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Valve emphasised from the start that the Steam Machine is a fully fledged PC on which users can install any operating system. After official drivers for Windows 11 were released, the first detailed tests comparing Microsoft's OS with SteamOS appeared. Benchmarks run by ETA Prime show that both systems offer very similar performance. In some use cases Windows has the edge, while in others SteamOS performs better. Differences are usually small and often within a few per cent. The results suggest that the choice of OS can be based mainly on personal preference rather than purely on performance.
Windows 11 runs very well on the new Steam Machine
According to tests, installing Windows 11 on the Steam Machine proceeds without major complications. After installing the official drivers all components work correctly, and the system recognises the hardware without problems. Interestingly, the integrated graphics chip is detected as an AMD Radeon RX 7600 both in the Windows Task Manager and in the AMD Adrenalin software. The unit tested was equipped with 64 GB of RAM, which may have had a small impact on the results. In the Geekbench 6 benchmark Windows scored around 22% higher in the multi-core test than SteamOS. In the single-core test both systems achieved almost identical results. Differences also appeared in Cinebench 2024, where the computer scored 99 points in the single-core test and 554 points in the multi-core test. Although the results do not match more powerful PCs with desktop processors or Apple M1 Max systems, they show that the device handles typical tasks without issues. Official support for Windows means users can run applications and games not available on SteamOS. This significantly expands the capabilities of the new Steam Machine.
In games, Windows and SteamOS trade the lead
The gaming test results look even more interesting. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Windows was marginally faster at 1080p and clearly ahead at 4K, while SteamOS held a small advantage at 1440p. Cyberpunk 2077 produced the opposite result, with SteamOS delivering better performance at both 1080p and 1440p. At 4K neither system provided smooth gameplay, reaching around 18 to 20 frames per second. Very close results were also recorded in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, where one system's advantage was usually only a few percent. This means the choice of operating system does not significantly affect performance in most games. SteamOS still offers benefits from its lightweight environment and its integration with the Steam platform. Windows, on the other hand, provides greater compatibility with applications, launchers and software outside Valve's ecosystem. That lets users choose the solution that best fits their needs without worrying about a noticeable performance loss. The tests show that the Steam Machine remains a versatile PC regardless of the chosen operating system.
The latest benchmarks confirm that Windows 11 runs on a Steam Machine almost as well as SteamOS. Both systems deliver very similar gaming performance, with the edge shifting between Windows and SteamOS. Thanks to Valve's official drivers, users can run either system without major problems and choose the one that best meets their expectations.
source: techpowerup
