Steam OS Beta is live. Downloading now.

I've finished my first (of two) specially built "Steam Machines" (AMD A10-6800 CPU, HD5870GPU, micro-ATX motherboard and case). Was just installing Ubuntu Linux for practice. Low and behold, as I'm installing -- the real Steam OS is released.

I get to practice with the "real deal"

Build Your Own Steam Machine

By the way, Steam OS does NOT support AMD or Intel GPU, yet. I'll see how big a deal that is -- maybe real big

There's a good article on installing over at Ars Technica... Install SteamOS

p.s. I'm not suggesting that you need the guide Allen, just a useful link for anyone interested. Let us know how you get on.

Works fine in VM, just dont try to Play any games.

As for AMD, I still have a 8800 GTS sitting around, and my brothers retired PC, which needs an OS, as I've since moved his windows elsewhere.

Nice article. I like to compare my build with theirs. I see they paid

I paid $335 delivered -- but, I made heavy use of Black Friday. That price included everything but keyboard and mouse.

As noted above, AMD A10-6800 quad core APU (4.1GHz), HD7850 GPU (temporarily HD5870), ASUS FM2 micro-ATX motherboard, 8GB G-SKILL 8-8-8 memory, Seagate 7200RPM 1TB HD, Optical Drive, Micro-ATx Case that handles full length mega GPUs, Corsair CX 500W PSU (system draws 270W max running a benchmark). Using old keyboard, mouse, monitor -- so not in price.

The main difference is I got an HD7850 GPU (not here until tomorrow -- so using old HD5870 today) versus their GTX660. My 4.1GHz quad-core A10-6800 versus their 3GHz dual-core i5-G3220. And, mine was about $230 cheaper (shopping sales) delivered.

I assume they will benchmark their system. It will be interesting to compare when mine is fully supported by Steam OS. Meantime, I'll be running Steam Linux games on the same Steam Machine using Ubuntu Linux (downloading/installing games as I write this).


I'm never offended when someone gives me something to read. In the past, I've assumed (ass-u-me) that I knew 10 percent of what I should know (i.e. had a lot to learn) -- but, as I get older, the true number is very likely closer to 1 percent -- so, I need all the help I can get. SimHQ is a great source of folks with ideas, advanced knowledge, and good articles. Why I come here

Really? I thought you came here for the cheap beer.




The Jedi Master

There's Beer here?

In Steam Machine: Installed HD7850 in place of HD5870 just now. Tested in Windows 7 (have dual boot on Steam Machine).

HD7850 one 6pin connector vs two 6pin connectors on HD5870.

HD7850 37.2FPS in Heaven 4.0 benchmark (1920x1080) vs 31.6FPS HD5870.

Total Steam Machine computer-box wattage at wall socket during benchmark: HD7850 230W max vs 270W max HD5870. I see a high quality 300W PSU would do it for the Steam Machine with the HD7850.

To think, I only paid $90 on Black Friday sale for the HD7850 -- GPU bargain of the age


Now the hard part, trying to get it to work advanced 3D games with Ubuntu Linux. That requires "manual installation" of the latest AMD Linux driver. FWIW, my Steam account already had 12 Linux compatible games in it. Most up to date is Metro 2033 Last Light -- fairly recent high end graphics -- a good test -- if I get that far

I'm interested in using the steam OS for media playing capability.

I use a jailbroken AppleTV with XBMC on it, my 360, a Mac Mini, and occasionally a win8 PC right now.

The problem is each one does something the other does not, and it makes me bananas.

I may end up installing it at some point, but if i have to build a machine for it it'll be a long while :p

Ubuntu? SteamOS isn't based on Ubuntu.



The Jedi Master

Correct. Steam OS is based on Debian -- but makes a lot of changes I understand. It would not be unreasonable to start with Debian (given that Steam OS does not directly support AMD yet).

I've never done much with Linux. And, being that guy who only knows 1 percent, I'm starting with Ubuntu because its supposedly easier to set up (of course, I don't know if that's true). At least, there is an AMD proprietary driver for Ubuntu and a set of install instructions.

That's my normal methodology -- step by step from a "low starting point".

Anyhow, depending on how things go, I might try Steam OS next or Debian as an intermediate step -- depends on how Ubuntu turns out.

Hi Allen, I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of AMD support in SteamOS - it just means they didn't ship the driver with the download image and it'll update pretty soon anyway (I heard as soon as next week). In the interim you can install the closed-source AMD driver just fine and games will work, it's just more Valve saying 'we haven't bundled/tweaked the AMD drivers ourselves yet'.

A default SteamOS install from the image is probably just as easy as a Debian install to get going, and if you have an empty drive then that's what I would recommend (just remember that the beta SteamOS install doesn't dual-boot/grub automatically, so just leave wired up the drive you want to use initially). SteamOS updates itself from then on in, so you'll get better hardware support as the beta rolls on without having to re-install etc.

Thanks for the info.

I may "take a shot" at it -- given that you're saying my drivers might work after all.

I agree, given my level of understanding (low), a clean install on the "only connected disk" in the machine seems simplest/safest.

Back to basics for me.

When practical IC CPUs were invented (1970s), I invented and hand built a desktop computer from individual ICs, capacitors, resistors, transistors, etc. (a method to teach myself digital electronics). I had to program in binary machine language (0s and 1s) -- from "teaching it" how to read a keyboard to an AI checkers playing program.There was no "assembly language" (one hand-assembled 0s and 1s and clicked them in one at a time using toggle switches). Then, DOS and BASIC (desktop computer language) came about -- made things simple

After years of "Windows", I've nearly forgotten DOS and I program in Delphi Pascal (Embarcadero RAD Studio) -- but, don't program much anymore -- no need.

In installing drivers, I see to really make Linux "sing", one has to be comfortable with the basics. DOS type terminal-mode commands are commonly needed as soon as one tries anything unique. I assume Steam OS will eliminate this need for "normal users". However, I guess I've "got the bug" -- it will be fun learning the Linux "DOS" terminal commands

There will be a brief delay in my Steam Machine project, as I "back up" and learn the "basics" of Linux. I've downloaded a command reference (several actually). As written, the terminal "command line" commands make sense to me -- similar to the old DOS on the first PCs -- just a matter of memorizing a few dozen and trying them out.

By the way, that 1970s computer is still in the basement work room. All from PSU to whatever was from parts -- except keyboard (a used teletype keyboard) and the speaker. Cost several hundred dollars in parts -- Z80 8-bit CPU at about 1.5MHz, 2KB RAM memory

Used a different fabrication technique each of the various circuit boards to learn fabrication. From wire wrap, to hand drawn and etched on the PCB, etc. Old huge capacitors for "steady current". I may have posted these in the past.

Note the toggle switches on the front. I had to toggle in about 250 bytes of "program" to make the keyboard usable. The LEDs gave me my "binary feedback" (actually Octal in my mind) -- no monitor at start up. After that, I could use the keyboard for entry.








Building a Steam Machine is much easier

FWIW

very cool, Allen!

Yeah, even though I forgot most of my Unix/Linux info (not really worked with it since the 90s), as long as I have a list of commands I find it easier to go command line than use the newer GUIs like Ubuntu has.

The problem is when I'm in a GUI I have the MS Windows habits too ingrained, and they're not enough like that. I wind up spinning my wheels trying to figure out basic stuff. On the flipside, although the commands can differ in syntax and all, command line in Linux isn't that different from DOS in concept and I get lost less!

I loaded up a VM of Ubuntu awhile back, but I've really not spent too much time on it since I got a full time job finally...even though it's got the double whammy of not paying well and not being enjoyable.

The Jedi Master