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With a bit of surprise I found that my statistics don't contain that I own a Steam Deck (as it's not my primary device).

Quoting: EikeWith a bit of surprise I found that my statistics don't contain that I own a Steam Deck (as it's not my primary device).

Hmmm yes, that brings up a good point. Need to think on a way to include it regardless, and potentially other handhelds. Open to suggestions.

Secondary gaming device? :-D
Or, deserved by it's importance, "owning Steam Deck [ ] yes [ ] no"?

I was interested in Manjaro numbers after their last mishandling of the hardware accelerated decoding situation. Because that forced me to leave, although ironically I was one of the proponents of the system in a big discussion here just days before. And it seemed to buff up the Arch (and arch-derivative) metrics at the expense of Manjaro in the past months a little bit. Can't be sure of course, but its interesting how things change now in comparison to 5 or 10 years ago in the land of distributions.
And I must say thanks to Liam for bringing the Linux share Steam statistics to light and reporting on it. That's very interesting to observe and think of the possible consequences later down the line.

Quoting: EikeSecondary gaming device? :-D
Or, deserved by it's importance, "owning Steam Deck [ ] yes [ ] no"?

I've always had a secondary device, but Steam Deck seems to be an easy, and somewhat important binary to include.

Quoting: Teq

Quoting: EikeSecondary gaming device? :-D
Or, deserved by it's importance, "owning Steam Deck [ ] yes [ ] no"?

I've always had a secondary device

But you can't put it in the statistics, or am I missing something here?

The problem with such a defined question like "Do you have a Steam Deck" is that I'm always thinking on the future: Steam Deck 2, if they just decide in a year or two not to continue it etc. Having such a singular focus question is not ideal to keep in the survey, because eventually it might need to just be removed hmmm.

Quoting: Liam Dawe

Quoting: EikeWith a bit of surprise I found that my statistics don't contain that I own a Steam Deck (as it's not my primary device).

Hmmm yes, that brings up a good point. Need to think on a way to include it regardless, and potentially other handhelds. Open to suggestions.

I've got several portables (they're my jam ), but given that there are so many variations out there (both natively Linux, and that are supported by Linux but don't come with it by default), I'd suggest perhaps having a checkbox (something like "Do you own a Linux handheld?") and a blank field to fill in which one(s) you have.

I'm not sure how one would handle a handheld being someone's primary Linux gaming device, though (which is the case for me - my listed specs are for my GPD Win Max 2021, but I game in different ways on all four of my Linux portables) - perhaps a second checkbox to denote that, as well? (EDIT: I'm a dummy - I forgot that this option is already in there! )

At any rate, portables are popular, and even if Valve opts not to continue with the Steam Deck in the end, the category itself isn't going to go anywhere.


Last edited by Pengling on 27 February 2023 at 12:54 pm UTC

Quoting: Pengling

Quoting: Liam Dawe

Quoting: EikeWith a bit of surprise I found that my statistics don't contain that I own a Steam Deck (as it's not my primary device).

Hmmm yes, that brings up a good point. Need to think on a way to include it regardless, and potentially other handhelds. Open to suggestions.

I've got several portables (they're my jam ), but given that there are so many variations out there (both natively Linux, and that are supported by Linux but don't come with it by default), I'd suggest perhaps having a checkbox (something like "Do you own a Linux handheld?") and a blank field to fill in which one(s) you have.

I'm not sure how one would handle a handheld being someone's primary Linux gaming device, though (which is the case for me - my listed specs are for my GPD Win Max 2021, but I game in different ways on all four of my Linux portables) - perhaps a second checkbox to denote that, as well?

At any rate, portables are popular, and even if Valve opts not to continue with the Steam Deck in the end, the category itself isn't going to go anywhere.

Yeah, this is why I would prefer to keep an open question for it, I'll think some more on how to best arrange it.

Just got Sapphire Pulse RX 7900 XTX - very pleasantly smooth experience so far.


Last edited by Shmerl on 27 February 2023 at 7:32 pm UTC

No hardware changes, but I did switch from 144Hz to 60Hz. Why? Turns out just idling at 144Hz causes the GPU never to enter the lowest power state and using 17(!) more watts.

I should probably try out that VRR stuff.

Quoting: whizseNo hardware changes, but I did switch from 144Hz to 60Hz. Why? Turns out just idling at 144Hz causes the GPU never to enter the lowest power state and using 17(!) more watts.

I should probably try out that VRR stuff.

What display? I had this issue with my previous LG display, but newer one works fine. You can also experiment setting custom modelines to work around it, but that's not possible in Wayland session in KDE.

There is a huge bug about it here: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/1403


Last edited by Shmerl on 27 February 2023 at 7:47 pm UTC

Quoting: Eike"owning Steam Deck [ ] yes [ ] no"?

I'd prefer a couple more options:
- Yes
- No
- Planning to get one
- Would get one if they were available in my country


Last edited by anth on 27 February 2023 at 8:17 pm UTC

Quoting: Shmerl

Quoting: whizseNo hardware changes, but I did switch from 144Hz to 60Hz. Why? Turns out just idling at 144Hz causes the GPU never to enter the lowest power state and using 17(!) more watts.

I should probably try out that VRR stuff.

What display? I had this issue with my previous LG display, but newer one works fine. You can also experiment setting custom modelines to work around it, but that's not possible in Wayland session in KDE.

There is a huge bug about it here: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/1403

Oh gosh, thank you so much! Adding a custom modeline fixed it!

I'm back down at a minimum power level at max refresh rate. I didn't even realise it was a bug, just stupidly assumed more Hz = more wasted power.

The monitor is a AOC CU34G2X for reference.

Quoting: whizseOh gosh, thank you so much! Adding a custom modeline fixed it!

I'm back down at a minimum power level at max refresh rate. I didn't even realise it was a bug, just stupidly assumed more Hz = more wasted power.

The monitor is a AOC CU34G2X for reference.

You're welcome!

Yeah, the power is wasted becasue MCLK (GPU memory clock) stays on max frequency when driver detects certain patterns, which are caused by whatever it establishes from display EDID. And sometimes those modelines result in some edge cases, so making custom ones can help.

I hope AMD can sort it out somehow and also KDE developers implement some way to set custom modeline in KWin Wayland mode, becasue right now it's only possible in X11 one.

The last time I had to fiddle with modelines was for CRT displays. Didn't expect it to become useful again.


Last edited by Shmerl on 27 February 2023 at 8:41 pm UTC

Quoting: anth

Quoting: Eike"owning Steam Deck [ ] yes [ ] no"?

I'd prefer a couple more options:
- Yes
- No
- Planning to get one
- Would get one if they were available in my country

That makes sense, coined like the VR question.

Quoting: Liam Dawe

Quoting: Pengling

Quoting: Liam Dawe

Quoting: EikeWith a bit of surprise I found that my statistics don't contain that I own a Steam Deck (as it's not my primary device).

Hmmm yes, that brings up a good point. Need to think on a way to include it regardless, and potentially other handhelds. Open to suggestions.

I've got several portables (they're my jam ), but given that there are so many variations out there (both natively Linux, and that are supported by Linux but don't come with it by default), I'd suggest perhaps having a checkbox (something like "Do you own a Linux handheld?") and a blank field to fill in which one(s) you have.

I'm not sure how one would handle a handheld being someone's primary Linux gaming device, though (which is the case for me - my listed specs are for my GPD Win Max 2021, but I game in different ways on all four of my Linux portables) - perhaps a second checkbox to denote that, as well?

At any rate, portables are popular, and even if Valve opts not to continue with the Steam Deck in the end, the category itself isn't going to go anywhere.

Yeah, this is why I would prefer to keep an open question for it, I'll think some more on how to best arrange it.

I think the thing in Linux gaming in a decade does deserve it's special treatment. I don't wanna add "Stem Deck" and "Steam Dreck" etc from a free form field to the number of "Steam Deck"...

Also, is it time to add/update the distro options?

Right now, I'm still using Manjaro, but I'm expecting to switch to Vanilla OS this weekend, but after a month or so of testing I'll probably stay with Tuxedo OS or Kubuntu Focus until October when lots of distro's WIP changes are done.

Quoting: anthI'd prefer a couple more options:
- Yes
- No
- Planning to get one
- Would get one if they were available in my country

Yeah, I like this. I'm definitely on that last one.

Quoting: EikeSecondary gaming device? :-D
Or, deserved by it's importance, "owning Steam Deck [ ] yes [ ] no"?

What is the information that adds if somebody owns a Steam Deck or not? I understand the importance of the device for gaming since it's powered by a fork of Arch by Valve, and it has helped a lot the advance of software like Proton, Wine, the refinement of Vulkan and OpenGL, developers taking more seriously Linux, etc. but I have been following GamingOnLinux for years since the days the site was not popular as it is right now, and nowadays it feels each day that passes, more and more of the news of the site, ignores, or heavily prioritizes, all SteamDeck related, getting for me to the point it feels more GamingOnSteamdeck rather than GamingOnLinux.
The site is beginning to prioritize the SteamDeck more and more each day it passes, and because the staff and specially Liam can stay up only so much time, I know the site it's ignoring (or giving a lot less priority) to what's happening on the gaming on Linux desktop experience (which it's much more diverse and more complex, therefore it would benefit a lot more being covered... that was what attracted me in the first place at least).

I'm trying to be objective here, just remembering the GoL from 2 years ago compared to what is it now. A balance of news on both fronts would be the best option, but I also know it could be too much work.

I know most people won't like my comment but being able to discuss things like this are a key point in the open source world community.


Last edited by anokasion on 28 February 2023 at 12:21 pm UTC

Quoting: anokasion

Quoting: EikeSecondary gaming device? :-D
Or, deserved by it's importance, "owning Steam Deck [ ] yes [ ] no"?

What is the information that adds if somebody owns a Steam Deck or not? I understand the importance of the device for gaming since it's powered by a fork of Arch by Valve, and it has helped a lot the advance of software like Proton, Wine, the refinement of Vulkan and OpenGL, developers taking more seriously Linux, etc. but I have been following GamingOnLinux for years since the days the site was not popular as it is right now, and nowadays it feels each day that passes, more and more of the news of the site, ignores, or heavily prioritizes, all SteamDeck related, getting for me to the point it feels more GamingOnSteamdeck rather than GamingOnLinux.
The site is beginning to prioritize the SteamDeck more and more each day it passes, and because the staff and specially Liam can stay up only so much time, I know the site it's ignoring (or giving a lot less priority) to what's happening on the gaming on Linux desktop experience (which it's much more diverse and more complex, therefore it would benefit a lot more being covered... that was what attracted me in the first place at least).

I'm trying to be objective here, just remembering the GoL from 2 years ago compared to what is it now. A balance of news on both fronts would be the best option, but I also know it could be too much work.

I know most people won't like my comment but being able to discuss things like this are a key point in the open source world community.

Having one Steam Deck specific question is very far from prioritizing it. At least not more than the number of monitors, VRR or VR, which I would consider semi-important for most people. (Well, I could start a rant about how we'll look back at non VRR times with shudders, but don' get me started. :D )

In contrast, Steam Deck is the biggest thing in Linux gaming of the decade quite literally, 10 years after the start of Steam on Linux.

Don't get me wrong, I'm using Linux as my main desktop system for 25 years, reading GoL at least 9 years, having written a bunch of articles here and as said, still consider my box my main gaming system. I don't love Proton and I'd like to read more about native games.

But as you said, Liam is only one Liam sadly, and cannot concentrate on everything at once. And as Steam Deck is the biggest thing around for the topic at hand, he has to cover it extensively, and, fortunately, he doesn't forget about Linux boxes, native gaming and some stuff besides the gaming world. Which might lose him money.

What I expect from the question, you asked: With the proposed extension of wanting one and wanting one but living where you cannot get one, this would show the interest of our (non-representative) group in Steam Deck. It could even show that most of us are not interested in it and underline your point. Or not. Who knows. I'd like to know.


Last edited by Eike on 28 February 2023 at 2:09 pm UTC

It might be worth starting to list Cosmic as distinct from Gnome for those people that are using Pop. Cosmic obviously has a Gnome heritage but so do Cinnamon and Mate.