Recent benchmarks reveal that Windows holds a performance advantage over SteamOS when running on dedicated GPUs, contrasting sharply with handheld devices where SteamOS often excels. Tests across multiple AMD GPUs highlight SteamOS’s challenges, particularly with 8GB VRAM limits, though integrated graphics show more competitive results. As Valve prepares its Steam Machine launch next year with an 8GB RDNA3 GPU, these findings provide critical insights into the operating system’s desktop viability.
The evaluation utilized a midrange testbed approximating the upcoming Steam Machine: an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, ASRock B650 Pro RS motherboard, 32GB DDR5-6000 RAM, 1TB WD SN850 SSD, and EVGA 850W PSU in a Lian Li O11 Air Mini case. SteamOS 3.9 (build 20251124.1000) faced Windows 11 25H2, with AMD Adrenalin 25.11.1 drivers on Windows and Mesa 25.2.0 on SteamOS. This setup ensured GPU performance isolation, using all-AMD hardware aligned with Valve’s focus.
Test GPUs and Configurations
Four dedicated GPUs spanned generations and VRAM capacities to assess SteamOS maturity:
- Radeon RX 7600 (32 RDNA3 CUs, 8GB VRAM): Mirrors Steam Machine specs closely for realistic projections.
- Radeon RX 7600 XT (32 RDNA3 CUs, 16GB VRAM): Higher-clocked variant reveals VRAM bottlenecks.
- Radeon RX 6800 (60 RDNA2 CUs, 16GB VRAM): Older architecture akin to Steam Deck for optimization baselines.
- Radeon RX 9070 (56 RDNA4 CUs, 16GB VRAM, 220W TBP): Cutting-edge card tests latest driver support at 4K.
Integrated options included the Framework Desktop’s Radeon RX 8060S (40 RDNA3.5 CUs, 128GB LPDDR5X) and Aoostar Maco mini PC’s Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 H255, 32GB DDR5), offering budget and high-end iGPU perspectives.
Benchmark Results Across Games
Built-in benchmarks from six titles—Borderlands 3, Forza Horizon 5, Cyberpunk 2077, Returnal, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla—spanned 1080p and 1440p, with and without ray tracing. Windows consistently outperformed SteamOS on dedicated GPUs, with gaps widening in VRAM-constrained scenarios. Returnal exemplified this: RX 7600 saw Windows 60-70% faster at 1440p/1080p, while the 16GB XT tied them; Forza Horizon 5 and ray-traced Cyberpunk showed 15-20% Windows leads on 16GB cards.
Borderlands 3 favored Windows by 20-30% across all dedicated GPUs, despite no ray tracing. Ties or single-digit differences appeared in non-ray-traced Cyberpunk, unbound Returnal, and Valhalla. Integrated GPUs flipped trends: SteamOS edged Windows in ray-traced Forza/Cyberpunk on 780M, nearly matching on 8060S, and led slightly in tied dedicated scenarios. These patterns underscore SteamOS’s stronger iGPU optimization versus discrete graphics struggles.
VRAM Limitations and Future Fixes
SteamOS amplifies 8GB VRAM issues, hitting limits sooner than Windows in demanding titles, critical for the Steam Machine. Valve acknowledges ongoing memory management enhancements, alongside driver, Proton, and power tweaks, to narrow gaps. Unlike handhelds’ SteamOS superiority, desktop results challenge assumptions of universal parity.
Implications for Steam Machine Enthusiasts
Current SteamOS remains a work-in-progress for non-handheld AMD setups, though Proton’s Windows game compatibility impresses. Broader tests like Bazzite evaluations highlight compatibility hurdles beyond AMD. These benchmarks establish a pre-launch baseline; anticipated updates could elevate SteamOS for TV consoles. Budget mini PCs with 780M offer viable alternatives today, while dedicated GPU users await refinements. Valve’s Steam Machine merits consideration under TVs only if performance evolves favorably by release.
