SteamOS now supports Intel and AMD graphics

[Youbetternot]

SteamOS just got better, now SteamOS supports intel and AMD graphics. The SteamOS used to only support nvidia GPUS, but now you can stick a 290x into it. However since the SteamOS is in beta, AMD has warned that their could be screen tearing. Steam already have plans to ship Steam boxes with AMD and Intel graphics during launch, including  $499 iBuyPower box, the $499 CyberPowerPC computer. Steam is working with Intel and AMD to fix these problems, so it shouldn't be long. One last thing the Steam OS supports AMD graphics include the HD 5000 series and up

 

Building your own Steam Box just got a heck of a lot easier, because the SteamOS operating system isn't limited to Nvidia GPUs anymore. As of the latest SteamOS release, both Intel and AMD graphics are supported. Mind you, SteamOS is still very much in beta, and the Linux video drivers are in a beta state as well, so don't expect too much. AMD specifically mentions that there are some screen-tearing issues, and that things can slow down when the SteamOS overlay and games are running simultaneously. Valve engineer John Vert writes that the company is still working with Intel and AMD to fix a number of these issues.

That's good, because a number of Steam Machines intend to ship with AMD and Intel graphics at launch, including the $499 iBuyPower box, the $499 CyberPowerPC computer, and at least two tiny Brix boxes made by Gigabyte.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/9/5292596/steamos-now-supports-intel-and-amd-graphics

[TopWargamer]

Yay, now I can finally try out SteamOS!

[MatheusSanzo]

It always did if you managed to install the drivers yourself i guess.

[deathjester]

Wonder if we will see more native OpenGl ports now on PC games. Would mean less work for the publisher, since they often port the games to Mac anyways...

 

SteamOS is going to need native OpenGL to run the games well, and if that happens, people will realize how badly they have been getting screwed over with forced OS upgrades from M$ with DirectX.

 

Will be interesting to see who M$ pays off to not make native OpenGl ports. They are gonna need a @#$% ton of money to keep publishers from doing it. Less piracy on a steambox, no need for retail packaging. 

 

I am thinking the "games for windows" companies won't play ball. Ideally you know these publishers only really want to make OpenGL and a low level api port. Let's see how long M$ holds us back...

[cjeffcoatjr]

yipie

[my414]

I just tested out steam os with my R9 290 and i could only play metro last light on minimum quality or i would lag really bad and the tearing is very obvious. While on minimum graphics my i5 at 4.2ghz was pinned at 100%. So I think there still need to be a lot of optimizing.

[deathjester]

I just tested out steam os with my R9 290 and i could only play metro last light on minimum quality or i would lag really bad and the tearing is very obvious. While on minimum graphics my i5 at 4.2ghz was pinned at 100%. So I think there still need to be a lot of optimizing.

 

It isn't optimization, it is because the games aren't native OpenGL. They are playing the game through a wrapper. Many of these games already have a native OpenGL port to Mac, just not on other OS's.

 

Microsoft is the one holding back steambox and OpenGL through handshakes and money to publishers. They have done so, so that you are forced to use Windows. There isn't enough optimization in the world to make these games run well on steambox. They need a native port. A native OpenGL port would probably run better on Steam OS then a Direct X game on Window's due to less bloat. Wouldn't beat mantle or a console low level API, but OpenGL is as good or better then DirectX ever was.