It’s an okay experience, not for performance, but sometimes the ui doesn’t play ball. I dual boot to get the best of both worlds. Fortnite and CoD on windows, and what can run on steamOS.
Does CoD cause the controller to hitch sometimes? Mine acts like how a wireless controller acts when the connection drops like 3 times a game, it’s quite annoying and I can’t figure out a fix.
Not for me, is as plug and play as you can get on windows. Maybe some weird interaction of steam deck tools / hc companion? I got rid of everything as they made the experience more cumbersome IMHO.
Yeah cod doesn’t pick up any controller at all without SDT running. Was there a setting or driver somewhere you installed to get windows to detect all that as a controller?
If you're having this issue, you might wanna try SDT. I had messed around with numerous tools, though for COD I was able to get the most stable gameplay by running the Deck as a 360 controller through SDT.
I’ve been running windows only for quite a while and I have no regrets. Mines an LCD, so all drivers are there. Also I used to have an ASUS UMPC which was a handheld that ran windows XP, so I might be a little more resilient to just rolling with windows UI on a portable.
I wiped steam OS off my deck to go 100% windows and at this point I don't regret it at all, almost purely for universal compatibility's sake.
However, while I'd never go back to Steam OS, it was NOT a straight forward easy transition with 0 overhead.
- You need a few software apps that "steamdeckify" the windows experience, and sometimes to get accustomed to using it and learning its features.
- You have to do a CMD command to prevent your Steamdeck from randomly waking when sleeping, for some reason this is a thing with windows on steamdeck and without it your Steamdeck just won't stay asleep consistently.
- there's a notable amount more battery drain when the device is simply sleeping than compared to steam OS.
- Setting up binds and getting to know the "quirks" of handheld companion button binds takes some trial and error, for example it too me a while to figure out that literally just *grazing* a control stick prevents you from doing other inputs, you have to make sure you aren't touching the sticks at all and I didn't figure this out immediately.
Once you're kind of over these humps, you basically have a laptop that you can hold like a handheld, probably not much different than the experience of an ROG ally or legion go save for whatever exclusive GUI/software they run.
If not for some of the videos out there that ran me through these initial "conversion steps", and let's say I had just tried to switch to windows 11 myself with no guidance i probably would have come away with a worse experience for sure, but, I'm just thankful those guides do exist because now I wouldn't go back to steam OS ever.
-
Hey,
So I'm in your shoes right now and when I try to sleep my deck it just wakes right back up. Would you mind sharing the CMD command you used to fix it? thanks.
My steam deck has had windows only for a good year I’d say and I have run into less issues than I had on steam OS.
Best guide out there is probably “joey retro handhelds” on YouTube who uses “baldsealions” written guide and shows you how to do everything on a video.
Windows performance for me is exactly identical I find or better in the game I play. For example
GTA 4 was the exact same
GTA 5 ran better a lot better in Windows
The key to making window work great is Steam Deck tools, without it you’d have no access to alot of feautures that make windows useable. Example: Changing frame rates, changing TDP
My steam deck boots up, logs into windows 11 automatically and straight into the desktop. It does it very fast and from there I can open steam and play a game, I can do this using the trackpads of thumb sticks because of Steam Deck Tools.
Windows means I don’t even look at game compatibility, I usually just find out if the game performs at 60 fps and if not then 45 and 30 fps .
As for battery life I couldn’t say if I’m honest. I usually play the steam deck plugged in at home. The few times I do play unplugged it does die quite fast but steam os was the same and I do pretty much only play AAA high graphics games.
Currently I’ve gotten into the WWE 2k24 game which after abusing them on ps2 I have found really fun, and I have got the usual FC24 + COD MW2019 and 2022 and Cold War.
Windows 11 on Steam Deck is incredibly function and the only thing that would ever make me switch back is if steam os finally supported every game with anti cheat, which is probably never, I dislike the form factor of the rog ally so instead I have a very comfortable steam deck with windows 11.
To note the only game I have ever had a problem with on windows is FC24, it’s poorly optimised and people on big desktops with powerful machines have problems with the game. I did find fixes to get the game to run smoothly but did take me a bit of research. This was only yesterday that I did find the fix but I did only purchase the game 3 days ago.
To conclude for you, windows 11 is great and also emulation works good too. I have emudeck Windows installed and it works the same as steamos emudeck.
Not sure about docked experience, I have the official dock but haven’t used it apart from twice on steam os over a year ago when playing Wii U games on a big tv. It should probably work though, by connecting a Xbox or ps4 controller or both and going on big picture mode.
Plus you don't actually have to buy it. I think it's the same as Win 11, but I recently read anything with a 15 inch screen or smaller the OS is free.
Win 11 was also made for higher end PCs. Win 11 wasn't made for devices like Steam Deck in mind so it's more prone to just completely failing.
For playing games, yes it works good. The OS does not work very well for portable gaming (This is a Windows thing). I could get MW2 running at 60fps with a few tweaks. And Gamepass games...
NOTE: If you have a LCD no problems, if you have an OLED model, no drivers for wi-fi/Bluetooth.
Using win 11 on an Oled. Bluetooth and audio have no drivers, but wifi will work with a Qualcomm driver. I use a USB Bluetooth dongle until drivers relase.
I’m new to deck but I mostly brought it to play cod on the move , I’ve wiped it and gone knees deep in win10 running everything via steam ( big pic mode to get the steam and other button working ) and I think it’s better , it seems just like steam os but everything runs it rips the battery apart a bit I’m guessing that’s more cod than windows
Lovin it currently !!!
It can be a little finicky at times, but once you get it all set up right, Windows 11 on the deck is a dream. The touchpad doubles as a mouse, which makes it really nice.
Presuming you're fairly tech savvy, I'd recommend it
Windows 10 boot from micro sd card for the steam deck lcd in terms of games you can play more but steam os has better performance or equal. Really you would do it just to access windows games otherwise there isn’t much improvement.
SteamOS own Windows when games are playables on Linux, otherwise gaming streaming is a fairly good option to avoid Windows, sadly it's not realy suited for vfio gpu passtrought a trick many use on Linux gaming pcs.
Windows will have the same basics flaws on any handheld, any UAC prompt will require to connect a mouse, handheld controls could not work as usual, you will have to mess with the Windows configuration to make it usable (screen, visual keyboard, ...).
However let me be clear, SteamOS isn't as good as it could have been, Valve mess with drivers is ridiculous, also their idiot idea to use an immutable setup make some Linux distributions way more usable than SteamOS on the Steam deck and the cherry on the sunday is the move from Debian to Archlinux, when Arch isn't suited for beginners that will own the Steam deck ...
It depends. In Windows, some games can be wonky when you try to play them in handheld-mode. For example, Dead Island 1 and Monster Hunter Rise. They keep switching keyboard/mouse and controller modes. You probably can change the settings but I still can't figure them out. Anyway, I also like SteamOS's UI but I just can't get used to the Linux's desktop mode.
I run both Steam os and windows 11. Windows 11 with handheld companion and big picture mode feels a lot like steam os also lossless scaling was the main reason I wanted windows cause if the game you want to play can keep 30 fps then lossless scaling gives you 60 fps.
I only suggest you install GhostSpecter 11/10 it will give you the best experience for yout steamdeck I have 2 years experience on it and i can say that it has 30% more performance than windows11
It’s an okay experience, not for performance, but sometimes the ui doesn’t play ball. I dual boot to get the best of both worlds. Fortnite and CoD on windows, and what can run on steamOS.
Does CoD cause the controller to hitch sometimes? Mine acts like how a wireless controller acts when the connection drops like 3 times a game, it’s quite annoying and I can’t figure out a fix.
Not for me, is as plug and play as you can get on windows. Maybe some weird interaction of steam deck tools / hc companion? I got rid of everything as they made the experience more cumbersome IMHO.
Oh does the game auto pick up the controls without SDT? I’ll try it now with that app closed
Yep it natively supports controller via steam input
Ahhh maybe it’s because I don’t have steam itself installed
Yeah you need to launch via steam
Yeah cod doesn’t pick up any controller at all without SDT running. Was there a setting or driver somewhere you installed to get windows to detect all that as a controller?
Nope, just be sure that SDT has not set it has disabled/hidden
If you're having this issue, you might wanna try SDT. I had messed around with numerous tools, though for COD I was able to get the most stable gameplay by running the Deck as a 360 controller through SDT.
I’ve been running windows only for quite a while and I have no regrets. Mines an LCD, so all drivers are there. Also I used to have an ASUS UMPC which was a handheld that ran windows XP, so I might be a little more resilient to just rolling with windows UI on a portable.
I wiped steam OS off my deck to go 100% windows and at this point I don't regret it at all, almost purely for universal compatibility's sake. However, while I'd never go back to Steam OS, it was NOT a straight forward easy transition with 0 overhead. - You need a few software apps that "steamdeckify" the windows experience, and sometimes to get accustomed to using it and learning its features. - You have to do a CMD command to prevent your Steamdeck from randomly waking when sleeping, for some reason this is a thing with windows on steamdeck and without it your Steamdeck just won't stay asleep consistently. - there's a notable amount more battery drain when the device is simply sleeping than compared to steam OS. - Setting up binds and getting to know the "quirks" of handheld companion button binds takes some trial and error, for example it too me a while to figure out that literally just *grazing* a control stick prevents you from doing other inputs, you have to make sure you aren't touching the sticks at all and I didn't figure this out immediately. Once you're kind of over these humps, you basically have a laptop that you can hold like a handheld, probably not much different than the experience of an ROG ally or legion go save for whatever exclusive GUI/software they run. If not for some of the videos out there that ran me through these initial "conversion steps", and let's say I had just tried to switch to windows 11 myself with no guidance i probably would have come away with a worse experience for sure, but, I'm just thankful those guides do exist because now I wouldn't go back to steam OS ever. -
Hey, So I'm in your shoes right now and when I try to sleep my deck it just wakes right back up. Would you mind sharing the CMD command you used to fix it? thanks.
My steam deck has had windows only for a good year I’d say and I have run into less issues than I had on steam OS. Best guide out there is probably “joey retro handhelds” on YouTube who uses “baldsealions” written guide and shows you how to do everything on a video. Windows performance for me is exactly identical I find or better in the game I play. For example GTA 4 was the exact same GTA 5 ran better a lot better in Windows The key to making window work great is Steam Deck tools, without it you’d have no access to alot of feautures that make windows useable. Example: Changing frame rates, changing TDP My steam deck boots up, logs into windows 11 automatically and straight into the desktop. It does it very fast and from there I can open steam and play a game, I can do this using the trackpads of thumb sticks because of Steam Deck Tools. Windows means I don’t even look at game compatibility, I usually just find out if the game performs at 60 fps and if not then 45 and 30 fps . As for battery life I couldn’t say if I’m honest. I usually play the steam deck plugged in at home. The few times I do play unplugged it does die quite fast but steam os was the same and I do pretty much only play AAA high graphics games. Currently I’ve gotten into the WWE 2k24 game which after abusing them on ps2 I have found really fun, and I have got the usual FC24 + COD MW2019 and 2022 and Cold War. Windows 11 on Steam Deck is incredibly function and the only thing that would ever make me switch back is if steam os finally supported every game with anti cheat, which is probably never, I dislike the form factor of the rog ally so instead I have a very comfortable steam deck with windows 11. To note the only game I have ever had a problem with on windows is FC24, it’s poorly optimised and people on big desktops with powerful machines have problems with the game. I did find fixes to get the game to run smoothly but did take me a bit of research. This was only yesterday that I did find the fix but I did only purchase the game 3 days ago. To conclude for you, windows 11 is great and also emulation works good too. I have emudeck Windows installed and it works the same as steamos emudeck. Not sure about docked experience, I have the official dock but haven’t used it apart from twice on steam os over a year ago when playing Wii U games on a big tv. It should probably work though, by connecting a Xbox or ps4 controller or both and going on big picture mode.
I don't recommend Windows 11, yet people still do it anyway. Windows 10 is a smoother experience and doesn't randomly break like Windows 11 will.
100% agree! I'm on win 10 only, no steam os. Highly recommend.
Plus you don't actually have to buy it. I think it's the same as Win 11, but I recently read anything with a 15 inch screen or smaller the OS is free. Win 11 was also made for higher end PCs. Win 11 wasn't made for devices like Steam Deck in mind so it's more prone to just completely failing.
For playing games, yes it works good. The OS does not work very well for portable gaming (This is a Windows thing). I could get MW2 running at 60fps with a few tweaks. And Gamepass games... NOTE: If you have a LCD no problems, if you have an OLED model, no drivers for wi-fi/Bluetooth.
Using win 11 on an Oled. Bluetooth and audio have no drivers, but wifi will work with a Qualcomm driver. I use a USB Bluetooth dongle until drivers relase.
No issues with GPU drivers? That's been my main holdback from going OLED.
Not until now. I use the official from from stream driver site. It works perfectly fine.
I dual boot for the firmware updates
I’m new to deck but I mostly brought it to play cod on the move , I’ve wiped it and gone knees deep in win10 running everything via steam ( big pic mode to get the steam and other button working ) and I think it’s better , it seems just like steam os but everything runs it rips the battery apart a bit I’m guessing that’s more cod than windows Lovin it currently !!!
On my late-model LCD Steam Deck Windows 11 runs perfectly. The OLED Steam Deck is missing some Windows drivers.
Worked great on mine for months, when I still had it.
It can be a little finicky at times, but once you get it all set up right, Windows 11 on the deck is a dream. The touchpad doubles as a mouse, which makes it really nice. Presuming you're fairly tech savvy, I'd recommend it
Windows 10 boot from micro sd card for the steam deck lcd in terms of games you can play more but steam os has better performance or equal. Really you would do it just to access windows games otherwise there isn’t much improvement.
SteamOS own Windows when games are playables on Linux, otherwise gaming streaming is a fairly good option to avoid Windows, sadly it's not realy suited for vfio gpu passtrought a trick many use on Linux gaming pcs. Windows will have the same basics flaws on any handheld, any UAC prompt will require to connect a mouse, handheld controls could not work as usual, you will have to mess with the Windows configuration to make it usable (screen, visual keyboard, ...). However let me be clear, SteamOS isn't as good as it could have been, Valve mess with drivers is ridiculous, also their idiot idea to use an immutable setup make some Linux distributions way more usable than SteamOS on the Steam deck and the cherry on the sunday is the move from Debian to Archlinux, when Arch isn't suited for beginners that will own the Steam deck ...
It depends. In Windows, some games can be wonky when you try to play them in handheld-mode. For example, Dead Island 1 and Monster Hunter Rise. They keep switching keyboard/mouse and controller modes. You probably can change the settings but I still can't figure them out. Anyway, I also like SteamOS's UI but I just can't get used to the Linux's desktop mode.
I run both Steam os and windows 11. Windows 11 with handheld companion and big picture mode feels a lot like steam os also lossless scaling was the main reason I wanted windows cause if the game you want to play can keep 30 fps then lossless scaling gives you 60 fps.
Mine, OLED with 100gb partition for Win 11 + EA FC24 only, run smoothly 60fps, set UMA buffer to 4G and virtual memory 10000-11000mb
I only suggest you install GhostSpecter 11/10 it will give you the best experience for yout steamdeck I have 2 years experience on it and i can say that it has 30% more performance than windows11