Windows 11 vs. SteamOS on the Steam Machine: A Comparative Analysis

Windows 11 has shown a slight edge in gaming performance at 4K compared to SteamOS on the Steam Machine. It outperforms SteamOS in every game tested and demonstrates a significant lead in multi-core benchmarks like Geekbench. However, across various resolutions—1080p, 1440p, and 4K—the advantages of installing Windows on a Steam Machine become less compelling.

Valve’s Windows Drivers: Limited Support and Features

Valve’s official Windows drivers for the Steam Machine have been available for just over a week, and YouTuber ETA Prime conducted extensive benchmarks comparing Windows 11 and SteamOS. While the benchmark results provide valuable insights, it’s important to note that Valve’s Windows 11 drivers for the Steam Machine lack dual boot support. This leaves SteamOS as the only fully supported operating system for the device.

Valve’s Steam Hardware Windows Resources page states that the company offers these drivers “as is” and cannot provide full Windows support for Steam Machines. Currently, four drivers are available, covering the GPU, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and SD card reader. Audio functionality is handled natively by Windows codecs.

One significant limitation is the absence of dual boot functionality. Valve has announced plans for a SteamOS installer wizard to enable dual booting in the future. However, for now, installing Windows requires overwriting the existing SteamOS installation. Reverting to SteamOS involves reinstalling it using Valve’s recovery image. Additionally, the Wi-Fi driver installs only after Windows is fully running, necessitating an Ethernet connection during setup to complete activation.

ETA Prime’s Benchmark Findings

ETA Prime, a prominent YouTuber who has documented the Steam Machine extensively, tested Windows 11 on a modified Steam Machine. The device’s RAM was upgraded from the standard 16GB to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 memory running at 5,600 MT/s, ensuring that operating system comparisons were fair. However, users should not expect the same performance with an out-of-the-box Steam Machine due to its single-channel memory configuration.

Steam Machine Specifications

• Processor: Custom AMD chip, 6 cores and 12 threads, based on Zen 4 architecture, with a max boost clock of 4.85GHz
• Power Consumption: 28-30 watts
• GPU: RDNA 3 architecture with 28 compute units and 8GB of GDDR6
• Identified as: "AMD Custom CPU 1772" and "Radeon RX 7600 series" in Windows

Synthetic Benchmark Performance

Geekbench 6 Results

Windows 11 showed a clear advantage in synthetic benchmarks. Single-core scores were comparable, with Windows at 2,503 and SteamOS at 2,424, a 3.3% gap. However, multi-core performance was significantly better on Windows, scoring 9,750 compared to SteamOS’s 7,986, a 22.1% lead.

ETA Prime noted that the SteamOS benchmark was conducted in desktop mode, which does not push the CPU to its highest clock speeds unless specifically required. Gaming Mode, which uses Feral’s GameMode daemon to boost CPU performance, was not utilized during the test.

Cinebench R24 Results

In Cinebench R24, the Steam Machine’s CPU achieved 99 points in single-core and 554 in multi-core. Comparatively, it ranked just behind AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X in multi-core performance and outpaced Intel’s 14-core i7-1280P in single-core performance, all while consuming significantly less power.

When compared to the Ryzen 5 5600X, another 6-core, 12-thread chip, the Steam Machine’s Zen 4 processor outperformed the Zen 3-based 5600X by 5.3% in single-core performance while consuming less than half the power. However, the 5600X outperformed the Steam Machine by 14.1% in multi-core performance when running at its higher 65W TDP.

Time Spy Results

On the Time Spy benchmark, the Steam Machine scored 9,245 on Windows, with a graphics score of 9,954 and a CPU score of 6,588. A custom desktop build tested by ETA Prime, featuring a Ryzen 5 5600X and a desktop RX 7600 GPU, scored 10,310. The Steam Machine’s 10.4% deficit compared to the desktop build is a respectable result, given the significant power difference between the GPUs.

Gaming Benchmarks: A Close Call

Three games were tested at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions without FSR, focusing on native rendering performance. Overall, Windows outperformed SteamOS in five out of nine resolution-game combinations, while SteamOS led in four.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

• 1080p: Windows 59 fps vs. SteamOS 58 fps (essentially equal)
• 1440p: SteamOS 48 fps vs. Windows 47 fps
• 4K: SteamOS 28 fps vs. Windows 26 fps (7.1% lead for SteamOS)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

• 1080p: Windows 120 fps vs. SteamOS 118 fps
• 1440p: SteamOS 86 fps vs. Windows 84 fps
• 4K: Windows 46 fps vs. SteamOS 44 fps

Cyberpunk 2077

• 1080p: SteamOS 74 fps vs. Windows 68 fps (8.8% lead for SteamOS)
• 1440p: SteamOS 45 fps vs. Windows 43 fps
• 4K: Windows 20 fps vs. SteamOS 18 fps (10% lead for Windows)

While Windows showed minor improvements at 4K, the differences were minimal, often falling within the margin of error. Most users would not play at 4K without upscaling due to the low frame rates.

Real-World Gaming Performance

• Forza Horizon 6: 1440p High averaged 74 fps on Windows
• Red Dead Redemption 2: 1440p High averaged 70 fps
• Mortal Kombat 1: 1440p High maintained a locked 60 fps
• Crimson Desert: 1440p Medium with FSR Balanced averaged mid-80 fps with FSR Frame Generation enabled
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: 1440p Medium with FSR Quality performed slightly better on SteamOS in prior tests

While Windows runs games natively, SteamOS’s Proton compatibility layer allows it to deliver comparable performance in many cases, although Windows still leads in software compatibility.

Should You Install Windows on a Steam Machine?

In most cases, installing Windows on a Steam Machine is not recommended. The performance gains are minimal, and users lose significant features, including:

• Valve’s HDMI CEC support
• Dedicated Steam Controller antenna pairing
• Official support for troubleshooting
• The ability to revert to SteamOS without a full reinstall

However, if a specific game or software requires Windows, such as titles with kernel-level anti-cheat systems, it may justify the switch. Otherwise, the slight performance gains do not outweigh the trade-offs.

Is Buying the Steam Machine Worth It?

At its current starting price of $1,049 for the 512GB model, the Steam Machine is difficult to justify purely based on price-to-performance. While its compact design and pre-assembled convenience are appealing, a similarly configured DIY Windows PC can offer better performance and upgradeability for a comparable price.

Should You Install SteamOS on a Windows PC?

SteamOS runs well on compatible hardware and offers a console-like gaming experience. However, for general-purpose software compatibility, Windows remains the better choice.

If You Dislike Windows, Consider Xbox Mode

For users wanting a console-style interface on Windows, Microsoft’s Xbox Mode offers a streamlined gaming experience. While it does not improve frame rates, it reduces memory usage and boot times compared to traditional desktop setups. However, it still requires a mouse and keyboard for certain tasks, limiting its usability as a full console replacement.

Conclusion

Windows 11 runs smoothly on the Steam Machine and offers some performance advantages in specific scenarios. However, SteamOS remains the better fit for the device’s design and intended use. Unless a specific game or application necessitates Windows, sticking with SteamOS is recommended for most users.