Honestly, I would back up all of your downloads, documents, pictures, videos, browser history/passwords/bookmarks, and anything else you want to save to an external drive or to The Cloud (or multiple, e.g., most/all browsers have a sync function, and OneDrive/Google Drive/Dropbox, etc.), and then download and test drive multiple different distros until you find one that you like and has good community support. Nearly all distros today will let you test it out without installing (kind of a try before you buy). Once you find one, install it while wiping the Windows install, then load your graphics drivers and Steam. Steam will handle the rest as far as running your games (some caveats apply, i.e., some multiplayer games will not work because the developers are assholes).
Comment on SteamOS 3.7.13 update gets fixes for more handhelds, fixes WiFi regression on Steam Deck OLED
semisimian@startrek.website 3 weeks ago
I have a dedicated windows 10 PC for gaming only. Microsoft is actively trying to brick my machine. I have to read the fine print to make sure I’m not agreeing to the 11 “update.” I feel held hostage - it sucks.
I’m thinking of going to steamOS - I’m a casual gamer that just needs it to work when I have the spare minute to fire up a game. I don’t have time to do much troubleshooting, but I will make time so I don’t get locked into a console. Shrugging emoji.
notfromhere@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
rotopenguin@infosec.pub 2 weeks ago
SteamOS isn’t really meant for any system outside the Steam Deck and a handful of similar handhelds. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have any Nvidia drivers, for starters.
Bazzite and Nobara are the general answers to gaming on any random PC hardware.
punk_princess@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
what do you play most often? how proactively accepting are you of your niche games not working anymore?
steamOS is great when you are comfortable staying inside the curated user experience. stepping outside of it will inevitably experience work flow obstructions. the previous update broke many users’s supporting software mods. decky loader and similar.
enjoy games with kernel level anticheat?
you may need to reconsider. there is a growing list of games where the multiplayer is inaccessible because of hardware ID bans after one brat ruins the fun for everyone.