Valve could optimize SteamOS for the GPD Win Max 2 gaming handheld | TechSpot
source link: https://www.techspot.com/news/95289-valve-could-optimize-steam-os-gpd-win-max.html
Go to the source link to view the article. You can view the picture content, updated content and better typesetting reading experience. If the link is broken, please click the button below to view the snapshot at that time.
Valve could optimize SteamOS for the GPD Win Max 2 gaming handheld
Valve potentially helping other handheld PCs
By Daniel Sims Today 7:03 PM
Something to look forward to: One of Steam Deck's main advantages is Valve's optimization of SteamOS. Thanks to those tweaks, the operating system could end up on another, more powerful handheld gaming PC, and Valve may help other manufacturers foster this emerging tier of portables.
The maker of the recently revealed GPD Win Max 2 says Valve reached out to it about bringing the Steam Deck's operating system to the upcoming device. Collaboration could help turn it into a more appealing premium alternative to Valve's handheld gaming PC.
Valve's SteamOS is a free Linux distro that the company encourages users to install on various devices, potentially even the Win Max 2. However, Valve has introduced optimizations to the Steam Deck software to improve that specific hardware's gaming performance and give users more control. Players can download pre-cached game shaders and easily adjust refresh rates or clock speeds to conserve battery life.
Those adjustments might scale up relatively smoothly on the Win Max 2. The AMD versions of the mini laptop run on chips from the same family as those in the Steam Deck but are more powerful. Valve's device sports a custom 4-core, 8-thread Zen 2 processor running at up to 3.5GHz, and a 1.6GHz GPU with 8 RDNA 2 compute units.
Win Max 2 should exceed those specs with the 4.7GHz 8-core, 16-thread Zen 3+ Ryzen 7 6800U and a 2.2GHz GPU with 12 RDNA 2 compute units. Though, it will cost about twice as much as a Steam Deck.
Currently, GDP plans to ship the Win Max 2 with Windows. A tailored SteamOS option would encourage comparisons between native game performance on Windows versus SteamOS' compatibility layer Proton.
However, GPD says it would first need to send Valve its device for testing, after which it could take six months to get an optimized SteamOS on the system. Afterward, Valve might promote GPD's handheld PCs on Steam, similar to how it showcases HP, HTC, and Microsoft VR headsets alongside its own. This type of partnership could open the door for more handheld PCs in the future.
Recommend
-
14
Valve reveals handheld Steam Deck PC games consolePublished1 hour agocommentsCommentsimage copyrightValve
-
18
Valve announces the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming PC starting at $399 The device is AMD powered, running SteamOS 3.0 By
-
6
Ubisoft titles may come back to Steam if Valve's handheld takes off, says CEO The Steam Deck might just be what Valve needed to win back Ubisoft's business By...
-
8
Valve Steam Deck vs. Nintendo Switch (OLED): Which Handheld Should You Buy? By Hamlin Rozario Published 18 hours ago In the bat...
-
10
Valve releases SteamOS 3.3 and Steam Client updates Valve has made SteamOS 3.3 available to the public through its stable channel. The update was previously only
-
5
Razer's cloud-based gaming handheld launches later this month Launch partner Verizon is offering multiple promotions By
-
4
The Asus ROG Ally PC gaming handheld is no April Fools' joke Smaller, lighter, quieter, and more powerful than the Steam Deck, with a 120Hz 1080p screen, but price and battery life are...
-
5
This handheld packs an Intel 386 CPU for true retro PC gaming Play classic PC games on actual hardware By
-
7
-
3
Windows out the window? — Why more PC gaming handhelds should ditch Windows for SteamOS Next up: Could SteamOS 3 be coming to a desktop gaming rig near you?
About Joyk
Aggregate valuable and interesting links.
Joyk means Joy of geeK