Why is SteamOS taking so long to come to desktop for AMD users, when ChimeraOS is the same thing almost?

[Space Lynx]

Just a general question here to better my understanding. I know Valve stated, or at least I remember reading about it when Deck OLED came out, but they said SteamOS on Desktop was a major priority for them. This would be AMD only systems I imagine, at least at first...

Anyways, ChimeraOS if you actually use it, it loads up and feels a lot like SteamOS. You even login to your steam account as the first order of business when installing ChimeraOS. To me anyway it felt very similar to SteamOS. So, my question is, what is the hold up? Why not give us a SteamOS for Desktop for AMD only users? Then bring Nvidia functionality later on or w.e. I know both SteamOS and ChimeraOS are based off Arch Linux, I really wish Gabe would just offer some money to Chimera team and Arch team, and unite all three teams together, Arch, Chimera, and SteamOS team. Give us one hell of a good desktop OS for gaming!

 

[Onasi]

I know Valve stated, or at least I remember reading about it when Deck OLED came out, but they said SteamOS on Desktop was a major priority for them. This would be AMD only systems I imagine, at least at first...

No, what they actually said is that they really want to prioritize making the OS available for use in other HANDHELDS. Currently it’s not just AMD, it’s very Deck specific. Desktop version is a distant pipe-dream, if it even ever comes. (Link)

So, my question is, what is the hold up? Why not give us a SteamOS for Desktop for AMD only users? Then bring Nvidia functionality later on or w.e.

Oh yes, a limited desktop OS without the support for two most widely spread hardware vendors. Grand idea, what could possibly go wrong? Seems like a very smart resource usage on the part of Valve.

Give us one hell of a good desktop OS for gaming!

It exists already. It’s called Windows. Nobody, not even Valve (I mean, I say “even”, but they are a gnat compared to MS), will be able to reasonably challenge it in this space. There is a reason why Steam Machines and the previous iteration of Steam OS were dismal failures and Valve wisely switched their focus to a different niche, one they felt was quite open.

 

[Space Lynx]

meh alright I will just stick with ChimeraOS, its basically same thing anyway from what I have used of it so far.

 

[GreiverBlade]

i had a miniPC that loaded linux with STEAM in big picture mode ... (well it dual booted Win8.1 and that ... ) it worked fine well it was basically the "Steam Machine" from DELL/Alienware (for once an Alienware PC was not too bad )

my take would be : Versatility for most users ...

Give us one hell of a good desktop OS for gaming!

although it would be great ... it would be limited to Steam ... and gaming is not only Steam (well you can add non Steam game to it, to launch on Win only... that's what i do with my GoG games )
same argument as the one why i would not take a SteamDeck versus an Ally or a Legion Go, and the price , it's not only the difference in power


my desktop Win 10 AMD/AMD gaming? great... my handeld Win 11 AMD/AMD Gaming? well same
SteamOS and ChimeraOS? tried, ChimeraOS is interesting although still limited in the number of game, i'd say 30% of my Steam and GoG library, SteamOS well ... we know the result, although a deck would be tinkerable, the price and hardware didn't click for me (basically a 512gb deck was priced higher than the ally, locally, for me )

 

[KrazyT]

I hope one day it will be a "gaming" oriented OS.
I don't use more than 20 % of Win 10 ecosystem.
But as always *if* an gaming OS will see the light of the day, it will get bigger and bigger and loose what it made it special
Like the chromebooks, when they came up, the OS was light, now it's like a normal OS, growing each update, with tons of un unuseful stuff.

 

[Shihab]

There is no such a thing as AMD-only OS or Nvidia-only OS.
Any Linux distro would run on either, as both vendors (and more) provide linux drivers for their hardware. Even your deck has Nvidia drivers (that it has no use for).

I really wish Gabe would just offer some money to Chimera team and Arch team, and unite all three teams together, Arch, Chimera, and SteamOS team

That would go against the philosophy of Arch.

 

[SchumannFrequency]

So, my question is, what is the hold up? Why not give us a SteamOS for Desktop for AMD only users?

Many people don't realize it, but Valve is not a large company in terms of employee numbers. Their priority is the Steam Deck.
I'm fairly certain that, in addition to keeping the Steam platform running and game development and other tasks, is more than they can comfortably handle.

What I'm wondering is why ChimeraOS isn't extremely popular?
I recently sold a GAME BOY pocket, PS one, and the first Xbox with a bunch of games.
What really struck me is how easily these were sold. Old gaming consoles are probably one of the second-hand items that are easiest to sell.
And these were an Xbox (the first) and PS one, the resolution of which is really poor compared to, for example, a PS3/4/5.

For these types of very outdated items, people make an effort to pick them up and still pay quite a lot of money.
But then ChimeraOS that supports dozens of console platforms, no one talks about that?

You can easily put together a cheap and compact PC that you use as a console with which you can easily play thousands of these old console games and also the latest sharp games.

 

[Space Lynx]

There is no such a thing as AMD-only OS or Nvidia-only OS.
Any Linux distro would run on either, as both vendors (and more) provide linux drivers for their hardware. Even your deck has Nvidia drivers (that it has no use for).

That would go against the philosophy of Arch.

just fyi, ChimeraOS is AMD only systems. it says right on their website download page. AMD CPU and GPU required for ChimeraOS

Many people don't realize it, but Valve is not a large company in terms of employee numbers. Their priority is the Steam Deck.
I'm fairly certain that, in addition to keeping the Steam platform running and game development and other tasks, is more than they can comfortably handle.

What I'm wondering is why ChimeraOS isn't extremely popular?
I recently sold a GAME BOY pocket, PS one, and the first Xbox with a bunch of games.
What really struck me is how easily these were sold. Old gaming consoles are probably one of the second-hand items that are easiest to sell.
And these were an Xbox (the first) and PS one, the resolution of which is really poor compared to, for example, a PS3/4/5.

For these types of very outdated items, people make an effort to pick them up and still pay quite a lot of money.
But then ChimeraOS that supports dozens of console platforms, no one talks about that?

You can easily put together a cheap and compact PC that you use as a console with which you can easily play thousands of these old console games and also the latest sharp games.

I honestly have no idea why more people don't use ChimeraOS, at least AMD only users. It literally is the best gaming OS out there, unless you are like @GreiverBlade and don't have many games that will run on it. one cool thing about ChimeraOS website is they have a game search function, so you can type what games you might play, and see if it is compatible, its basically their version of Steam Verified.

Vast majority of games I am playing work just fine on ChimeraOS, also I like that it supports emulators so easily. As I currently am enjoying some Playstation 2 nostalgia.

ChimeraOS is lightweight too, very small in size. I like that. It also uses the latest Linux Kernel, gets updated consistently alongside Arch Linux, etc. So far my experience has been great, I love ChimeraOS. It literally feels just like SteamOS if it was on Desktop lol

 

[Onasi]

I honestly have no idea why more people don't use ChimeraOS, at least AMD only users. It literally is the best gaming OS out there, unless you are like @GreiverBlade and don't have many games that will run on it.

Real talk? I would think that, awareness aside, it’s precisely because it’s a “gaming OS”. And not in a way of “oh, we tweaked and tuned it for lower latency”, but in the “turn your desktop into a console with all its limitations” way. Most people are PC gamers because they want that holistic device experience. They find it convenient for their work PC to be able to be turned into their play PC without actually doing anything. One moment you are writing papers/rendering or editing videos/day trading/code/recording music/whatever, then, with a click, you call up a launcher or just launch a game and you’re chilling. Chimera OS is a straight up antithesis of this since it wants to avoid desktop mode as much as possible. So as a general use OS, which is why people are actually on PC, it does not pass the muster. And it’s also not recommended by the devs themselves to dual-boot it, so… what’s even the incentive then for someone whose PC isn’t just a toy?

 

[Shihab]

just fyi, ChimeraOS is AMD only systems. it says right on their website download page. AMD CPU and GPU required for ChimeraOS

"We don't package drivers for x" != "y-only OS."

Real talk?

A niche within a niche.

 

[Space Lynx]

Real talk? I would think that, awareness aside, it’s precisely because it’s a “gaming OS”. And not in a way of “oh, we tweaked and tuned it for lower latency”, but in the “turn your desktop into a console with all its limitations” way. Most people are PC gamers because they want that holistic device experience. They find it convenient for their work PC to be able to be turned into their play PC without actually doing anything. One moment you are writing papers/rendering or editing videos/day trading/code/recording music/whatever, then, with a click, you call up a launcher or just launch a game and you’re chilling. Chimera OS is a straight up antithesis of this since it wants to avoid desktop mode as much as possible. So as a general use OS, which is why people are actually on PC, it does not pass the muster. And it’s also not recommended by the devs themselves to dual-boot it, so… what’s even the incentive then for someone whose PC isn’t just a toy?

I understand all of that... I never said it was for everyone... Linux isn't for everyone in general, it's a niche audience. I have a work laptop I do all my business on, then for gaming is a separate drive/build with ChimeraOS as of right now. I like it personally. Not saying its for everyone. Macbook isn't for everyone either, but it exists...

 

[OneMoar]

ValveTime(tm) + Testing

 

[Dr. Dro]

Many people don't realize it, but Valve is not a large company in terms of employee numbers. Their priority is the Steam Deck.
I'm fairly certain that, in addition to keeping the Steam platform running and game development and other tasks, is more than they can comfortably handle.

What I'm wondering is why ChimeraOS isn't extremely popular?
I recently sold a GAME BOY pocket, PS one, and the first Xbox with a bunch of games.
What really struck me is how easily these were sold. Old gaming consoles are probably one of the second-hand items that are easiest to sell.
And these were an Xbox (the first) and PS one, the resolution of which is really poor compared to, for example, a PS3/4/5.

For these types of very outdated items, people make an effort to pick them up and still pay quite a lot of money.
But then ChimeraOS that supports dozens of console platforms, no one talks about that?

You can easily put together a cheap and compact PC that you use as a console with which you can easily play thousands of these old console games and also the latest sharp games.

Kind of hard to compare I suppose. It's too geeky, people generally aren't Linux/BSD nerds and don't have either the time nor the willingness to learn how it works. Even I opted to just get an old Mac mini for retro game emulation, it's fast enough for that.

Somewhat OT, but modded Game Boys are all the craze right now. I have a modded Pocket with a DMG-themed case and an IPS kit, it works but the build is of bad quality and the motherboard is quite damaged, it's was cheap and works anyhow... on the other hand I have a complete in box, near-mint grape Japanese Color with matching serial that i've been dying to throw an IPS kit, USB-C and rechargeable conversion and a Pokémon-themed shell on... but haven't the heart to drop the money to import the parts nor screw it up since it's in such immaculate condition for a 25 year old handheld.

My flashcart is only an EZ-Flash Jr., it's a rudimentary cart despite RTC support (needs to reboot to write savedata to SD, very picky with compatible SDs as well) and it's a battery hog, using it with the IPS screen and Duracell AAAs I barely get 2 hours out of my Pocket. I had an Everdrive-GB X7 a long time ago but sold it as I needed money to upgrade my PC, and kind of regret it, street prices on genuine Krikzz hardware went significantly up around here since the Ukraine conflict started.

 

[SchumannFrequency]

It's too geeky, people generally aren't Linux/BSD nerds and don't have either the time nor the willingness to learn how it works.

That's largely a myth.
For example, the person who came to pick up my PS one and GAME BOY pocket has lost quite a lot of time to make an appointment.
Then he has lost quite a lot of time to make the trip to pick up the PS one at my house.
Then, unlike other buyers, he was also quite suspicious.
And he lost almost fifteen minutes to check that the PS one and GAME BOY were working properly and that there were no chips in the discs and that the GAME BOY was working properly.
He has lost at least 1h30 time to make the purchase of these items.
For myself and many other people, it takes a maximum of 45 minutes to install ChimeraOS and configure some things.
In the time it took the above person to buy a PS one and GAME BOY, I already had ChimeraOS installed and was already playing 45 minutes of more fun games than the ones I sold.

Even I opted to just get an old Mac mini for retro game emulation, it's fast enough for that.

In many games Linux outperforms Windows for console emulation and some of the PS3 game emulations are quite demanding.

My flashcart is only an EZ-Flash Jr., it's a rudimentary cart despite RTC support (needs to reboot to write savedata to SD, very picky with compatible SDs as well) and it's a battery hog, using it with the IPS screen and Duracell AAAs I barely get 2 hours out of my Pocket.

A battery-powered GAME BOY pocket normally has up to 10 hours of battery life.
That is a big difference.
But you can often also use it via a direct connection to the power grid.
I would rather use it without batteries if you really want to use that flashcard.

 

[SomeOne99h]

Hey Space Lynx!
It is called Bazzite

GitHub - ublue-os/bazzite: Bazzite makes gaming and everyday use smoother and simpler across desktop PCs, handhelds, tablets, and home theater PCs.

Bazzite makes gaming and everyday use smoother and simpler across desktop PCs, handhelds, tablets, and home theater PCs. - ublue-os/bazzite

github.com

Bazzite - The next generation of Linux gaming

Bazzite makes gaming and everyday use smoother and simpler across desktop PCs, handhelds, tablets, and home theater PCs.

bazzite.gg

1- Designed to be immutable like the SteamOS (Hard to brick) -Check
2- Updates are safe, should an update comes with things you don't like, you can easily go to the previous update. "Nvidia driver update broke something you needed? No worries, rebase to the last known good release and pin it so that it's retained as long as needed". -Check
3- Designed for Desktop (KDE/Gnome) -Check
4- Designed for Steam Deck -Check
5- Designed for Handhelds -Check
6- AMD/Nvidia/Intel -Check
7- HDR and DisplayLink support -Check
8- Game related packages and apps preinstalled and game controllers support -Check
9- Extra Hardware Support -Check
10 - Fan and overclocking controllers for AMD and nVidia -Check
11- DistroBox preinstalled, a container for linux apps and can take advantage for hardware capabilities -check
12- Input Remapper, RPG, Android emulator and tablets support -Check
13- Has Flatseal and Warehouse (Flatpack managers) and Gear Lever (AppImage manager) preinstalled -Check

What is Bazzite According to the devs:

Definition 1:
Bazzite is a custom image built upon Fedora Atomic Desktops that brings the best of Linux gaming to all of your devices - including your favorite handheld.
Definition 2:
Bazzite is an OCI image that serves as an alternative operating system for the Steam Deck, and a ready-to-game SteamOS-like for desktop computers and living room home theater PCs.
Bazzite is built from ublue-os/main and ublue-os/nvidia using Fedora technology, which means expanded hardware support and built in drivers are included.

Check the features in detail from the github link.
I haven't tried it yet but I see it solves the problems surronding Nobara Linux that I chose and tried in the past. This is the SteamOS alternative that is actually built for Desktop and other devices in mind but with up-to-date packages and many extras. Unlike the SteamOS that Valve doesn't has the focus to develop for desktop use and thus not recommended to use for that.

This is from Bazzite github page:

"Why​

Bazzite started as a project to resolve some of the issues that plague SteamOS, mainly out of date packages (despite an Arch base) and the lack of a functional package manager.
Despite this project also being image-based, you are able to install any Fedora package straight from the command line. These packages will persist across updates (So go ahead and install that obscure VPN software you spent an hour trying to get working in SteamOS). Additionally, Bazzite is updated multiple times a week with packages from upstream Fedora, giving you the best possible performance and latest features - all on a stable base.

Bazzite ships with the latest Linux kernel and SELinux enabled by default with full support for secure boot (Run ujust enroll-secure-boot-key and enter the password ublue-os if prompted to enroll our key) and disk encryption, making this a sensible solution for general computing. (Yes, you can print from Bazzite)"

 

[Space Lynx]

thanks, I will keep my eye on this one.

 

[R-T-B]

"We don't package drivers for x" != "y-only OS."

But you sure can build the kernel in a way that won't boot on Intel anymore...

Who's to say that's not the case here?

 

[Space Lynx]

fyi, only reason I really made this thread is because ChimeraOS is just like SteamOS in everything but name (in my experience using it anyway), so I just thought it strange that SteamOS wasn't ported to desktop yet for AMD only users, that's all. meh, but you can just use ChimeraOS if you are AMD only, it's literally the same thing. lol

 

[A Computer Guy]

fyi, only reason I really made this thread is because ChimeraOS is just like SteamOS in everything but name (in my experience using it anyway), so I just thought it strange that SteamOS wasn't ported to desktop yet for AMD only users, that's all. meh, but you can just use ChimeraOS if you are AMD only, it's literally the same thing. lol

Do you still need proton? I dabbled for a day or two with Linux mint and proton with Steam and gave up because the drivers for my 4060 low profile kept crashing and couldn't recover the screen.

 

[Space Lynx]

Do you still need proton? I dabbled for a day or two with Linux mint and proton with Steam and gave up because the drivers for my 4060 low profile kept crashing and couldn't recover the screen.

proton is turned on by steam through this just like steamOS yeah.

also it is AMD only OS so your 4060 you can't use ChimeraOS, it simply won't work right as it is optimized for AMD only systems like SteamOS is

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

So I gave ChimeraOS a try out of curiosity. I have a Xeon CPU, but an AMD GPU, and it works just fine. HZD has been my benchmark for these things, and I noticed that it held the CPU to a solid 60FPS, where every other OS will let the CPU breathe. I didn't have Vsync on, so I guess maybe that's intentional since it thinks it's a Steam Deck? At any rate, I also tried Ubuntu 23.10, and it actually beats Windows 10 and 11 in the same benchmark. Amazing how far Linux, Valve, and Proton has come.

 

[Space Lynx]

So I gave ChimeraOS a try out of curiosity. I have a Xeon CPU, but an AMD GPU, and it works just fine. HZD has been my benchmark for these things, and I noticed that it held the CPU to a solid 60FPS, where every other OS will let the CPU breathe. I didn't have Vsync on, so I guess maybe that's intentional since it thinks it's a Steam Deck? At any rate, I also tried Ubuntu 23.10, and it actually beats Windows 10 and 11 in the same benchmark. Amazing how far Linux, Valve, and Proton has come.

yeah I am waiting for around August, then I am going to move (possibly permanently) to the latest beta branch of Ubuntu. Current beta branch expires in July.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

yeah I am waiting for around August, then I am going to move (possibly permanently) to the latest beta branch of Ubuntu. Current beta branch expires in July.

I'm really close to just going full linux for games. I've played Destiny 2 for a long time, but Bungie have always been turds about Linux/Proton support. Even battle eye has Linux support, so their support excuses sound pretty lame. I don't really like how they've changed the game since they went free to play, so I'm not far from quitting them. I don't play it that much anymore.

 

[Space Lynx]

I'm really close to just going full linux for games. I've played Destiny 2 for a long time, but Bungie have always been turds about Linux/Proton support. Even battle eye has Linux support, so their support excuses sound pretty lame. I don't really like how they've changed the game since they went free to play, so I'm not far from quitting them. I don't play it that much anymore.

my only issue is I can't get cutscenes in FFXIV to work right, but gameplay will work strangely.

that's really the only thing keeping me on Windows.

 

[Dr. Dro]

That's largely a myth.
For example, the person who came to pick up my PS one and GAME BOY pocket has lost quite a lot of time to make an appointment.
Then he has lost quite a lot of time to make the trip to pick up the PS one at my house.
Then, unlike other buyers, he was also quite suspicious.
And he lost almost fifteen minutes to check that the PS one and GAME BOY were working properly and that there were no chips in the discs and that the GAME BOY was working properly.
He has lost at least 1h30 time to make the purchase of these items.
For myself and many other people, it takes a maximum of 45 minutes to install ChimeraOS and configure some things.
In the time it took the above person to buy a PS one and GAME BOY, I already had ChimeraOS installed and was already playing 45 minutes of more fun games than the ones I sold.

Yes, but again, you know how to use Linux and you have extensive knowledge about it, if you asked that same guy "how to write an fstab properly" he'd look at you as if you were actually crazy, guaranteed. Spending an hour driving and then checking out if the hardware is good before committing to a purchase is nothing when you can just put a disc in and play, that's why consoles exist to this day after all.

In many games Linux outperforms Windows for console emulation and some of the PS3 game emulations are quite demanding.

I don't think this is relevant

A battery-powered GAME BOY pocket normally has up to 10 hours of battery life.
That is a big difference.
But you can often also use it via a direct connection to the power grid.
I would rather use it without batteries if you really want to use that flashcard.

You're talking about a normal Game Boy Pocket, not one that has been fitted with a modern IPS screen (and it's a basic kit as well, none of the power delivery system upgrades are present), nor a flashcart... the flashcart uses power, but nowhere near the IPS screen. Besides it's fine, I play on my Color most of the time. I saw they made an OLED screen for the Color, I'm so tempted...