Intel Arc B580 on Steam OS: A New Option for Linux Gaming

Introduction

The Intel Arc B580 just did something Intel said it could not do six months ago. It is now running official Steam OS. This opens up a new path for Linux gaming that was previously limited to Radeon cards. The experience is not perfect, but it is functional, and it is possible to game at 1440p without workarounds.

This review covers the Intel Arc B580 running official Steam OS 3.9 on the main beta channel. The system also includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus CPU with 18 cores and 18 threads. The B570 is also compatible, though this testing focused on the higher-end B580 with 12 GB of VRAM for the raw performance gains.

Steam OS Support for Intel Arc

Steam OS 3.9 now boots directly on the Intel Arc B580. No workarounds are needed. The system reports that it is running directly on the Intel Arc B580, and the experience is stable enough for daily gaming.

This is a significant step forward. In the past, the only way to run Steam OS properly with all of its features was with a Radeon card. Now that Intel Arc is getting full support, it becomes a viable option for a wider range of users.

XMX Engines and Upscaling Limitations

The Intel Arc B580 includes 160 XMX AI engines. These engines handle a wide array of AI tasks, but for gaming, the main benefit is upscaling through XeSS, Intel’s scaling technology. XeSS renders a game at a lower resolution and uses an AI model to predict what the higher resolution version should look like, making all calculations on the fly.

Unfortunately, on Steam OS and Linux in general, Intel’s open-source graphics driver does not have the code needed to communicate with those XMX engines. XeSS still works, but it runs on the GPU cores instead of the XMX engines. This means it is not going to work as well or look as good as it does on Windows, where the XMX engines work out of the box.

At 1440p with XeSS set to quality, the difference is not huge. But once you move up to the performance preset, the degradation is noticeable compared to Windows. The same limitation applies to XeSS multi-frame generation, which is one of the best features of these Intel Arc GPUs given their price. With the XMX engines not working in Steam OS, multi-frame generation is also not working. If you want frame generation right now, you will be stuck with FSR frame generation, which does work quite well with these cards.

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p with the high preset and XeSS 2.0 set to quality delivers mid-70s on average. This is pretty much spot-on to what the same card and CPU achieve in Windows, where the card gets anywhere from around 75 up to 90 FPS depending on location in the game.

Cyberpunk is very well optimized, especially through the Proton layer for Linux and Steam OS, and that optimization seems to transfer over to this Arc card. XeSS still works here in Steam OS, but it is working on a hardware level, using the GPU cores for upscaling instead of the XMX engines. FSR also works if you prefer that route, but XeSS remains the personal preference for its sharper, cleaner results.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered at 1440p

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered at 1440p high with XeSS set to balanced delivers mid-60s on average. This game needed a bit more scaling. With XeSS enabled, there are some weird issues with particle effects. Every once in a while, a glitch appears, which is definitely not normal. The same setup on Windows 11 delivers mid-70s on average with the same settings, same CPU, and same Arc B580.

The glitch happens with flame arrows and is definitely noticeable. If you swap over to FSR, the glitch is totally gone. FSR is a viable option if you want to avoid the particle effect issues, but sticking with XeSS is also reasonable if you prefer Intel’s scaling technology.

Fallout 4 at Ultra Settings

Fallout 4 at ultra settings and 1440p is not an issue to run at 60 FPS. The refresh rate had to be changed from 1440p 144 to 1440p 60 in the Steam OS settings, because the game defaulted to only 48 FPS. This has been seen on Radeon cards before and appears to be a Steam OS issue.

The game does not hit the GPU very hard. It is an older game, but at ultra 1440p, the wattage on this card ranges anywhere from 35 up to around 79 watts. Running a newer AAA game will peg that out up to around 120 watts.

Elden Ring at Maximum Settings

Elden Ring at maximum settings and 1440p worked great. This is a game that does not have any kind of scaling built in, which is pretty odd, but it is not needed here because the game runs at native 1440p maximum settings and is super smooth.

Seeing this game up at max settings at 1440p really opens the whole game up. It looks amazing, especially compared to running it on lower-end integrated GPUs at low or medium settings and 800p to 1200p resolutions.

Forza Horizon 6 at 1440p

Forza Horizon 6 at 1440p high settings with no scaling averages around 74 FPS with the B580 in Steam OS. Every once in a while, there are some dips, but it never goes under 60 FPS. Adding some XeSS or, in this case since the XMX engines are not working, some FSR would really help alleviate any of those dips. In Windows, this game is up in the mid-80s.

With most games, there is going to be a hit because they are not running natively. The Proton layer adds overhead, but it is totally possible to run Steam OS on the B580 right now. The B570, with its 10 GB of VRAM, is not as powerful as the B580, but it might do a pretty decent job as well.

Buying Advice

The Intel Arc B580 is a compelling option for anyone who wants to run Steam OS on an Intel GPU. It delivers playable 1440p performance across a range of titles, from older games like Fallout 4 to demanding AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077. The main limitation right now is that the XMX engines are not fully utilized on Linux, which affects XeSS quality and disables multi-frame generation.

For those on a tighter budget, the Intel Arc B570 offers a similar experience with 10 GB of VRAM and slightly lower performance. It is a reasonable choice if you are willing to accept the trade-offs in raw performance.

If you are already invested in the Windows ecosystem, these cards work out of the box with full XMX engine support. But if you are looking to move to Steam OS or Linux, the B580 is now a very viable option, and future updates should only improve the experience as the XMX engines get proper support.

Conclusion

The Intel Arc B580 running official Steam OS is a significant milestone. It is not perfect, and the XMX engine limitations mean you lose some upscaling quality and multi-frame generation. But the core experience works, and it is possible to game at 1440p across a variety of titles.

As updates continue to roll out, the gap between Windows and Steam OS performance should narrow. For now, the B580 is a solid choice for Linux gamers who want an Intel GPU, and the B570 offers a more budget-friendly alternative. If you are interested in seeing more games running on the B580 or the B570 inside of Steam OS, keep an eye out for future coverage.