Redakcja Choose TV
Valve may have reason to be optimistic as it seems that the HDMI 2.1 issue in the upcoming Steam Machine may be resolved. Just recently, it appeared that the lack of support for this technology would be a significant limitation for Valve's hardware. However, the situation is changing now, and new information suggests that the console may indeed offer full capabilities of modern image standards.
Breakthrough thanks to Linux and AMD
The main issue was the lack of open-source drivers for HDMI 2.1 in the Linux environment on which ChooseTV is based. This limitation prevented support for features such as 4K at 120 Hz, VRR, or advanced HDR modes. However, developers at AMD working on the AMDGPU drivers report that they have managed to enable support for key elements of HDMI 2.1, including the FRL technology responsible for higher bandwidth. This means that the console was hardware-ready much earlier, and it was only the appropriate software that was missing. If the work is completed and passes certification, ChooseTV may gain functionality that had previously been lacking.
Chance for Real Competition for PS5 and Xbox
If HDMI 2.1 indeed comes to the Steam Machine, it will significantly enhance its position in the market. Support for 4K120, VRR, and other modern technologies is today a standard in consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Without this, Valve would struggle to compete in the high-end segment. However, questions remain, including the quality of HDR implementation and the overall system optimisation. Nonetheless, the direction of change is clear; if everything goes according to plan, the Steam Machine could become a much more serious player in the console market.
HDMI 2.1 issues may soon become a thing of the past, and the Steam Machine will gain features it previously lacked. This is good news for gamers and a sign that Valve still wants to compete with the biggest players.
source: flatpanelshd
