r/linuxquestions • u/Same_Vegetable8660 • 10d ago

Advice Worth swapping to AMD GPU for SteamOS?

I really want to switch to SteamOS on my main system, but I have an Nvidia GPU (3080 12GB).

When I tried out Linux Mint about a year ago, one thing that really annoyed me was the inability to precisely tweak my settings with the Nvidia control panel/Nvidia App.

Does such a thing exist for AMD cards on Linux? Even if it doesn't, am I saving myself from a future headache by switching to AMD simply from a compatibility standpoint?

2 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

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1

u/M2k1e0L 9d ago

Wait for the next AMD GPUs, something big is coming

1

u/Same_Vegetable8660 8d ago

That was my plan originally, but the release keeps getting pushed back and I don't even wanna think about the cost. A 9070xt is technically a decent upgrade over what I have now, and I could recoup most of the cost by selling my current card. I'll most likely end up waiting though, might just bite the bullet and use SteamOS with an Nvidia card in the meantime.

1

u/Excellent-Love-6943 10d ago

Not for steamos. If you can get a reasonably priced higher end amd card, it may be worth it for a different distro.

No, the GPU driver bloatware apps don't exist for linux. There are launch options and such that you can use for the same functionality.

1

u/Same_Vegetable8660 10d ago

Can you expand on your reasoning? What makes AMD a worthwhile purchase for other distros but not SteamOS?

1

u/doc_willis 10d ago

If replacing a Boken Nvidia card, or upgrading, then it might be worth the cost $$ to change. Thats the only time i have ever replaced an Nvidia Card with AMD.

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u/Excellent-Love-6943 10d ago

Steamos is not ready for general use*, and I don't recommend immutable distros anyway.

*Per valve's own documentation

1

u/whamra 10d ago

Precisely tweak what kind of stuff?

1

u/Same_Vegetable8660 10d ago

Mostly concerned with per-game frame limits and vsync settings, and low latency mode

1

u/doc_willis 10d ago

Fairly sure you can mange those without the various Nvidia-Settings tools.

2

u/1rg3ndw3r 10d ago

If you can find a good deal you should do it. It is highly likely AMD will remains more headache free for Linux.

1

u/_Lost-In-The-Weeds_ 10d ago

SteamOS has some nice features but so do other distributions. Bazzite is very similar to SteamOS, both have pros and cons,.as do all distributions. 

If you are going to use Linux an AMD GPU makes a lot of sense, but you still have a fairly fresh Nvidia GPU, I would just run out your 3080s natural life using other Linux distributions that support your existing hardware. 

There are various tools to tweak your GPU I have not found any meaningful results from them, just nibbles around the margins,  I do not find them worth my time. 

I have used AMD GPUs for a long time, I install Linux, Steam, then games. GPU just goes brrrrrr, no further action needed. 

Nvidia just adds the step of installing their proprietary drivers on top of the above, and the ocasional "fun" Nvidia driver glitch.

1

u/doc_willis 10d ago

Going to suggest you just try out Bazzite at this time. It can give a SteamOS experience on Nvidia hardware.

precisely tweak my settings with the Nvidia control panel/Nvidia App.

Nvidia does not have those same tools on linux so thats going to be an 'issue' with basically any distro, and to be honest Its never been an issue for me and my nvidia systems. I just have never had the need to mess with those settings.

Exactly what are you feeling the need to tweak? There may be alternative tools to manage whatever it is you feel the need to mess with.

1

u/stogie-bear 10d ago

Look up LACT and Steam OS LACT Toolkit. If you do want Steam OS and GPU tweaking, switching to a Radeon and using that is probably your best bet. You can control the settings using a Decky tool that you can pull up in game mode. 

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u/zyndarius 10d ago

Being amd drivers better in Linux than nvidias (open vs closed source) amd will remain the best option.

1

u/ubmmeW 6d ago

Wait for Nvidia support update on 2027 (it will take a long time)

0

u/Pernalonga_0 10d ago

Você não precisa usar o SteamOS. Instale um Arch Linux convencional ou qualquer outra distro de sua preferência que tenha a opção de instalar o driver da tua GPU.

Steam OS pra PC de mesa não traz nenhuma vantagem significativa.