Valve’s SteamOS now works on Intel-based devices and delivers an acceptable experience for a beta implementation. According to recently conducted tests, the operating system works with the Intel version of MSI’s Claw 8 handheld, as well as with PCs using desktop Intel Arc graphics cards.
YouTube channel ETA Prime tested SteamOS’s latest version and found that it’s compatible with Intel-based hardware. The YouTuber used a SteamOS 3.8.7 beta install, which was then updated to the main branch’s version 3.9 on an MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld. This device features a Lunar Lake Core Ultra 7 258V SoC with an Arc 140V GPU, running Windows 11 by default.
While the update changelog only listed new controller support for the MSI Claw, without explicitly mentioning support for Intel’s processors and graphics, it seems the latter already runs pretty well on Valve’s OS, including an efficient and fast sleep mode. Aside from a non-functioning menu button and a lack of power tuning, everything seems good.
Of course, OS installation is one thing, but running games correctly is another. Thankfully, ETA Prime did run some gaming tests and found that performance is overall good, though not yet at the level of MSI’s official Windows implementation. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 at 720p with the Steam Deck graphics preset netted about 40fps with a 17W power target.
Pushing the power envelope to 30W allowed the frame rate to reach nearly 60fps, all while increasing the resolution to 1080p. Even so, this is still below the performance offered by the same machine on Windows 11.
Forza Horizon 6 at 720p at the Low graphics preset with a 17W TDP ran at almost 60fps, going above 70fps at 1080p when offered the higher 30W TDP. That said, in both instances, there were some performance dips, presumably due to the OS struggling to accurately split power between the CPU and GPU. Lastly, low-TDP gaming was possible, allowing about seven hours of play time in games like Hollow Knight: Silksong at 60fps.
The second part of this SteamOS update is related to Intel desktop hardware, which is reportedly compatible, at least to some degree. According to SaperPL on Reddit, SteamOS can now run on desktop GPUs, specifically the Arc B580. The Redditor managed to boot and install SteamOS on their system by going through a repair image with a Radeon GPU and swapping to the Intel card afterwards.
SaperPL’s findings were similar to ETA Prime, with games running fine, but performance not yet where it should be. The Redditor also found that performance without resizable BAR enabled was horrendous, dropping to 20fps in Indiana Jones and Toxic Commando.
