Steam Deck Windows Trials, Artesian Builds, and Tech News
The Steam Deck Windows Experience
The long-awaited Windows drivers for the Steam Deck have finally arrived, revealing a mixed bag of results. Despite Valve's transparency, running Windows is not a supported use case and presents significant hurdles.
Challenges and Performance
• Hardware Support Issues: Windows does not have built-in drivers for Wi-Fi or high-quality audio, requiring workarounds or additional peripherals. Furthermore, the lack of an FTPM support prevents official Windows 11 installation, keeping users on Windows 10 for now.
• Navigation Woes: Navigating the operating system with the deck's controller is frustrating. Full-screen applications often hang, and without a dedicated task manager or accessible control shortcuts, the experience is described as "rough."
• Performance Deficit: In a "bloodbath" comparison, Linux (via SteamOS) consistently outperformed Windows in all tested titles. Valve has gone to great lengths to optimize DXVK translation layers and shader caching specifically for the Deck, resulting in a superior experience that Windows struggle to match currently.
The Collapse of Artesian Builds
The system integrator Artesian Builds has effectively imploded following a public controversy involving its CEO, Noah Katz.
"The thing that's really troubling about this one is just how absolutely idiotic the collapse of this company was."
— Stephen Burke (Gamers Nexus)
• Management Failures: The company suffered from poor leadership decisions, culminating in frozen bank accounts and the suspension of all staff.
• Advice for Customers: Users who recently purchased systems are strongly urged to initiate bank chargebacks immediately as the company has ceased normal operations.
Industry Speculation: The Metaverse
The pair discussed the current obsession with the Metaverse, dismissing it as a largely hollow marketing term.
• They argued that the lack of interoperability between competing platforms renders the concept fragmented and non-functional.
• They highlighted the XKCD perspective on standards proliferation, where a push for a single standard often results in yet another competing standard rather than a unified ecosystem.
Quick Hits
• Apple Peak Performance: The M1 Ultra architecture demonstrates a massive leap in bandwidth via UltraFusion technology, allowing two chips to operate as one. The new Mac Studio and Studio Display were noted for their power, though the panel's $1600 price point and restrictive stand options drew criticism.
• AMD and Ryzen 5700X3D: AMD has requested motherboard manufacturers to disable overclocking options for this particular chip, likely due to technical limitations imposed by the massive 3D V-Cache.