How Much Performance Do You Lose by Using Windows on the Steam Deck?

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I’m really curious about the performance impact of running Windows on the Steam Deck. I know that Linux is generally better optimized for the hardware, but I’m wondering just how significant the performance drop is when switching to Windows. Anyone have insights or experiences with this?

How Much Performance Do You Lose by Using Windows on the Steam Deck
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3 Answers

PatchMasterX -

If you really need Windows for compatibility, it’s worth noting that many users find it frustrating since Linux can be more resource-efficient. I’ve seen some folks just run Windows for specific apps and switch back to Linux for gaming. It really depends on what you need.

BlueNexusItemX -

Exactly! Sometimes it’s just easier to stick with the systems that work for games without a ton of extra tweaking.

TechieTurtle -

For sure! I think it really depends on the games you want to play and how comfortable you are with potential setup hassles.

GameNerd92 -

Yeah, there are a bunch of performance comparisons available online. Most show that you can lose around 10-20% of your performance on Windows, especially in terms of frame rates and battery life.

Linux4Ever! -

Running Windows on the Steam Deck definitely means sacrificing some performance. The drivers for Windows haven’t been updated in a while, which can lead to lower performance and battery life compared to SteamOS.

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