A YouTuber has demonstrated what an actual model of SteamOS seems and performs like on their Asus ROG Ally, and it really works surprisingly properly. There are, nonetheless, some quirks which are holding again efficiency, and TDP settings are inaccessible, which is predicted to be mounted when SteamOS formally rolls out to extra gadgets.
The Steam Deck continues to be the most effective handheld gaming PC, largely as a consequence of SteamOS. Valve rolling out its secret weapon to extra highly effective gaming handhelds is a daring transfer, but it surely additionally goes to point out simply how far behind all different working techniques are when the competitors is fortunately abandoning ship and permitting for SteamOS to be downloaded.
Within the video beneath, YouTuber The Phawx showcases a model of SteamOS 3.8 operating on an Asus ROG Ally. Whereas not official, it’s the real article and never a model of the OS operating through shenanigans. It’s instantly famous that operating SteamOS on the Ally causes some compatibility points with buttons just like the Xbox Information having no function.
There’s additionally no technique to deliver up the SteamOS fast menu aside from to do it by the principle menu. Regardless of this, the short menu registers the 120Hz show and features a VRR toggle, one thing not featured on the Steam Deck. Regardless of this, in the event you attempt to restrict the TDP, the setting is locked to 15W, that means this function nonetheless must be correctly applied earlier than it’s rolled out to different, extra highly effective gaming handhelds.
It’s this restrict, and the truth that that is nonetheless an unofficial launch, that results in common body fee benchmarks throughout a number of video games like Cyberpunk 2077, Deus Ex Mankind Divided, and Horizon Zero Daybreak falling in favor of the Steam Deck, regardless of the Ally’s AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive being a extra highly effective APU.
SteamOS in the end seems nice on the ROG Ally, however I’m now fearful that Valve’s personal {hardware} will turn out to be much less of a precedence, and as a substitute it should give attention to bringing extra producers on board with it’s working system.
It’s nonetheless thrilling to consider the chances of SteamOS on different gaming handhelds, although, even when there may be nonetheless work to be achieved on the ultimate product. Regardless of no launch date at the moment being identified, the primary official non-Valve system to make use of the working system, the Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS, is about for launch in Might 2025.
If you happen to’re eager to discover gaming handhelds outdoors of the Steam Deck, you possibly can learn our Ayaneo 3 assessment or Asus ROG Ally X assessment to see how these Home windows machines stack up.
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