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[Draugoth]

A clear improvement

As you can see in the included charts, SteamOS showed noticeable frame rate improvements in four of the five games tested. Only Borderlands 3 showed comparable performance across both operating systems, with Windows eking out ever-so-slightly higher frame rates in that game's benchmarks.

Article:

Games run faster on SteamOS than Windows 11, Ars testing finds

Source: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/games-run-faster-on-steamos-than-windows-11-ars-testing-finds/

 

[rodrigolfp]

old and this is only for Legion Go.

 

[Crayon]

They run with more self respect, too.

 

[Black_Stride]

This is like a month old news my guy.

Thread 'Dave2D on Legion Go S: Windows Was The Problem All Along.'

May 25, 2025

Interesting to see his thoughts on the first official third party device with SteamOS after testing the Windows version a while ago.

• Gamezone
• Replies: 132
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

• 
• 
• 

Yes Windows overhead is harsh on the Legion Go.

 

[Topher]

This is like a month old news my guy.

Thread 'Dave2D on Legion Go S: Windows Was The Problem All Along.'

May 25, 2025

Interesting to see his thoughts on the first official third party device with SteamOS after testing the Windows version a while ago.

• Gamezone
• Replies: 132
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

• 
• 
• 

Yes Windows overhead is harsh on the Legion Go.

old and this is only for Legion Go.

Different testing source, same results

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

Windows has pretty much always been poorly optimized so this doesn't surprise me

 

[kevboard]

well yeah. that's what happens when an OS has a specialised game mode with no bloat.

the hope is that the modified Xbox team version of Windows will finally fix this... it's gonna be interesting when the benchmarks come out for sure... Microsoft better make sure that this new Windows version fixes the overhead issue

 

[Three]

old and this is only for Legion Go.

I don't think the windows overhead goes away on other machines.

This is like a month old news my guy.

The title premise that windows runs slower than SteamOS is not new but these benchmarks and accompanying article are only 2 days old.

 

[ANIMAL1975]

Microsoft should stick to do what they do best, and that's software period!

Oh wait....

 

[Ozriel]

Eh, Not exactly a scientific comparison or one that can stand scrutiny since they're using different drivers for SteamOS and Windows.

but I don't imagine the fellow who wrote an article daydreaming about Valve making Half Life 3 a SteamOS exclusive is in this for accuracy.

From the article:

For the other four tested games, the stock Lenovo Windows drivers were sometimes significantly worse than those included with SteamOS. When playing Returnal at "High" graphics presets and 1920×1200 resolution, for instance, changing from Lenovo's Windows drivers to SteamOS meant the difference between a hard-to-take 18 FPS average and a downright decent 33 FPS average.

Sideloading the updated Asus drivers showed a noticeable improvement in Windows performance across all tested games and even brought Homeworld 3's "Low" graphics benchmark test to practical parity with SteamOS. In all other cases, though, even these updated drivers resulted in benchmark frame rates anywhere from 8 percent to 36 percent lower than those same benchmarks on SteamOS.

 

[onnextflix5]

and they say the next Xbox will run windows lol, it will DOA if that happens.

 

[Zathalus]

On AMD TDP constrained handhelds, as Windows has a ton of bloat compared to a lean Linux distro. On a regular AMD gaming PC you won't usually see differences nearly as large, and what comes out on top varies from game to game. Nvidia you'll mostly find Windows to be faster, especially with RT workloads.

 

[mckmas8808]

well yeah. that's what happens when an OS has a specialised game mode with no bloat.

the hope is that the modified Xbox team version of Windows will finally fix this... it's gonna be interesting when the benchmarks come out for sure... Microsoft better make sure that this new Windows version fixes the overhead issue

It's also interesting the frame rate these games run at on this device.

 

[rodrigolfp]

I don't think the windows overhead goes away on other machines.

 

[Parazels]

I see that the Xbox handheld is at a "good" starting point!

 

[Lillie]

yeah but where's the desktop version

 

[Black_Stride]

The title premise that windows runs slower than SteamOS is not new but these benchmarks and accompanying article are only 2 days old.

Same way we have a review thread for the RTX abcd we dont need a new thread for every SteamOS vs Windows 11 set of benchmarks.
Assuming the sources are anywhere near reputable, the results should be similar across the board.

and they say the next Xbox will run windows lol, it will DOA if that happens.

What OS do you think the current Xbox is based on?

 

[IFireflyl]

Whichever moron was in charge of color-coding the graphs and decided to pick two slightly different shades of red needs to be punched in the face.

 

[El Muerto]

 

[Parazels]

Regardless of the results, it looks like all those "handhelds" are primarily 30 fps "powerhouses" in AAA games.

 

[Closer]

Whichever moron was in charge of color-coding the graphs and decided to pick two slightly different shades of red needs to be punched in the face.

I see Orange and Red

 

[IFireflyl]

I see Orange and Red

I don't think I'm color blind...

Orange would be the thread title and the buttons on the top-ish-right. The top bar of this graph looks like a light-ish red, and the bar two below that looks slightly darker. Can someone else chime in and let me know if I'm color blind and never knew it?

 

[Closer]

I don't think I'm color blind...

Orange would be the thread title and the buttons on the top-ish-right. The top bar of this graph looks like a light-ish red, and the bar two below that looks slightly darker. Can someone else chime in and let me know if I'm color blind and never knew it?

There are shades of Orange. I still see It Orange on your screengrab.

 

[Badlucktroll]

its going to be very satisfying to build a gaming pc and only put steamos on it

 

[March Climber]

I don't think I'm color blind...

Orange would be the thread title and the buttons on the top-ish-right. The top bar of this graph looks like a light-ish red, and the bar two below that looks slightly darker. Can someone else chime in and let me know if I'm color blind and never knew it?

I see a shade of orange.

GAF orange is closer to halloween orange.

The orange in that graph is closer to a supercar orange.

 

[Topher]

I don't think I'm color blind...

Orange would be the thread title and the buttons on the top-ish-right. The top bar of this graph looks like a light-ish red, and the bar two below that looks slightly darker. Can someone else chime in and let me know if I'm color blind and never knew it?

Top to bottom

Orange
Green
Red

Doesn't mean you are color blind. My wife and I will go toe to toe on blue-green colors. I'll see green. She will see blue. She's wrong, of course

 

[Closer]

Can we have a color reveal party, guys?

IFireflyl maybe your screen is not properly calibrated, I dunno. Cheers.

 

[Fake]

Water is wet.

 

[LordOcidax]

 

[IFireflyl]

March Climber , Closer , and Topher :

I just took an online Ishihara test, and I got 100%. I then took the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind test, and I got 100%. I then took the Lanthony D-15 (both Saturated and Desaturated), and I got 100% on both of those. Maybe all of your eyes are broken and mine are normal?

In case anyone wants to try this out (they're quick), here you go:

Ishihara Test

Ishihara color blind test is the most well known color blindness test.

www.colorlitelens.com

Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind Test | Color vision test

Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind Test help clients to diagnose their color vision deficiency. Color blind test.

www.colorlitelens.com

D15 color blindness test | D15 Color vision test

The D15 color blind test help you to diagnose the type and grade of color vision deficiency.

www.colorlitelens.com

 

[clappedcheeks]

And you Xbox refugees want MS to be the dominant player in PC gaming? If there's a massive groundswell movement to PC I hope it's steam that takes it. At least that way the software side of things will be in good shape. How the fuck did MS become so dominant in the PC space and yet are so incompetent? Shady platform things I would say.

 

[clappedcheeks]

Put your Pom-poms down princess.

 

[March Climber]

March Climber , Closer , and Topher :

I just took an online Ishihara test, and I got 100%. I then took the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind test, and I got 100%. I then took the Lanthony D-15 (both Saturated and Desaturated), and I got 100% on both of those. Maybe all of your eyes are broken and mine are normal?

In case anyone wants to try this out (they're quick), here you go:

Ishihara Test

Ishihara color blind test is the most well known color blindness test.

www.colorlitelens.com

Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind Test | Color vision test

Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind Test help clients to diagnose their color vision deficiency. Color blind test.

www.colorlitelens.com

D15 color blindness test | D15 Color vision test

The D15 color blind test help you to diagnose the type and grade of color vision deficiency.

www.colorlitelens.com

Just to double check, try looking at this thread on a different device.

 

[IFireflyl]

Just to double check, try looking at this thread on a different device.

EGADS! On my phone it is orange!

 

[Topher]

March Climber , Closer , and Topher :

I just took an online Ishihara test, and I got 100%. I then took the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind test, and I got 100%. I then took the Lanthony D-15 (both Saturated and Desaturated), and I got 100% on both of those. Maybe all of your eyes are broken and mine are normal?

In case anyone wants to try this out (they're quick), here you go:

Ishihara Test

Ishihara color blind test is the most well known color blindness test.

www.colorlitelens.com

Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind Test | Color vision test

Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Color Blind Test help clients to diagnose their color vision deficiency. Color blind test.

www.colorlitelens.com

D15 color blindness test | D15 Color vision test

The D15 color blind test help you to diagnose the type and grade of color vision deficiency.

www.colorlitelens.com

 

[reinking]

I am not sure what is the most exciting thing going on in this thread. Watching the usual suspects jump in to defend Xbox against Steam OS (the war, it is a changing) or team orange vs team red-ish.

 

[GHG]

I don't think Microsoft realise how ill-prepared their devout Xbros are for this battle.

Guess they will have to find out the hard way.

 

[Saber]

Windows was the problem all along, shocker

 

[Fake]

Is this red or orange?

 

[Kacho]

I wonder if Windows 12 will be better for gaming. Seems like it would be a huge focus now that they own COD and the future of Xbox is on Windows.

 

[Topher]

Is this red or orange?

 

[Guardian Monkey]

Games run faster on SteamOS than Windows 11 or not at all, Ars testing finds

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

SteamOS is a beast!

 

[IntentionalPun]

Main takeaway here is those Lenvo drivers are terrible lol

I like how it's claimed only BL3 had comparable performance when if you remove the terrible drivers from the equation all but Returnal and Doom were within the same range as BL3 was.

SteamOS is great and all though.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Looking forward to the benchmarks for the Xbox Rog Ally.

 

[Topher]

Looking forward to the benchmarks for the Xbox Rog Ally.

Rog Xbox Ally vs Lenovo Legion Go 2 (steam os) should be interesting

 

[Mithos]

Imagine that, when there isn't a full suit of spyware running in the background stealing/using up resources...

 

[Three]

Eh, Not exactly a scientific comparison or one that can stand scrutiny since they're using different drivers for SteamOS and Windows.

but I don't imagine the fellow who wrote an article daydreaming about Valve making Half Life 3 a SteamOS exclusive is in this for accuracy.

From the article:

Obviously. Windows and linux don't and can't use the same drivers. They have drivers written specifically for them, so how exactly do you propose they do a "scientific comparison".

Isn't this showing the same thing? Outside of the handful of games like Halo Infinite SteamOS performs better.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Obviously. Windows and linux don't and can't use the same drivers. They have drivers written specifically for them, so how exactly do you propose they do a "scientific comparison".


Isn't this showing the same thing? Outside of the handful of games like Halo Infinite SteamOS performs better.

Not drastically better like happens on Legion Go. The best case on Deck is 22%.

 

[kevboard]

Rog Xbox Ally vs Lenovo Legion Go 2 (steam os) should be interesting

I mean, the best comparison would be to simply install Linux on the Xbox Ally X and run benchmarks against one with the stock OS.

the Xbox team hopefully didn't get limited too much by the Windows team, and can do whatever it takes to debloat the game mode.

the game mode should literally only run the bare minimum that's necessary for the system to function correctly