Why won’t Steam Machine support HDMI 2.1? Digging in on the display standard drama.

Z

ZenithDash

Valve's Steam Machine Hardware Hobbled by HDMI 2.1 Driver Limitations

When Valve unveiled its upcoming Steam Machine hardware last month, gamers may have been surprised to see that the official specs listed support for HDMI 2.0 output instead of the updated, higher-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 standard introduced in 2017.

According to the company, while the hardware itself actually supports HDMI 2.1, Valve is struggling to offer full support for this standard due to Linux drivers that are still a work-in-progress on the software side. The issue lies with open source AMD drivers used by SteamOS, which cannot fully implement features specific to HDMI 2.1.

The HDMI Forum has officially blocked any open source implementation of HDMI 2.1, rendering it impossible for Valve's hardware to take full advantage of the higher bandwidth and improved color accuracy this standard offers.

Valve has had to validate the Steam Machine's HDMI 2.1 capabilities via Windows during testing and is working on unblocking these limitations in SteamOS. They have managed to increase the limit of HDMI 2.0 resolution and frame rate limits to support "4K @ 120Hz" output, thanks to a technique called chroma sub-sampling.

However, this workaround compresses luminance data that defines the color range of the video signal, affecting overall picture quality, especially in games with strong text focus. SteamOS users can use DisplayPort 1.4 output as an alternative, which supports even more bandwidth and can be converted to an HDMI signal using a simple dongle.

The lack of full HDMI 2.1 support also limits how the Steam Machine will handle adaptive sync refresh rates. Valve currently supports AMD's FreeSync standard over HDMI but is unable to support the generalized HDMI-VRR allowed by the 2.1 standard due to driver issues.

While these video standards issues may not be major problems for most players, they highlight some of the design points Valve needs to address when building new Linux-based gaming hardware.
 
So I think it's kinda weird that a company like Valve can't just get their Steam Machine to play with the latest HDMI 2.1 tech 🤔. I mean, we're already seeing so many amazing gaming PCs and consoles out there using this standard. It'd be nice if Steam Machines could take advantage of it too, especially for gamers who want 4K @ 120Hz output 🔥.

The fact that Valve has to use a workaround like chroma sub-sampling is pretty frustrating 🤦‍♂️. I mean, I get that the Linux drivers are still not fully implemented, but can't they just work on it? It's like they're being held back by the open source AMD drivers 😒.

I'm curious to see how this will affect SteamOS users in the long run 💡. Will they be able to use DisplayPort 1.4 output as a workaround? And what about adaptive sync refresh rates 🤔? Only time will tell, I guess 👀.

Overall, it's not a major problem for most players, but for gamers who want the best gaming experience possible, this is something to keep an eye on 🔍.
 
Ugh, it's like they're testing our patience already lol 🙄. Can't believe the tech giants can't even nail down a simple HDMI standard right? I mean, 4K @ 120Hz is still super sweet, but come on Valve, you're better than this! 😅 At least they're working on it and trying to find workarounds. It's all good that users have DisplayPort as an alternative, but still, shouldn't we be pushing for better tech from our faves? 💻👀
 
😒 I'm kinda bummed about this one... Back in my day, we thought we were living in a golden age of tech and innovation... but I guess that's not entirely true 🤦‍♂️. Anyway, what's the deal with Valve and their Steam Machine? They're trying to play catch-up on HDMI 2.1 support, but it's like they're stuck in the slow lane 🚗. Linux drivers are still a mess, and now we're seeing compromises on picture quality because of it... I mean, who wants to watch 4K at 120Hz with all that chroma sub-sampling nonsense? 🤔 Not me, that's for sure 👎. Can't they just get the hardware right from the start? It's like they're trying to make SteamOS users feel like beta testers or something... 😒
 
I'm thinking that this is a pretty weird situation considering how much gamers love their high-end tech 🔥💻. I mean, what's up with the HDMI 2.1 limitations on the Steam Machine? It's like they're holding back or something... 🤔 Valve should've figured out these issues before releasing it, especially since they were touting its "next-gen" features 📺.

I can understand why they'd want to support 4K @ 120Hz output and all that jazz, but compressing luminance data is a bummer 🤕. And don't even get me started on the adaptive sync thing – it's like they're stuck in the dark ages or something 🔥. Still, I guess this just goes to show how hard it can be to develop Linux drivers for gaming hardware 🤓.

Anyway, I'm curious to see how Valve manages to iron out these issues and get full HDMI 2.1 support on their Steam Machine 💻👀. Maybe they'll figure out a way to make it work without sacrificing picture quality too much... fingers crossed! 👍
 
I'm so bummed about this 😔... I mean, who doesn't want the best picture quality possible while gaming? The fact that HDMI 2.1 is being limited by the drivers just feels like a bummer, you know? 🤔 I know Valve's trying to work around it with chroma sub-sampling and all that, but it's still not the same as having full support for the standard.

I've heard that DisplayPort 1.4 is a viable alternative, though... that's kinda cool, right? Using a dongle to convert it to HDMI? It's like having an extra tool in your gaming toolbox 🤓. But yeah, it's just not ideal when you're invested in the Steam Machine ecosystem.

I guess this is a good reminder for Valve to keep pushing for better drivers and more support for their hardware 🚀. We gamers are pretty particular about our tech, after all 😅.
 
🤔 I think this is a bit of a bummer for gamers who want the best possible picture quality on their Steam Machines. I mean, who doesn't love 4K @ 120Hz? 🎮 But yeah, it's not like it's gonna ruin the gaming experience or anything. The workaround with chroma sub-sampling might affect text focus in some games, but that's a minor trade-off if you ask me. And let's be real, most people probably won't even notice the difference. I think Valve is just trying to make it work with what they've got and are actively working on unblocking those limitations. It's not like they're being lazy or anything 😒. Maybe this will push them to invest more in Linux drivers and get that HDMI 2.1 support sorted out eventually. Fingers crossed! 🤞
 
Ugh, don't even get me started on this HDMI 2.1 thing 🙄... I remember playing games on my old PC back in the day and being blown away by high-resolution graphics, but now it's like they're holding us back with these outdated standards. I mean, come on Valve, can't you just give your users what they want? It's 2025, after all 🤯. And don't even get me started on this chroma sub-sampling business - it's like they're trying to rip the picture apart pixel by pixel. And what's up with DisplayPort 1.4 being a "better" option? That just feels like a cop-out. Can't SteamOS users just have full HDMI 2.1 support out of the box? It's not that hard, guys 🤔. Anyway, I guess this is just another example of how gaming hardware has become such a frustrating, technology-limited experience...
 
Ugh, this just gets worse 🤯. So Steam Machine can only do 4K @ 120Hz with chroma sub-sampling? That's not even close to true 4K quality. And now they're telling us that if we want real 4K experience we gotta use DisplayPort 1.4 and get a dongle, lol what a pain 🤦‍♂️. Valve really dropped the ball on this one 👎.
 
Ugh, imagine having a brand new gaming PC and it doesn't support the latest tech 🤯... like I said before, its really frustrating when companies struggle with supporting the latest features in their products 💻. In this case, Valve's Steam Machine is missing out on some sick 4K @ 120Hz output capabilities due to HDMI 2.1 driver limitations 😞. But hey, they're working on it! 👍 It's all about trade-offs between picture quality and video standards, I guess 🤔. For now, we'll just have to deal with a workaround that compresses luminance data 💸. Not ideal for gamers who want the best visuals possible 🔥.
 
I'm low-key annoyed that Valve's Steam Machine is stuck with HDMI 2.0 instead of the newer 2.1 standard 🤔. I mean, it's not like they didn't have enough time to iron out those Linux drivers... and now we're paying for it in terms of picture quality 😐. And don't even get me started on the adaptive sync refresh rate thing - it's a no-go due to driver issues 🙄.

I get that these things take time, but still... I've been waiting for Steam Machines to be released for ages and this is how it pans out? 🤦‍♂️. At least they're working on unblocking the limitations in SteamOS, so there's some hope yet 😊. Still gonna have to keep an eye on this one 👀.
 
😐 u know what's really buggin me about this? it's how valve has to get creative with workarounds to make their steam machine run smoothly 🤔 like, i get it, they can't have full support for hdi 2.1 just yet, but all these limitations & compromises are gonna affect the gaming experience, especially on lower-end hardware 🚫 it's already a stretch to get 4k at 120fps with chroma subsampling... what about future-proofing? aren't they worried about being left behind in terms of tech standards? 📺 anyway, i hope they can iron out these issues soon, this is really annoying for us gamers 🤯
 
Ugh, this is so typical of Valve 🤦‍♂️... think they can just release their own hardware and expect everyone to be happy with whatever they throw out there? The fact that HDMI 2.1 support is hobbled due to driver limitations is just a huge bummer for enthusiasts who actually care about high-quality gaming experiences. And don't even get me started on the chroma sub-sampling workaround... that's like, totally gonna mess up the picture quality, dude 😒. I mean, I know it's not like Valve didn't do their research or anything, but still... a Steam Machine that can barely handle the latest and greatest video standards? Not exactly what I'd call a game-changer 🙄.
 
omg u guys i cant even believe valve just dropped the steam machine with hdmii 2.0 lol how are we supposed to enjoy 4k @ 120hz when its all compressed cuz of chroma sub-sampling? and what's up with adaptive sync refresh rates? they cant even use the full potential of hdmii 1.1 🤯

anyway im still hyped about the steam machine and ill try out displayport 1.4 as an alternative, thats like the next level lol 💻🔥
 
🤔 I gotta say, it's kinda bummer that Valve's Steam Machine is having trouble with HDMI 2.1 support. I mean, who doesn't want the best picture quality in their games? 🎮 It's like they're being held back by software limitations. And I'm not sure if this workaround really solves the problem or just makes things worse... I've had some issues with my old gaming rig and it was always about the drivers, you know? 💻 Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how Valve gets it sorted out and what kind of support they can offer for SteamOS users. Maybe they'll come up with a solution that's even better than HDMI 2.1... 🤓
 
I gotta say, this is a pretty big deal for the Steam Machine community 🤔. I mean, who doesn't want their games running at 4K @ 120Hz? But, at the same time, it's not like they're not doing anything about it... yet 💪. It's just that Valve is working on this stuff, but it's taking a while to get there.

And honestly, I think some of these limitations might actually work in their favor 😏. I mean, think about it - most gamers aren't even pushing the limits of what their hardware can do anyway. They're probably happy with 1080p @ 144Hz or something. So maybe this is just a case of Valve not overpromising and underdelivering... or maybe they are trying to encourage people to invest in some better hardware 🤓.

Either way, it's an interesting situation, and I'm sure we'll see what Valve comes up with next 🔴.
 
I'm so bummed about this news 🤕 Steam Machine's got all the specs right, but it sounds like Valve is having a tough time getting HDMI 2.1 to work seamlessly with their OS. I get that they're working on it, but can't we just have full support from day one? 💻 It's like they're using a workaround, chroma sub-sampling and all that jazz... I mean, don't get me wrong, the tech is cool and all, but picture quality matters! 😐 And what about those who use DisplayPort 1.4 output as an alternative? They should be able to have the best of both worlds, right? 🤔
 
ugh, this is gonna suck... like, what's the point of even having a high-end gaming PC if it can't even handle the latest HDMI standard? I mean, i know valve's been working on steamos and all that jazz, but come on, they're still struggling with linux drivers. and now they're just using workarounds to get by... chroma sub-sampling, really? sounds like a bunch of techy mumbo-jumbo to me 🤦‍♂️.

and don't even get me started on the adaptive sync thing... i mean, who needs that fancy refresh rate stuff, right? but no, valve's all like "oh, we'll just stick with freeSync"... meanwhile, the real gamers are over here using displayport 1.4 as an alternative. and a dongle to boot? ugh, this whole thing is just a mess 🤯.

anyway, i guess it's just another example of how the tech industry can't even get its act together... like, when are they gonna figure out how to make gaming hardware that actually works seamlessly? 🙄
 
man this sucks 🤕 but at least valve is working on it 📈 and who knows maybe one day they'll find a way to get steamos running smoothly with all the bells and whistles 🎉 plus they're giving us options like displayport 1.4 which is a win 🙌 so let's not sweat the small stuff too much, right? 😊
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top