrGamelover23]

Unfortunately, as long as the steam deck costs $400 it wouldn't make any financial sense to sell a $500 PC that's much more powerful. I wish they would though.

[@gljames24]

I'm annoyed that most media distros are centered around Arm as I would love a media center AND console. I really wish there was a version of Gnome similar to a mix between mobile gnome and Plasma Big Screen designed to work with a simple remote. This means easy arrow key and home button navigation between applications. I want to go from gaming on Steam, click home on the remote, scroll over to Jellyfin in the applications screen, and start watching movies. Then when I want to go back to Steam, I want to just click the home button and click left to its workspace. If any arrow key navigation gnome extensions exist I would love to hear about. I also would love to know how mobile gnome makes sure there is a single application per workspace.

[@iplyrunescape305]

Absolutely this. The middle ground is as described; the consoles. We definitely need a focus on this area sometime soon. We are close for sure.

[@CaptainSunFlare]

Check put kde big screen Debian If it doesn't come preset up, it is pretty easy to convert Debian or Arch to a TV centric OS!

[@marcianoacuerda]

This sounds like something I’ve wanted for years. A fully consolized version of steam. I hope they release a version with selectable kernels and gpu profiles.

[@lonyo5377]

They tried it with the steam box, no one cared

[@MrGamelover23]

​@@lonyo5377That's because nothing could run on it because this was before proton.

[@fliptight]

​@lonyo5377 no one cared backed then because it couldn't run Windows games. Now that we have Proton and Windows compatibility has improved by leaps and bounds, it is much more attractive.

[@GYTCommnts]

Hey! Great idea! I will do something similar because I have almost the same needs: I need to differentiate my working space from my relaxing space. So I will make my gaming / retrogaming Linux station for chilling in the sofa just like you!

[@KiiaBite]

Just recently discovered your video. No idea how I've not found your channel before. Your videos are fantastic, this one included. From someone who has ran Linux (Debian) as my daily driver throughout COVID, thank you!

[@Michael-Archonaeus]

It is worth it, for all the reasons you mentioned. You got what you wanted for a price you were willing to pay, that is exactly what makes it worth it.

[@blakedennis6213]

I really enjoyed HoloISO when I was playing around with it. Bit sad that it has basically been abandoned by the dev (Not to discredit his work, he did it for free and did an amazing job), but it was a really solid experience once you got it working. I've since switched to ChimeraOS (Not really a fan of the Gnome desktop mode, especially since installing extensions to customize it is a pain) while I wait for an official release from Valve. I haven't had any controller issues yet, but I haven't tried to connect an Xbox or Dual Sense controller yet, only Switch Pro controllers. May need to look into that. I assume it's probably due to the kernel ChimeraOS runs.

[@techspiritzz2268]

Great video! I've done a similar setup and I found it surprisingly easy to setup SteamOS using HoloISO. Bluetooth, Wifi just worked seamlessly and I had no issues connecting the Xbox 360 controller via Bluetooth. The only thing I found missing from my experience, as you mentioned, is the ability to resume from sleep using the controller and also saving state on sleep (which I absolutely love on the Steam Deck). I do wish at some point we get better support for NVIDIA GPUs though!

[@fanchhix6616]

Hello and thanks for the great viids!! Yeched mat ! Greetings from Douarnenez, mate!

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Breiz atao !

[@GrackAlaciN]

I recently built an extra PC for my living room out of mostly spare parts. I have been thinking of doing something similar to this, but I might wait for an official PC release of SteamOS to minimize the tinkering.

[@inhuman4]

Thank you for doing this and reporting on. I'm sure there are lot of people like me who have been thinking of something like this.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

I’ve been trying for a few months but I was held back by the lack of nvidia support!

[@rweninger]

I did something similar, but with Kubuntu and a native steam installation. Everything worked perfect, no quirks, only the XBox Game Controller was mapped wrong. My workaround was a cable until i changed it with a 3rd party program. I love it. I am not a PS or XBox fan. I had both and ditched them.

[@shawnmacfarland3828]

More of this please. Especially hardware challenges to do this on different types of hardware.

[@FAYZER0]

My PC has an NVIDIA card so I wouldn't be able to do this, but a built in frame limiter would be very nice. I know you can still do it on a linux distro, I've just been to lazy to dig into it to date, especially since I dual boot.

[@NOPerative]

Pre-built systems aren't always bad provided they're laid out well sans bull sh!t at a realistic price point. I understand 2.5% markup (production costs and expansion) and if a system is charging me additionally for a $1K logo and has Bill Gates building my box I'm looking elsewhere or will opt to build a suitable platform myself. Regardless, there are many systems out there that are really consumer friendly (MinisForum, System76 and Tux) concerning pre-built configurations - many good choices compared to 10 years ago. Good video.

[@ezequielpartida5846]

For me it was worth it since I installed HoloISO on 2 small form factor Mini PCs with AMD Ryzen 5 and they run very well for my 2 kids (No AAA games of course), both mini PC´s fit behind the TVs without any problems. For me I use NVIDIA GPUs that won´t work with ChimeraOS or HoloISO so I used Mageia 9 with mageia-prime and it works frantastic.. BTW, is it possible to enable performance overlay on Steam for Linux or is this only for SteamOS?

[@harleyofallthings]

It's a steamos feature but they're using mangohud, so you can install that separately, though probs not as smooth an experience.

[@SeanHosie54]

Best video nic!, can you do a tutorial how you tuned the grub menu and graphics card?

[@Satook]

Price is an interesting thing to compare. I think it’s worth comparing the total cost of the console and the games you will buy over its lifespan. Also PCs are much more backwards compatible than any console so you’re not locking off all your old games by swapping to the newer release.

[@andromydous]

There may be some naysayers and people who think you should have done this or that. I'm not that person. Consoles, Windows, Linux, and even Mac are all tools. You should use whichever tool that you feel is right for the job that you want to do.

[@jaorlowski]

I would like to know the performance on Arch as a base line. I'm using steam with my old PC with the compositor (HDR incoming) and it runs nicely with no hassle setup-wise. Also: You will be able to replace the graphics card in a year or 2 and don't buy a full console. So in the long turn you might even save money.

[@shrijitbasak]

You are living my dream, thank you so much to make me happy showcasing your build.

[@heximilian8931]

IF you get a FLIRC USB receiver you could set the system to wake up with a signal from your TV remote.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Hmmm good idea!

[@chaosfenix]

I know you had this for a while to actually do it but I wonder how your opinions around the feasability would change with a different hardware configuration. A big one would be using a 7600 instead of the 6650. You would get about 10% more perf and save 10W on the TDP. Not gamechanging but substantial. Another config could be to use a mini PC instead like the miniPCs coming up with the 7840u/hs like the Beelink GTR7. You wouldn't get as big of performance uplift but it would be more console like if that was your priority. Next comments are on HoloOS. This is why I really wish they would just support SteamOS across the board in general instead of just supporting it on the steam deck. The concept is awesome for a HTPC like you are showing here but the fact that you have to go in and run all of the scripts you did show how this isn't viable for many potential users. I really wish they could focus on polishing the OS now that the UI for steam has been polished pretty well with the last update.

[@matti...]

I think it'd be really cool to do this build in that new Fractal Ridge case (or one of those Sliger ones)

[@CyrilBosselut]

To power on your computer you can enable wake on lan and the wake on lan integration in Home Assistant so you can even make a routine that will power on your tv, your sound bar and switch on the correct input ;)

[@TheLinuxEXP]

I could look into that!

[@CyrilBosselut]

@@TheLinuxEXP i use that in my alarm clock routine and i've also exported the entity as a switch so i can use it with the assistants and that's working fine

[@ESGamingCentral]

Thanks for the video!

[@TheLinuxEXP]

You're welcome!

[@AyushGupta-wn6zd]

I guess we can call this a "linux experiment"

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Absolutely!

[@aletter1718]

I have a intel nuc 9 extreme I would love to try this with. Has a rx7600 (not supposed to fit but it did fit the dual fan size one )and already games in windows, this would be cool to see how viable it is for a main game system

[@THeck_23]

I love your funny reviews :D Keep going it like this!

[@WaddleQwacker]

can't wait for a day where steamOS is available everywhere and even for nvidia

[@scar3sl]

Wow, this is a pretty cool project! I thought about building a system just like this. I just did not get around to it yet. Regarding using your controller to start the PC. This is actually possible. If you use Sleep mode, you can allow certain devices to resume. To start the PC via Bluetooth, you need a motherboard feature. Another thing you could do is to setup a wake on lan trigger on your PC and you can configure your Smartphone or any other device in your network to send a WoL signal to your PC :)

[@Ekyllier]

Once SteamOS is officially available, I reckon gaming laptops with broken displays are going to be highly sort after.

[@mrdrissou_]

Toujours impressionné par ton niveau d'anglais mais également par la qualité de ton contenu 🥖🇫🇷 Édit : si tu as besoin de conseils/aide pour monter une machine la prochaine fois je suis là 😊

[@SuperCrazy94600]

J’suis pas fou c’est un français il parle bien mais on se sait

[@skymoov]

@@SuperCrazy94600mdr j’me suis dit la même chose

[@qwfp]

IIRC consoles are being sold at a loss and Sony/Microsoft make the money back through game purchases. So I wonder, if instead of comparing just your DIY console to PS5, you would compare DIY console + X amount of games bought on Steam Sales vs PS5 + that games, would the result be more in favor of DIY console? Even excluding the fact that you already have a lot of games on Steam.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Oh yeah. Especially since games are always cheaper on PC through constant sales and key sellers.

[@buddybleeyes]

Have you tried remote power switches? Ive seen them about over the years, never tried one myself, and have no idea if it would work. But it would be a good idea. I remember seeing ones that wire up to your power input on your motherboard, with a wireless reviecer and transmitter like a car fob. Edit: home theatre pcs are the best, still always looking at building one then talking myself out of it 🤣 when steamOS launches, might have to bite the bullet, i havent got the time to mess around with holo os

[@archpenguin6646]

Great video! I think I might test this out in a VM with a gpu pass though.

[@veritanuda]

Just two things. Don't need to use a program to edit grub boot order. That is done in `/etc/default/grub` Second, it would be trivial to set up some home automation to wake up your game PC when the controller is powered on and suspend it when the controller is turned off. Would the suspend be as good as on the deck, though? Not sure but worth a try Still looks a good rig and glad you enjoy it. Thanks for sharing.

[@timnowak8573]

Interesting. However, I personally would not choose HoloISO. And instead I would choose ChimeraOS, especially since I prefer the Gnome desktop environment. Another interesting option is to choose WinesapOS, or build the system yourself using the WinesapOS Repository. Personally, If I had to do something similar, I'd use Archman Linux or RebornOS as a system base.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Chimera has the exact same experience as HoloISO but didn’t detect my Bluetooth controllers, so it was unusable for me!

[@koghs]

Preferring Gnome? Are you joking lol?

[@timnowak8573]

@@TheLinuxEXP Well, unfortunately, it all depends on the hardware used. In my case there was no problem I use a cheap Ipega PG-9028 wireless controller, and a wired Genesis P65.

[@timnowak8573]

@@koghs Lol everyone has a desktop environment preference. Plus I personally use a linux on computer not only for gaming.

[@jonnyhogan1921]

Plz tell me you have a full tutorial to setup pacman! Im trying this on an old prebuilt, and im soooooo close to making it perfect

[@nick.roster5406]

hi i wanted to ask if you were also asked for a root password during the steam os installation like i did if so do you know what the root password is?

[@moonpie2637]

I use decky in big picture on my steam deck so i can make changes to from desktop mode. Helps applying game covers when I'm installing non steam games and testing them. So decky loader does work in big picture mode from desktop. At least on steam deck

[@FrankoBurolo]

Respect for the Mega Drive Mini under the TV there! :-D

[@traindoctor]

Happy to hear a shoutout to Decky Loader! - The SDH Team.

[@giannibtt]

how do the cpu and gpu temperatures behave inside the cube? what cooling fan is provided for the cpu and the cube itself? Thank you

[@clanc5340]

As someone who tried building their own SteamOS console, I spent more time getting it to work properly than I did any gaming. I sold it after I realized it was a bust, but it was comfortable playing your Steam library straight from the couch.

[@IcoKirov]

What kind of plugins do you use from the decky loader?

[@omarguerrero6417]

How many drives did you use

[@Davidian1024]

If you mentioned Steam Link I missed it. In any case, I have a similar setup to yours. My machine is a bit older but it's still handling all the latest triple A games with ease. With Steam Link I can stream the games to the TVs I have in my living room and bedroom. And I don't notice any reduction in video quality or lag.

[@splamb6474]

another great video! thanks for sharing

[@freemansfreedom8595]

11:40 for that, a cheap media center keyboard should do the trick. Which is also handy to have in that use case.

[@hesham8]

I have to figure out how to get this working… I’ve got a 7900XTX/64GB RAM/13900K etc mini ITX, and I’d love to setup a second drive for this.

[@alexplastow9496]

I intend to try this one day, I don't actually game that much, but building a PC and ricing linux sounds fun. Having emulators and games in one box on a powerful machine sounds fantastic

[@MENTOKz]

sounds like a great idea and good video nick

[@rededd0196]

Good content as always, thank you.

[@bandito241]

I sometimes use the Steam Deck to stream the PC games that are not installed there but on the PC and vice versa It’s only 1 game but I can’t run Rune Factory on the Pop! OS for some reason.

[@fredtex5521]

Can you explain how to see if my gpu amd 5600xt is in low power setting? I have a lot of stutter in forza 5 e very poor fps in risk of rain...maybe is the same problem. Thanks!

[@ashurastrike]

Are those stats on the top left corner from steam, or is it a different app?

[@TheLinuxEXP]

It’s mangohud, natively I reheated I to steam OS ;)

[@Eyuphuro]

I have a dream of having a similar (probably lower) setup, but in my case it won't be primarily for gaming, firstly it will serve as a "TV" with Kodi or similar software and from there be able to launch Steam for my hours of gaming. I hope one day It becomes reality 😅. Nice video Nick

[@badmoose01]

I''m in the process of building a PC in a mini ITX case and it would be a great pseudo console. Only problem is that it has a nvidia 3070 ti so it would not play well with linux in general including holo iso. Big picture mode on the Steam Windows app will have to suffice. On the plus side Windows has native gamepass support, which is great for a home theater pc.

[@JAFOpty]

I have my eye on a Cooler Master NR200P case for my next build. Mid towers and above are necessary these days.

[@gameplayslikeit]

Hi, I am using ubuntu 22.04. I am able to connect my ds4 controller in steam and in epic games through Bottles. Left joy stick worked fine but unable to use full controller and its right side keys. Is there any way to use it. Please suggest

[@nyverinorlyth9555]

Easy solution, duel boot that os, or install it manually on your arch, pull a long wire from your desktop to the TV, when ever I want just boot into it or launch the things. That way all you pay is a a long cable and some controller and a decent amount of configuration time

[@hellNo116]

as someone who plays low spec games and doesn't care about most 3a games (I just bought blooborn like 2 months ago, or sth like that) I feel that a similar project with amd cpu with integrated graphics would be amazing. especially if you want to be able to torrent stuff directly to that machine when you want to watch movies. I mean obviously movies you own and you have copied so you can watch them on your phone. no piracy... also just having a pc that you might use it from time to time for something more complex in your living room sounds fun. I remember trying to have my family watch some photos on the tv and having to play around with ps3 because it was the only hdmi device in the house with a dvd player. what a painful afternoon.

[@_B.C_]

I was kinda thinking of getting into Linux with a little mini system like this for this same purpose. But building it out of an asrock deskmeet, amd 5600X3D and a Radeon 7600x.

[@scavanger1000]

You can get a pcie card that will connect to the power button/ turn it on over pcie, I haven’t used them but I hear they work good

[@DFX4509B]

Can't you manually install Gamescope on any other distro though?

[@mattgillon3645]

Did the same with my rog, used Kodi for the launcher, mapped my tv and movies drives and added my games, for saves set the the saves as a in house cloud drive with a back with robocopy.

[@mattgillon3645]

Should mention works with Alexa to turn it on and off as well

[@JessicaFEREM]

also don't forget that devices can transfer games from one device to another over the network, so if you have a game on your PC, you can have your HTPC be a game install server for the steam deck, potentially being able to download quicker and without using up twice the data.

[@TomRevill]

Can you please post your os tweaks to help others? Love the idea and video!!!

[@tayfun366]

I have a question. If you are in desktop mode on steamOS, is it still possible to control the mouse and (keyboard) with the gamepad?

[@harleyofallthings]

It would likely work how the steam deck does, you can get a shortcut to reveal keyboard. As for mouse I do not know how valve programmers programmed it but I would assume so unless the makers of holoiso changed something.

[@NickLetsom]

I used to have this case, but I can't find it for sale anymore. Can you share where you got it?

[@Mark-ns3jo]

If Valve actually make a 'console' that would be huge for linux. Imagine an eco system of a Valve console, Steam Deck, and their rumoured VR headset. We'd certainly see a major shift if the way people play PC.

[@dozerd42]

Can you document what you did for us? I would love to try setting up something similar, since I also own a deck...

[@StephanHughes]

I use that same case for my entertainment center computer (but I custom built it)

[@RodrigoCarvalhoSilva]

What a great Linux Experiment! ❤

[@tlnguyen72]

I did something similar. Best thing is also emudeck and load up lots of old school games

[@Moukrea]

Oh! I'm on a similar (yet different) path, but instead of having a dedicated machine, it's an SSD enclosure with a portable OS (WinesapOS as it's the only deck-like distro with gamescope I could find that can work alongside other OSes and that has large enough hardware support to work on anything I can plug it into, working with pretty much any controller I have on hand), however, no TDP/Thread count/GPU clock/Framerate limiting control on the fly as it's possible on the Deck, which obliges me to use third party tools and good old elbow grease to set it on a game by game basis... Making it particularly cumbersome when running it on different machines... The main goal is to have a gaming setup ready to go anywhere I go, including at work during lunch break on my locked down professional laptop, as it's a 4Tb drive, I got plenty of gaming within reach anywhere I go!

[@scstoryteller1344]

Best lenix os for beginner plz reply

[@s-nooze]

Is there something like Steam Big Picture mode but not just for Steam? Some kind of UI more at the level of Lutris that can access all my games with a "console-like" interface? I'm kind of a Linux noob hope the question made sense

[@BrianJones-wk8cx]

Am I missing something-the Gamescope compositor can be used with any distro, no? I’ve been using it with Fedora (Glorious Eggroll’s Nobara) without issue.

[@TheLinuxEXP]

Yeah, but why tinker and tweak separate components when you get (theoretically) a complete package that already supported everything? Plus, I’m pretty sure that even with gamescope, you’re not getting all the performance options on the menu of Big Picture mode

[@BrianJones-wk8cx]

@@TheLinuxEXP fair, though as your video reveals, the current experience with SteamOS isn’t the ideal, complete, no tinkering required experience just yet. I suppose it’s simply a matter of where you choose to tinker (and where you don’t), and I totally understand prioritizing the performance options. For me on my main gaming rig, it’s about having a streamlined environment strictly for gaming and a desktop environment for maintenance and setup and other such shenanigans, so the performance options aren’t the priority. Regardless, once SteamOS is ready for broader distribution, I’ll more than likely be switching over without a second thought.