Valve has released official Windows 11 drivers for the Steam Machine but advises caution regarding its installation. Early adopters have reported a performance boost with Windows 11 compared to the default SteamOS. YouTuber ETA Prime's analysis showed that Windows 11 matched or surpassed SteamOS in certain scenarios. The Steam Machine is powered by an AMD Custom 6-core 12-thread CPU, comparable to an AMD Ryzen 5600 non-X model. In benchmark tests, the Ryzen 5600X outperformed the Steam Machine's CPU by about 14% in the Cinebench 2024 multi-core test.
In gaming performance tests:
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Both Windows 11 and SteamOS performed similarly, with Windows 11 slightly faster at 1080p and 4K.
- Cyberpunk 2077: Windows 11 excelled at 4K, while SteamOS performed better at 1080p and 1440p.
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Windows 11 led with a 7% advantage at 4K.
These results suggest that Windows 11 could be a strong gaming OS for the Steam Machine, while SteamOS continues to demonstrate its own strengths.