How to Install and Configure SteamOS - PC Perspective

Here is the hardware we used:

[ArchieDodge]

Links to all the hardware, but not the OS? I know where to download it from, but I just thought that was kind of odd.

[TrevorLentz]

That stock intel cooler makes me sad. :P 

[sayresyDevino]

for a beta release it looks pretty good and there was no hassle getting the titan to work. Nice

[antman]

Why wouldn't I just use windows with big picture mode....

[trialpod]

i want this os just to stream from my main to my living room. cant wait for it to come out

[markbrochilll]

Thanks for the help. I had a spare i3 + intel mobo that I finally have a reason to use. I bought a HTPC case + small SDD, installed SteamOS, hooked up to my TV, wired to Network and now I can stream any game from my powerful Windows rig nearly flawless to my TV. Now if Steam OS can integrate Netflix and a personal media player for bluray, cds, mp3s, and avi then I will be content.

[MagWasTaken]

So this is really just Big Picture Mode: The OS?

[DreadMauler]

Also, thanks for the video! Don't think I personally can contribute much to getting this OS out of beta, but I'm sure there are tens or hundreds of thousands people interested enough :) Oh boy am I looking forward to the performance of this when it;ll be in the polishing stages.

[Hon]

05:20, you don't need to change the boot order, just unplug the sata cable from the drive you don't want steam os to install on it.

[WyldAli]

Yep.  That VinnCo shirt is pure class.

[DDT]

Don't run that post_logon.sh script if running SteamOS in Virtualbox, it will mess it up and you'll have to remove nvidia driver packages and reinstall Virtualbox additions again.

[IDeadImau]

I plan to build a powerful small form factor pc with windows 8.1 and steam os. This is definitely something you use to show off against xbox one and ps4 users!

[MrCelcifer]

With Great Power comes Great Respnosibility!!!

[kght]

looks promising, hopefully valve has enough heft to get more companies building linux versions of their games. i think they do, but we shall see. with the linux backend available to browsing the web and even for use of productivity tools (ex. open office, gimp) and valve's power in the gaming industry to start getting more games available, steam os might become a viable alternative to windows for gamers or kids in general.

[Supaslicer]

I feel like most people stopped watching once they saw linux.. and didn't keep watching until after the set up is complete...where it begins to look like a typical Cosnole OS….

The set up is all linux terminals and command prompts, but once you get past the set up, the OS will boot into Steam's "Big Screen Mode" when you turn on your computer.  You will not have to deal with the Linux OS any longer.  (I am sure in the full release you will not even see the linuxOS, just log in and party time)

Big screen mode is basically like using a Playstaion or Xbox.  It is Straight forward, just big square blocks with pictures on them that you simply click a button on your controller and off you go!

Linux because it is the least demanding of all OS's out there, free and very flexible.  Allowing games to use more of your resources for Games..

the only issue is that a lot of the newer video cards/processors do not have maximized drivers for linux, but with Valve adopting Linux as their primary OS, many developers may start to think differently about Linux

[realEchoz]

You should never use the automated install feature unless you are installing it to a computer that's only going to be used for SteamOS. It seems like it will wipe your /dev/sda drive automatically receiving any confirmation. This could remove all of your files if you are using two hard drives and your main hard drive happens to be /dev/sda (usually SATA1.)

[rwprime]

Loved the video and thanks. I googled that xbox 360 controller you have and found that Microsoft actually sells a PC / XBox 360 controller with a little adaptor on the end to make it USB. Well, I had to actually watch some kid on a Youtube video in order to find out about that little six inch or so extension. Two questions:
1. I don't have an xbox, so what is that little jack for between the two handles (facing the user) on the controller.
2. In the video, the kid mentioned an Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows, so why haven't you opted for that ($20 on amazon) and a wireless xbox 360 controller. (you seem to have all the latest of everything)(just sayin).
Don't mean to be disrespectful, but I remember a few years ago when it was the rage to have a wireless Playstation controller on a PC. (Just your preference?)

[EliteKiller]

The reason why the Linux version of Metro won't look as good as Windows is because they used the Mac version as a baseline for the port, and Mac only supports up to OpenGL 3.2, which is sort of equivalent to DirectX 9.  OpenGL 4.0 and above is the equivalent to DX11.  If you want to compare performance, I would set the renderer as DX9 for the windows version.

[huldu]

I've always got worse performance running games on a linux system than windows. Not sure why this is. I guess they're moving in the right direction at least. Just a shame the linux system is so... hardcore. I've been using windows(dos earlier) since the late 80's. I've tried to get into linux but you're always going to run into the game issues, that most games just doesn't run on linux. Windows is just easier to work with, no commands lines, just clickety-click and stuff works. I hope one day linux turns into that but they're far off.

[RANCIDGAB]

Benchmarks please - Windows 8.1 vs SteamOS (FPS)