SteamOS on Nvidia Jetson TK1

[Danmar]

There is a new development board, called the "Jetson TK1", released for testing by Nvidia.

It is an interesting piece of hardware, as it comes equipped with Tegra K1 SOC:
- 4-Plus-1 quad-core ARM Cortex A15 CPU.
- Kepler GPU with 192 CUDA cores.
- 2 GB x16 memory with 64 bit width.
- 16 GB 4.51 eMMC memory.

* For full specs visit: https://developer.nvidia.com/jetson-tk1

The thing is... It supports Linux for Tegra, and more specifically, it supports OpenGL 4.3 (OpenGL 2.1 is needed for most SteamOS games).

* More info on Linux for Tegra can be found in: https://developer.nvidia.com/linux-tegra-rel-19

Now, I'm no expert in this subject, but I wonder if Valve could implement some kind of support for this platform, since the specs are pretty much similar to a regular PC (It would only be suitable for some light gaming though, but Linux doesn't have many AAA titles yet, anyway), and it already supports Linux in some way (again, I'm not familiar with the subject).

I think this has a lot of potential for a really small form factor rig at an extremely low price.

* More info about support for the platform: https://developer.nvidia.com/jetson-tk1-support

Could it be done? Thanks.

[Balderick]

It probably could be done it is just there may not be enough need to. Some relevant stuff and speculation regarding Steam going mobile and mobile gaming devices can be found http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse/discussions/0/558751660858225555/

I find it fascinating the shield 2 will be amongst the first devices to have the T K1 mobile chip which will be available later this year bringing PC games/gaming to mobile devices as well as Valve are porting Portal to Android.

I personally think a Steam for Android client would be appealable to many more people than any x86 or x86_64 machine running SteamOS would/could/will be.... that is not forgetting the x86 or x86_64 tablets that currently can run Steam client/SteamOS

[blackout24]

Even if the Steam Client had an ARM port none of the games are compiled for ARMv7 only x86 or x86_64 so it wouldn't help anyway.

[Balderick]

Trine2 dev is one example of CURRENTLY running game on the new T K1. The dev mentions in some reports how easy it was to recompile their existing linux port of game to android. No need for steam client..... The new Tegra mobile chip was not named Tegra 6 for a reason - it is a game changer (no pun intended)

[Danmar]

Originally posted by blackout24:

Even if the Steam Client had an ARM port none of the games are compiled for ARMv7 only x86 or x86_64 so it wouldn't help anyway.

So by this you mean that even if I install the regular Linux for Tegra that Nvidia provides, and install Steam like I would on any Linux PC, the games still won't work? Even if is supposedly "full Linux" and even if it has a regular PC GPU (Kepler) with OpenGL support?

[Balderick]

Possibly blackout24 could be talking of android in general and is not aware how much more the new T K1 are capable of!? IDNK

Going by the simple recompiling of linux port of a game to work on T K1 device - the same would stand for steam for linux client/SteamOS IDNK - just speculating.

Am not a dev but i think the SoC Jetson is intended for more industrial type jobs like automotive or medical applications

another interesting point/feature of the new T K1 mobile chip devices is x64 android.....

[Warbjörn]

Blackout24 knew what he was talking about. Capable or not, the TK1 is pretty much speaking a different language.

ARM processors function completely differently than your traditional computer processors. Most games on your library will not run, nor will the developers spend the time to port their games over (for now). I suspect Trine was "easy" to port over because it probably was developed on a multi-platform developing tool like Unity3d.

Those who configure their own game engines will have to either consider the port ahead of time, or pretty much recreate the game.

[directhex]

Originally posted by Danmar:

Originally posted by blackout24:

Even if the Steam Client had an ARM port none of the games are compiled for ARMv7 only x86 or x86_64 so it wouldn't help anyway.

So by this you mean that even if I install the regular Linux for Tegra that Nvidia provides, and install Steam like I would on any Linux PC, the games still won't work? Even if is supposedly "full Linux" and even if it has a regular PC GPU (Kepler) with OpenGL support?

Correct. Steam wouldn't actually install. Tegra has a totally different, incompatible type of processor (ARM) compared to what you're used to (i386 or AMD64). Steam for Linux is only compiled for i386, and the games are only compiled for i386 or i386 plus AMD64. ARM is what you have in your phone. It's a low-power optimized design.

[Balderick]

Originally posted by Danmar:

So by this you mean that even if I install the regular Linux for Tegra that Nvidia provides, and install Steam like I would on any Linux PC, the games still won't work? Even if is supposedly "full Linux" and even if it has a regular PC GPU (Kepler) with OpenGL support?

Bold by me

@directhex, Thane and blackout24 please review https://developer.nvidia.com/linux-tegra-rel-19


Looks to me Steam for Linux client would run on "Kernel version 3.10.24" which is what Danmar is asking! Same for any game or app that supports "OpenGL 4.3"

Ubuntu 12.04 runs on Logans's girlfriend Kayla (seeing is believing) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kIQWWJs_po&feature=youtu.be&t=8m43s

It would appear the compromises having to be made when choosing mobile devices over portable or desktop devics have been hugely diminished with the arrival of T K1. (Jetson SoC available to devs for less than $200 and T K1 mobile chip devices available to public later this year)

Some very good food for thought can be found http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-in-theory-steamos-and-the-opengl-factor
PC gaming IS going mobile :-)

[powerarmour]

I'd doubt a full blown SteamOS would be coming to ARM in the near future, but a port of the client with IHS might be a feasible option.

[directhex]

Originally posted by 40-1PvtBalderick:

@directhex, Thane and blackout24 please review https://developer.nvidia.com/linux-tegra-rel-19


Looks to me Steam for Linux client would run on "Kernel version 3.10.24" which is what Danmar is asking! Same for any game or app that supports "OpenGL 4.3"

Running Linux is not enough.

Running OpenGL is not enough.

"Linux for x86" can't run the same apps as "Linux for PowerPC" can't run the same apps as "Linux for Itanium" can't run the same apps as "Linux for IBM zSeries" can't run the same apps as "Linux for PowerPC" can't run the same apps as "Linux for ARM" can't run the same apps as "Linux for MIPS" can't run the same apps as "Linux for AMD64" can't run the same apps as "Linux for SuperH4" can't run the same apps as "Linux for SPARC".

UNLESS the application is recompiled for the target CPU architecture (which assumes the app is portable out of the box, which isn't already true).

The Steam for Linux client is only compiled for i386 processors. All games on Steam for Linux are compiled for i386, or i386 plus AMD64. SteamOS is compiled for AMD64 (AMD64 processors can also run i386 apps).

Tegra can't run Steam for Linux, unless it emulates an x86 PC. Which is far from fast.

[Balderick]

Originally posted by directhex:

Tegra can't run Steam for Linux, unless it emulates an x86 PC. Which is far from fast.

Stand corrected once again.

hmmm maybe a Steam client for (linux for) Tegra would be better than wine!? It is amazing Wine for ARM exists though :) http://wiki.winehq.org/ARM

Maybe in a few years time there may be such a thing as Steam client for Tegra and/or Steam client for Android but i guess that depends how successful the T K1 devices and Valves's Portal for android port prove to be!?

[NeptNutz]

Originally posted by powerarmour:

I'd doubt a full blown SteamOS would be coming to ARM in the near future, but a port of the client with IHS might be a feasible option.

I'm in this camp.

"Steam! Steam clients everywhere!"

[lev258]

The client means almost nothing. You would also need to port the games to ARM platform, and we haven't even talked about performance yet.

[dubbsta78]

does anyone think with jedroid android os and lime lite will work

link to jedroid: http://jetson.co/

[Neato]

I am going to agree, these are interesting systems. Though as Balderick said, the need just isn't there. A stand alone system would interest me personally, though I can imagine a Wii U version of Steam Machine with these. Making a mobile console, with the ability to play a large list of game, is always a good sales pitch. Though it being limited to that, won't offer enough for increase sales. As a mobile console, with the ability to work as a controller/touch screen, with a Steam machine would be nice. MMOs, RPGs, Turn Based game even FPS could use it as a secondary controller/touch screen monitor. Putting menus, radars, map layouts and what ever you can imagine on that, while you use your typical keyboard and mouse/controller would offer something more. I think it has a lot of possibilities, untapped before in the PC market. Imagine create sell.