SteamOS 3.2 Beta Brings Improved Fan Control, Experimental Refresh Rate Switching

[kokoko3k]

Dirty script for xorg (with wayland is not so easy) to test modelines.
requires cvt12 for reduced blanking (better 'overclock'):

koko@Gozer# cat scripts/refresh.rate.custom.sh
#!/bin/bash

if [ ! $# = 3 ] ; then
  echo "Usage: $(basename $0) <WxH> <Refresh> <Output name or ALL>"
  echo Example: $(basename $0) 1280x1024 75 ALL
  echo Example: $(basename $0) 1280x1024 75 DVI-D-0
  exit
fi

w=$(cut -d "x" -f 1 <<< "$1")
h=$(cut -d "x" -f 2 <<< "$1")
output=$3
hz=$2

#Genera la modeline
#GTF_OUT=$(gtf $w $h $hz|grep Modeline)
GTF_OUT=$(cvt12 $w $h $hz -b |grep Modeline)
MODE_NAME=koko_"$w"x"$h"_"$hz"
TIMINGS=$(echo $GTF_OUT|grep Modeline|cut -d \" -f 3)
MODELINE="$MODE_NAME $TIMINGS"

echo $MODELINE
#aggiungo al pool:
xrandr --newmode $MODELINE

#Aggiunge e setta il modo custom a tutti i monitor
if [ $output = "ALL" ] ; then
  MONITORS=$(xrandr|grep " conne"|cut -d " " -f 1|tr \\n " ")
    else
  MONITORS=$output
fi

for MONITOR in $MONITORS ; do
  xrandr --addmode $MONITOR $MODE_NAME
  xrandr --output $MONITOR --mode $MODE_NAME
done



sleep 1
echo "Press a key in 5 seconds to keep settings"
read -n 1 -t 5
if [ ! $? == 0 ]; then
  #Cleanup:
  for MONITOR in $MONITORS ; do
    xrandr --output $MONITOR --preferred
    xrandr --delmode $MONITOR $MODE_NAME
    xrandr --rmmode $MODE_NAME
    xrandr --output HDMI2 --left-of HDMI1
  done
fi

[Calinou]

This is a pretty nice thing to expose – I wish desktop Linux platforms exposed low refresh rate more readily. Refresh rate adjustments should be pretty interesting for emulation and retro gaming, where framerates aren't always 30 or 60.
It would also be interesting to see if the display could be overclocked to 70 Hz, which can be useful for some DOS games. That said, I'd expect it to be a lottery for a +10 Hz increase on a 60 Hz display.

When you're just on the verge of hitting 60 FPS but can't lock to it reliably, targeting 50 FPS is also a good idea.

[skeevy420]

NGL, at this point I'd rather them call it the SteamDeckOS than SteamOS. Just feels like a big tease when we're at version 3.2 without a general purpose installer while calling it a beta. Come on now.

I really wish they'd make me look like an asshole by releasing an ISO today. Finger's crossed.

[phoronix]

Phoronix: SteamOS 3.2 Beta Brings Improved Fan Control, Experimental Refresh Rate Switching

Valve overnight released a beta of SteamOS 3.2 with some notable improvements for Steam Deck users...

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=SteamOS-3.2-Beta