Valve Attempts Improved Linux NVIDIA GPU Experience: Steam Beta Client for Data

Urian B., Tech Times 19 May 2023, 01:05 am

Valve, the company behind the popular Steam gaming platform, is trying to enhance the experience for NVIDIA GPU owners on Linux through its latest Steam Beta Client for desktops.

Smoother Gaming Experience: Updates for Linux NVIDIA Users in Steam Beta Client

According to the story by Gaming On Linux, NVIDIA users encountered significant performance issues, particularly with the New Big Picture Mode. However, the latest update aims to address these concerns and provide a smoother gaming experience.

The Linux-specific improvements in the latest Beta release include several fixes. Upon process startup, mouse input functions correctly in the Store/Community pages, resolving a previously reported issue, as fans can see more of on Steam Community.

Additionally, mouse input in the top area of the window is now functional when dpi scaling is enabled. Furthermore, hidpi scaling, which ensures proper display scaling on high-resolution screens, now works as intended on Nvidia GPUs.

Immediate Log-Out from KDE Plasma during New Big Picture Mode Load

Another notable improvement is enabling hardware acceleration on Nvidia GPUs, which should result in better overall performance. However, it's worth noting that some visual artifacts may appear in Big Picture mode when using Nvidia GPUs.

However, this can be mitigated by using the command "-disable-desktop-gl-fallback" to restore the previous behavior. Despite these reported fixes, some users, including the author of this article, have not noticed any tangible improvements in performance.

In fact, attempting to load the New Big Picture Mode in one instance led to an immediate log-out from KDE Plasma. This highlights that the user experience may still vary, and how others will fare with the update remains to be seen.

Reduced Rumble Request Frequency for Better Performance

Readers are encouraged to share their experiences and insights in the comments section. Besides the improvements specific to Linux and Nvidia GPUs, the latest Steam Beta Client includes other general fixes and enhancements.

Notable among them is the resolution of an issue where the Library pane would appear black when starting Steam with the "-silent" parameter, which is used for an automatic startup with the computer.

Addressing Performance and Accessibility in Steam Beta Client

Additionally, links in the End-User License Agreement (EULA) are now clickable, providing easier access to relevant information. Context menus and dropdown options have also been adjusted to prevent overlap with the bottom bar, ensuring better accessibility.

Lastly, the update reduces the frequency of rumble requests in Steam Input, which can help reduce latency in gyro over Bluetooth setups. Fans can get a better picture of how gaming on Linux looks like with Valve Steam with these types of videos uploaded on YouTube.

Anticipating Enhanced Gaming Environment for Linux Users

Valve's continuous efforts to improve the Steam gaming experience for Linux users, particularly those with NVIDIA GPUs, demonstrate the company's commitment to delivering a more optimized and enjoyable gaming environment.

As users continue to explore the latest Steam Beta Client, it will be interesting to see how these updates translate into enhanced performance and increased user satisfaction.