Steam Linux client

You can't discuss Linux-PC gaming without discussing Steam. Steam is a digital distribution service that is well known among the gaming community.

I have looked around the all around the web for info on steam Linux client and I noticed no one talks about it that much. More than 3,000 Linux games are now available on Steam. With Steam installed on your computer, installing games is simple. Any Steam game with Linux support should run on steam Linux client. Open the app, use the Search feature in the top-right or simply browse for a game you want. On the games, page check the system requirements. Look for the Tux logo, the  Linux penguin, as an indicator that the game can be installed. If a game isn’t available in Linux, then Steam will inform you. How long it takes to install a game depends largely on your Internet connection speed, with larger titles take a really long time to download and install.


The cool thing about Steam is Big Picture mode. Big Picture mode is a big user interface, which optimizes the Steam display to work on high-definition televisions.
I was able to control Steam with my Xbox 360 gamepad on my 37intch HDTV. Big picture mode is gamepad friendly. Gamepad support includes but not limited to XBox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support, as well as support for third-party PlayStation 4 controllers like those from MadCatz, Armor, HORI along with the Steam Controller.

Before getting you started with Steam on your GNU+Linux device, meets the minimum hardware requirements published by Steam developers Valve. Steam requires an Internet connection for digital delivery, the faster the better, and the latest graphics driver.

MINIMUM:

OS: Linux Kernel 3.0 or above
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8Ghz or equivalent
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: OpenGL 3.0 support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable)
Hard Disk Space: 500 GB HD space
Input: Keyboard/Mouse

RECOMMENDED:

OS: Linux Kernel 4.0 or above
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K/AMD RYZEN 3 1300X or newer architecture are recommended
Memory: 8-16 GB RAM
Graphics: OpenGL 4.6+ support/Vulkan
Hard Disk Space: 1 TB HD space
Input: Keyboard/Mouse Gamepad

It wasn't very hard or expensive to build the Steam Box A or B. It is more of a case of know-exactly-what-you-are-doing. You don't want to get the wrong parts for the build because it can cost you more than it should. You just have to do decent research. My Steam Box A or B build had me gaming on my HDTV at a fraction of the cost of pre-built Steam Machines.

Build: A 

CPU: Intel Pentium G4560 (Kaby Lake), 2 Cores & 4 Threads, 3.5GHz
GPU: GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050ti GV-N105TD5-4GD 4GB
RAM: HyperX Fury 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4 2400MHz DRAM
MOTHERBOARD: ASRock H270M-ITX/ac (Mini ITX)
STORAGE:   Seagate Momentus XT 750GB 7200RPM 2.5" (ST750LX003) SSHD
SOUND: Onboard
NETWORK: Onboard (wired gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi)
PSU: EVGA 500 BQ, 80+ BRONZE 500W, Semi-Modular (110-BQ-0500-K1)
CASE: Raven RVZ03 chassis

Build: B

CPU:  AMD Ryzen 7 1700 8 Cores & 16 Threads 3.0 GHz (3.7 GHz Turbo) 
GPU:  GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050ti GV-N105TD5-4GD
RAM:  G.SKILL Flare X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) (F4-3200C14D-16GFX) 
MOTHERBOARD: ASRock AB350 Pro4 (BIOS 2.60  6/9/2017)
STORAGE:  SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 250GB NVMe MZ-V6E250BW+WB Blue 1TB SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 RPM (WD 10EZEX)
SOUND: Onboard
NETWORK:  Onboard (wired gigabit Ethernet)
PSU:  EVGA 650 B3, 80 Plus BRONZE 650W, Fully Modular 
CASE:  Cooler Master N400 NSE-400-KKN2 N-Series Mid Tower 
OPTICAL DRIVE: ASUS DVD-ROM/CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM (DVD-E818AAT/BLK/B/GE)

Build A and B needs a Linux Distro, and each Distro has its pros and cons. The Linux Distros I used with the Steam Client:

• Ubuntu 17.10
• Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS
• openSUSE Tumbleweed
• Fedora 27
• Kubuntu 17.10

Games I played using Build A and Build B

• Dust: An Elysian Tail
• Rocket League
• Left 4 Dead 2
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
• ARK: Survival Of The Fittest
• Life is Strange
• Welcome to Moreytown
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
• POSTAL 2
• Torchlight II
• Dota 2

With the official steam client, I have been playing big powerhouse games, like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel on GNU+Linux without any issues.They all ran without any headaches, Knights of the Old Republic II, Life is Strange, and Torchlight II all run great. But have to think about your graphics card choice. It really does matters more on Linux desktop than on Windows desktop. AMD drivers have gotten better recently, and they are open largely source, but Nvidia's proprietary driver is still better in the world of GNU+Linux.

RECOMMENDED: Nvidia 1000 series graphics cards for Steam Linux gaming.