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Valve has stressed from the beginning that the Steam Machine is a full-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 system with SteamOS appeared. Benchmarks conducted 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. The differences are usually small and often within a few percent. The results suggest that the choice of system can be based primarily on personal preference rather than solely 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 recognizes the hardware without problems. Interestingly, the integrated GPU is detected as an AMD Radeon RX 7600 both in the Windows Task Manager and in the AMD Adrenalin software. The tested unit was equipped with 64 GB of RAM, which may have had a small impact on the results. In the Geekbench 6 benchmark, Windows scored about 22% higher in the multi-core test than SteamOS. In the single-core test both systems achieved nearly identical results. Differences also appeared in Cinebench 2024, where the machine scored 99 points in the single-core test and 554 points in the multi-core test. Although the results do not match more powerful desktop CPUs or Apple M1 Max chips, they show the device handles typical tasks without issue. Official support for Windows means users can run apps and games not available on SteamOS. This significantly expands the capabilities of the new Steam Machine.
Windows and SteamOS trade the lead in games
The game benchmark results are even more interesting. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Windows was slightly faster at 1080p and pulled noticeably ahead of SteamOS at 4K, while at 1440p Valve's system had a small advantage. Cyberpunk 2077 produced the opposite result, with SteamOS performing better at both 1080p and 1440p. At 4K neither system delivered smooth gameplay, reaching only about 18 to 20 frames per second. Results were also very close in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, where one system’s lead was usually just a few percent. That means the choice of operating system does not significantly affect performance in most games. SteamOS still offers benefits from its lightweight environment and integration with the Steam platform. Windows, meanwhile, provides broader compatibility with apps, launchers, and software outside Valve’s ecosystem. This lets users choose the solution that best fits their needs without worrying about a noticeable loss of performance. The tests show that the Steam Machine remains a versatile PC regardless of the chosen system.
The latest benchmarks confirm that Windows 11 runs on the Steam Machine almost as well as SteamOS. Both systems deliver very similar gaming performance, with the advantage sometimes going to Windows and sometimes to SteamOS. Thanks to Valve's official drivers, users can run either system without major issues and choose the one that best suits their needs.
Source: TechPowerUp
