#Gaming WITHOUT WINDOWS?

• No constant popups asking you to approve or confirm admin access?
• No windows defender windows coming up right as you start a game forcing you to go find a keyboard and mouse to plug in to get past them because they don’t allow their own damn Xinput protocol to select yes or no?
• No constant “it’s time for you to update your computer” nags that cover anything on your screen?
• Less crashing? Less hair pulling out?
• Less ugly UI elements?
• Full screen splashscreens instead of seeing your desktop or multiple windows on top of each other?
• No losing focus when some other application pops into view!
• …

Shall I go on???

YES IT IS WORTH IT (at least until Valve releases SteamOS for something other than a damn handheld. They had decent Steam Consoles years ago and no software to run them… now they have great software and nobody making Steam Consoles because they won’t fuckingrelease it 👎)

Example: I have an i9 and a 4080 and STILL use my SteamDeck docked more than my consolized PC connected to the TV.

PS: and before you ask, Chimera is not even close to SteamOS3 and is just ArchLinux with big picture mode/gamepadUI and enough issues to make you think you’re using windows. HoloISO is a buggy mess with update issues and more compatibility issues than you’d expect (hope you don’t like 4K resolutions as HoloISO doesn’t even support the newest series of Radeon Cards as far as I can tell).

I play docked all the time, no complaints. Yes you need to tweak and be ok with lesser performance but that comes with the power of the deck. It was almost a year after I got the deck before I started using my gaming pc again. Played through cyberpunk, horizon zero dawn,shadow of the tomb raider. It’s more a keep expectations in check and you’ll be fine

personally, I think no

If you have the space and money, then I think you are better off getting a desktop PC

I thinking of getting the steam deck for Christmas is it easy to run if u are not tech savvy ? I have a steam account and play pc games

just so you know , there is no performance increase when docked.SD doesnt work that way

Depends on what games you play docked due to the decks lower resolution being stretched out on a monitor or TV. Emulation, indie, and less beefy games sure, or newer titles if you don’t mind it looking like a ps3 Era game with muddy visuals

Oh yes. I did it and don’t regret it. My gf has a PS5 (we live together), but the PSN account is hers, with her progress, her games and for most of my live I’ve played in the PC.

But now, my PC sucks and I can play my Steam games on TV while she’s watching and online games in the couch, side by side with her (PS5 on TV, steam deck on my lap) ❤️

Zero regrets 😌👍🏽

Yes and no. I mostly use mine docked, but it’s showing its age.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s really decent, but i’m looking into getting a mini pc with a more powerful GPU, since the steam deck can’t play newer titles.

Do you already have a desktop with a steam library? I would just run a hdmi from that to the screen of your choice.

I’d wager your run of the mill, Non integrated gpu laptop could be on par/outperform the deck while gaming.

Where the deck shines is being able to game in comfort while sitting on the couch or abroad.

For the level of performance offered, the steam deck offers the best bang for your buck by far. in my country building a pc with comparable performance will cost 50% more than the deck by the component prices alone, before even factoring that the deck is portable, and already counts as having a controller and a screen.

If the performance offered by the deck is enough for you, it’s a hell of a deal, especially if you pick the LCD model, as when playing docked, the newer, and more expensive, OLED screen would completely wasted.

I was able to play HLL because of my Steamdeck. I use a USB-C cable from my display to my SD and got an wireless mouse & keyboard connected.

I’m mostly docked, and I love the low power of the deck as I live off grid.

However, also look up Look up Minisforum Neptune HX99G, which is to be great for gaming. I want to get something like this eventually, and then retire my steam deck to a mostly emulation handheld machine.

Yes. My LCD deck is not the family gaming PC. It stays docked and they use a keyboard and mouse combo and it is way better at running stuff than a laptop at the same price point

It’s effectively a mini pc with a screen, controller and battery built in. For the price it’s amazing. If you get a 1080p monitor and a dock witha keyboard and mouse you effectually have yourself a full pc with a secondary screen that you can also unplug and play like a Nintendo Switch. Well worth it IMO if your current pc has worse specs.

It depends what kind of games you play. Old games and emulation sure, newer games not so much.