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Gaming console for PC and the tastes of Linux

Gaming console for PC and the tastes of Linux

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GeorgePlaysFTW
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09-04-2018, 09:39 AM
#1
Hi everyone, I'm facing some challenges while preparing my PC Gaming setup. All the components are set up and functional after six months (excluding the final three weeks in storage). My goal is to use this machine as a PC console or LAN party hub. I mainly plan to play games with Xbox controllers and switch to a keyboard/mouse for gatherings. The main hurdle is choosing the right operating system. I want to avoid Windows since my current rig already runs it, and I prefer Steam as the main platform—streaming at home and leveraging the GPU power makes it practical. Linux seems like a solid option, though it comes with its own set of challenges. There hasn't been consistent coverage from Wendell on "The state of Gaming on Linux" in his four-part series. I recognize the progress made, but I'm still figuring out what works best for my needs. I'm familiar with Debian and its variants, like Pop!_OS and Agile, but I've found mixed experiences:

- Pop!_OS is stable but lacks the latest kernel updates.
- Agile offers speed but includes extra bloat on the desktop image.
- Steam OS works in kiosk mode, but it doesn't integrate smoothly with Pop!_OS.
- Some users tried custom scripts to install Steam components on Debian, yet compatibility issues remain.

I also considered using a custom setup to run Steam tools on a Debian machine, but Pop!_OS didn't support that well, especially for updates. I'm open to advice from the community—do you have any suggestions or alternatives? My hardware includes an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 MSI R9 390X MSI B450I with an R9 390X graphics card. It has fan and driver issues, but newer Linux kernels now support AMDGPU drivers. I'm also dealing with thermal management problems. If you have recommendations or workarounds, I'd really appreciate them.
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G
GeorgePlaysFTW
09-04-2018, 09:39 AM #1

Hi everyone, I'm facing some challenges while preparing my PC Gaming setup. All the components are set up and functional after six months (excluding the final three weeks in storage). My goal is to use this machine as a PC console or LAN party hub. I mainly plan to play games with Xbox controllers and switch to a keyboard/mouse for gatherings. The main hurdle is choosing the right operating system. I want to avoid Windows since my current rig already runs it, and I prefer Steam as the main platform—streaming at home and leveraging the GPU power makes it practical. Linux seems like a solid option, though it comes with its own set of challenges. There hasn't been consistent coverage from Wendell on "The state of Gaming on Linux" in his four-part series. I recognize the progress made, but I'm still figuring out what works best for my needs. I'm familiar with Debian and its variants, like Pop!_OS and Agile, but I've found mixed experiences:

- Pop!_OS is stable but lacks the latest kernel updates.
- Agile offers speed but includes extra bloat on the desktop image.
- Steam OS works in kiosk mode, but it doesn't integrate smoothly with Pop!_OS.
- Some users tried custom scripts to install Steam components on Debian, yet compatibility issues remain.

I also considered using a custom setup to run Steam tools on a Debian machine, but Pop!_OS didn't support that well, especially for updates. I'm open to advice from the community—do you have any suggestions or alternatives? My hardware includes an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 MSI R9 390X MSI B450I with an R9 390X graphics card. It has fan and driver issues, but newer Linux kernels now support AMDGPU drivers. I'm also dealing with thermal management problems. If you have recommendations or workarounds, I'd really appreciate them.

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