SteamOS performance lags behind Windows 10

Can't say I'm surprised.

I tried the similar thing several months ago with the lowest budget official Steam Machine configuration, and compared several games in SteamOS and Windows 10. For example, Bioshock Infinite ran significantly better in Windows in contrast to the SteamOS.

I actually thought Valve fixed that prior the launch.

As someone mentioned somewhere in the comments, Valve is trying to offer the solution for something that doesn't need fixing.

Link to the full story.

Thoughts?

Lack of mature graphics drivers for OpenGL in Linux environment...... explains it all

This \nuff said.

Better luck next time linux

not surprised.

a combination of drivers, some questionable porting efforts, just a lack of battle hardiness on the linux side really and many of these games are built for windows in the first place. understandable given the small userbase but hopefully things do improve. its basically how 3rd parties treat nintendo due to low sales (acutllay linux does get better developer support than nintendo :P).

i will continue to buy my games through the linux client of steam (and other services if they come) and games with a linux build will more lilely see my money before those without one.

its all that can be done to try and improve the situation.

Valve fanboys will start mentioning that Vulkan isn't ready yet :P

Well, they're behind and by the time Vulkan comes out, MS will already have DX 13 available! This also proves that Steam OS and Steam Machine is only catered as Entry-Level PC gaming at best for those that want to either build a cheaper PC gaming/HTPC or use it as a console.

This is what happens when you take the cheap way out and just use a wrapper layer to translate Direct3D calls into OpenGL, instead of porting the game natively into OpenGL.

Can't really blame them though. Linux marketshare is still tiny but hopefully as it goes grows, developers will develop their games in Vulkan or OpenGL from the getgo instead of using a wrapper.

Hahahaaa..

DX12 just arrive and mantle has being out for like 2 years,did any one die.?

So Vulkan not being here for a little more will not hurt much,specially when probably Vulkan will match of pass DX12.

Where's Vulkan? I don't see any trace of it helping Steam OS? Try harder!

That's a combination of weak drivers and publishers cheaping out with the ports. I'm sure Linux users are just happy to have the games at all.

All Valves allusions to something better; the scathing criticism, the freethinking idealism, the invested time and resources, all culminating to this one pristine crescendo:

I'm not sure why Valve is trying so hard to win over such a small user base. Linux is a fantastic platform, but most people don't, and won't, use it. Adding games to Linux isn't going to change anything. People are used to Windows. People like Windows. Windows is a good operating system. Why switch to a less supported OS? I'm happy for Linux users. More support for different operating systems can only be a good thing. I'm just not sure why Valve is investing so much in it when anyone can see that the outlook isn't great. Then again, maybe they're well aware of that and just want to try for the sake of trying. They have enough money to do it, and I salute them for it. Most companies wouldn't attempt such a thing.

It's all about control for Valve, there is no god or king on the throne for PC gaming and they want to be it. So they will have to invest on making their own OS and try to lure gamers to make the OS switch.

Watch as they fail miserably...

Still going to install SteamOS, more support user support will lead to better developer support for linux.

Man...Valve really sucks.

I mean, they're great and all, but every new idea they have come up with these past few years has been poorly executed. Stuff like SteamOS and steam machines should be AMAZING. Instead, no one cares at all.

Probably just not enough gddr5 in their cloud.

Were was DX12 lasr year.? Or in 2013 when Mantle was on Dice hand and being implemented in BF4.?

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/200836-next-generation-vulkan-api-could-be-valves-killer-advantage-in-battling-microsoft

Try harder..

If it wasn't for Mantle DX12 wouldn't even be here now,it was AMD and other comapanies the most critical when it came to DX fu** up performance and it was AMD who took the matter into its own hands,and while mantle has being here for 2 years DX12 just arrived in fact few games support DX12 now.

So Vulkan being a little long will not hurt is not like MS had 10,000 games running on DX12 already,and yes Vulkan will help Steam os.

hmm i just noticed something interesting.

i have been tinkering with steam on ubuntu 14.04 and big picture mode (unfortunately the steam controller, which is awesome, needs steam to be running in big picture mode to configure it, which is not so awesome.) and have found that big picture mode imposes quite a performance penalty.

i got a few games as well and have been trying various games with the new controller.

Performance for HL2, the long dark and even jotun was not great at all. when i launched the same games from desktop steam they ran great. i initally thought the long dark was a bridge too far for my rig. the game struggeled at min settings. but then i launced it from normal mode and could put the game on its highest settings and still have a playable framerate.

im not sure whats causing this (probably drivers) but i wonder if it is also throwing off some of those results? or do steam OS users even experience the same problem?

@tormentos: Can you be this stupid? Yes, Mantle pushed MS to make DX 12, but Mantle is also a failure and was given to the vulkan team with no sale! Keep making yourself like a fool, because MS is here to stay!

Get a grip..where is the chip on your shoulder coming from? Don't like competition? I hope Valve makes you eat your words in the coming few years.

He looks like blind M$ fanboy. Well SteamOS is free so you can just dual boot it. Valve will support Vulkan for Win7/8/10. Take notes M$.

Basemark® Extends Its Benchmarking Lead with a Vulkan Performance Test

Same here. :)

@kozio: And you sound like a blind valve fanboy! Installing Windows and Steam OS is pointless when all games run Windows better. You'll end up using it more long term than the Steam PoS OS

Yeah but MS has an entire ecosystem ready to go with developers for easy porting too and from with DX12, so unless Vulcan is twice as capable and no one can live without it, which is hugely unlikely, it's not going to suddenly win over DX12. It is also a popularity contest and it's one MS is winning since they basically gave Windows 10 away.

Windows 10 was at 110m updates so far and all those people are guaranteed to have DX12 and however many Xbox Ones which continue to sell, that's what developers want to know, if the majority of people will use it. Why do you think mantle is all but dead? It doesn't have a following, no one has a reason for it, no matter how useful it is.

Valve has the uphill battle to climb here, not MS. I think this is bad for PC gamers as well. It could mean that Valve end up with more of a monopoly on PC gaming if games use their technology and they become exclusive to steam.

In Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, GC console era you thought Steam is going to be leading platform ? New concurrent user record every month ....

Wow... A company that has been making OSes for the past 20+ years is good at making optimized OSes... Who would have thought?

Too bad the Xbone OS is crappy. I'm a big fan of Windows 10 desktop and phones. Can't wait for the SnapDragon 820 Windows 10 phones.