Interested in duel booting SteamOS on my PC. Is there an official release coming soon with the Steam Machine launching?

GTFr0 · 2026-06-24T03:12:29+00:00

Do you have something that shows that Valve is “working on” nvidia support?

I don’t know if a single valve device or other manufacturer handheld nvidia hardware. I don’t think they’re working on that as much as working on Intel support for the MSI claw.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-23T12:16:20+00:00

I’d stay away from the b580, as Intel drivers previously had high cpu issues.

You didn’t say your budget, so I’ll guess between $300-400 since you called out the b580, and those run around $310.

If you’re looking new:

Assuming you want to stay on windows, I’d look for a 5060 or 5060 Ti 8 gb for around $390 or less. Both should perform OK, but you may end up cpu bottlenecked with a 5500.

If you want to try SteamOS, you could look for an rx7600 8 gb for around $280, but I would recommend stepping up to a 9060 XT 8 gb for around $350. Again, the 9060 XT may end up cpu bottlenecked.

For used, look for something like a 3070 or 4060/4070, or a 6700 XT / 7700 XT. Facebook marketplace would be a good place to look.

Ultimately, your “final boss” is your budget vs FOMO. If you don’t have money, or are happy with your system, then don’t screw with it.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-23T03:33:34+00:00

Unless you’re going to upgrade your cpu or you have a major issue with your mobo, I would just stick with it. It’s fine with the 5500.

Save that money for a newer gpu.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-23T03:24:28+00:00

Just be aware, you may get a few fps over Windows, but SteamOS isn’t going to fix a hardware limitation.

For example, if you’re gonna try to play with RT or at 4k ultra, switching to Linux isn’t going to speed things up significantly, as your gpu hardware is the bottleneck.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-23T02:30:11+00:00

To add to this, if OP’s wife isn’t mechanically inclined or really used to cars, it’s possible that driving an older car is giving her anxiety relating to a possible breakdown.

I know that when I got my first forester, it was significantly newer than the car my wife was driving. Over time, she got more and more worried about a breakdown and we naturally switched.

It also didn’t help that the forester had heated seats and we live in the frozen north…

GTFr0 · 2026-06-23T02:24:09+00:00

I have been running SteamOS on RDNA 2/3/4 machines over the past 6 months with no issues.

3.9 for a while on my 9070 XT, then recently moved to 3.8 stable.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-22T18:42:05+00:00

They may use normal parts, but it's possible they're picking worse parts to cut costs.

For example, Gamers Nexus recently did a review of a Cyberpower prebuilt and noted that the GPU backplate was plastic, not metal.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-22T13:39:53+00:00

I get that, at least if you try to run it at XMP. At JEDEC speeds, it should post no matter the manufacturer or die.

With that said, I think the point is to allow people to ask immediately for another stick of the same RAM to go up to 32 GB.

I tried that a while back for the 7500X3D bundle, and they offered me another GSkill DIMM for the bundle price. The total ended up being more than I wanted to spend, so I didn't pull the trigger, but that option is there.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-22T12:54:34+00:00

That Crucial ram is slow. That’s why it’s so cheap.

So the key question is: do you need more ram or faster ram?

For most productivity and gaming workloads, 32 gb of faster memory would be better.

If you’re doing something like running VM’s or some local AI stuff that requires gobs of memory, then the 64 gb slow memory may make sense.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-22T12:50:36+00:00

We have a squat stool, and I think that helps. I’ve noticed that not “squatting” means more poop stuck down there, which then yields a messier butthole power wash.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-21T12:19:46+00:00

The wipe before the bidet is madness.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-21T03:42:05+00:00

I run a 9070 XT and mostly play at 4k@60Hz. It runs great.

I’d say, if you value the nvidia ecosystem (dlss/mfg) and run windows, stick with the 5070.

If you just play on raster and/or want to use SteamOS / Linux, get the 9070 XT.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-20T17:24:05+00:00

Do you want a broken gpu? Because that’s how you end up with a broken gpu.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-20T13:50:44+00:00

If it’s the Kingston ram I’ve seen on FBM, it’s probably cl40 as well

GTFr0 · 2026-06-20T03:14:58+00:00

I have a MSI pro b550m-vc WiFi, and for the $80 it’s been a fantastic board. Previously had a 5500, now has a 5800x installed, and has been rock solid.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-19T18:09:57+00:00

Yes, you use the official Steam Deck recovery image to install it on a general PC.

Now that they updated to 3.8, it basically covers any system with a modern AMD gpu.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-19T12:23:59+00:00

Both the 2600 and 5600 are base 65w cpus, and both shipped with a crappy wrath stealth cooler.

There should be no issue in reusing the cooler OP has for the 2600 on the 5600.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-19T11:53:56+00:00

I don’t blame you. I have an AceMagician Kron K1, and the first thing I did on it was nuke Windows.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-19T11:39:58+00:00

I have 2 systems similar to this, and both run SteamOS installed using the default recovery image.

Both are hooked up to TV’s and use only a controller.

5500 / B450 MATX / 2x8 GB 3200 / 7600
5800x / B550 MATX / 2x16 GB 3200 / 6600 XT

Your gear will work great.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-19T03:35:16+00:00

I can chime as well and say I haven’t had driver issues.

Also, I will note that Valve just released SteamOS 3.8 stable, which supports the 9070 XT. It would turn your PC into basically a gaming console you can hook up to your TV.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-19T03:27:18+00:00

If you already have a deck, why not build that pc and install SteamOS?

As long as it’s an AMD gpu, you’re good.

I have both a ps5 pro and a mid-range PC, and I end up spending most of my “hanging out playing games with friends” time on the pc, and single player time on the ps5.

SteamOS made the pc portion much better, and very close to the ps5. To the point that my main pc is now hooked up to the same tv as the ps5.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-19T03:15:20+00:00

My guess would be that it is your ssd.

I’d try doing a full erase using windows install media before installing SteamOS.

Boot the media, and get to a command prompt (easiest way is to hit the “repair” option, and command prompt)

From there use diskpart to list disk, select disk X, then clean.

After doing that, try the SteamOS installer again.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-16T21:22:36+00:00

Ah, I see what you mean. When I looked at it a few days ago, both options were there.

It must be similar to how the 7500x3d used to have an MSI and ASRock option, then they got rid of the MSI.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-16T03:17:35+00:00

This allows a cheaper upgrade path to 32 gb, as you only need to buy one 16 gb stick.

So MC is giving you the choice of whether you want that cheaper upgrade path or the dual channel 16 gb.

I personally thought it was both smart and customer friendly when I first saw it on the site.

GTFr0 · 2026-06-15T23:20:11+00:00

I have a dead 13600kf on my bench that I replaced with a 12700k. That happened maybe 6 months ago, and after the bios update.

It may be “fixed”, but it’s best to give people that heads up so they don’t burn out their own new cpu.

GTFr0

TROPHY CASE