[GAMING PC] [RETIRED] Draco1962's Windows 11 - Bazzite Dual Boot PC Build

[Draco1962]

@tthurman I *FINALLY* have a build that will put my original Steam Controller to use! And, if I choose, it can play PONG!

I acquired an HP Pavilion 590-p0024 with the following specs:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
• Memory (RAM): 12GB DDR4  (Shared with integrated graphics, expandable to 32GB)
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
• Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon Vega Graphics (from the CPU)
• Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB A 3.1, USB A 2.0, USB C ports 
• SATA ports: 3
• Optical Drive: DVD RW
• Power Supply: 180w

I made the following additions/upgrades:

• Upgraded CPU (eBay): AMD CPU Ryzen 7 2700 3.2GHZ Socket AM4
• Added discrete GPU (eBay): GIGABYTE Radeon RX 6500 XT EAGLE 4GB GDDR6 GPU
• Added Wifi/Bluetooth PCI card (Linux Compatible): OKN WiFi 6E AX5400 PCIe WiFi Card for Desktop PC (Intel AX210) Bluetooth 5.3, WPA3, 802.11AXE Tri Band Wireless Adapter with MU-MIMO, OFDMA
• Added 1TB M.2 NVME SSD: WD Blue SN5100 1TB NVMe SSD - M.2 2280, PCIe Gen 4.0 - Read Speeds Up to 7,100MB/s, Upgrade Storage for PC/Laptops - WDS100T5B0E
• Added 4TB HDD: Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch Sata 6 Gb/s 5400 RPM 256MB Cache
• Upgraded RAM to 32GB: Timetec Premium 32GB KIT(2x16GB) DDR4 2666MHz PC4-21300 Non-ECC Unbuffered 1.2V CL19 2Rx8288 Pin UDIMM
• Upgraded PSU to 400w (eBay): L04618-800 400W Power Supply For HP 590
• OS: Windows 11 Home

The PC is a short form factor, using the HP "Sunflower" motherboard, which is limited to one PCI-E 16 and one PCI-E 1 slot, no additional USB headers, and 3 SATA ports. I may decide to add another SSD or HDD, but for now, I think 2TB total storage will do.

For initial testing of components, I installed Windows 11 Home on the NVME drive.

• Part of me says: "Why not setup a dual-boot with Bazzite?"
• Another part of me screams: "You whiny, insecure BEYOTCH! Rip the damned Band-Aid off and get on with it and go full-on Linux with the build!" 🤬 
• Part of me says: "I think I need a hug..."

More to follow...

[Draco1962]

UPDATE - It's going to be a bit before I make the plunge to Bazzite. I am working out a few hardware issues that are easier for me to triage via Windows initially.

I had intended to leverage the m.2 WiFi/Bluetooth card since there are no exposed USB headers, which is required for the Bluetooth of the add-on card to work. Well, it was v4.2 and would see the Xbox One controller, but immediately drop connection.

I removed the m.2 WiFi/Bluetooth card and bought an XMSJSIY USB A to 9 Pin USB Header, 9 Pin Motherboard Male IDC Dupont to USB 2.0 Type A Male Cable Cord Extender Adapter Converter Cable - 20cm to connect to the Bluetooth header cable that came with the card and plug it into one of the rear USB ports. I installed the drivers and BINGO! Stable Bluetooth 5.3 connection to my controller!

[Draco1962]

UPDATE - I have resolved the last issue, which could have been caused by a hardware or driver failure, specifically an "AMD PSP device power failure code 10 " in this instance. It turns out that all I needed to do was uninstall and force delete the driver, run Check for Updates, and Voilà! - issue resolved!

 

[Draco1962]

UPDATE - I added Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive HDD for game storage. I am still indecisive as to whether or not I should go with a dual-boot setup, but it is not as straightforward as, say, Linux Mint.

[Draco1962]

UPDATE - Happy New Year! It's been a hot minute since my last update. I finally found a little bit of time to install Bazzite.

First boot - problem. I was attempting to confirm that I could reboot, but neglected to turn off Secure Boot prior to installing Bazzite so had to register MOK. This sets the certificate for Secure Boot with the BIOS.

The next issue was that the GRUB loader was not pointing to Windows 11 correctly.  So I launched into Bazzite and regenerated GRUB via Terminal, but still no joy upon Restart.

I then used BIOS boot menu to select UEFI loader for Windows 11 - this launched successfully. I then went to Power Options and disabled Fast Start. I then restarted.

SUCCESS! The Windows 11 option now shows in GRUB. But, the text is so 🤬 small, and the time-out to select an option is too quick! 

So this is where I am now. I am working to learn how to modify the GRUB loader to increase menu time and use a much larger font to better work with the "10-foot view" desired. Rumor is that I can potentially "skin" this menu as well... STAY TUNED!

[ClassicGMR]

See.. my wife will extoll the virtues of Linux to me until she is blue in the face - then complain the next three hours how this version doesn't have all the features so she installs again. Then it doesn't run right. So installs something else again. Then she digs into the OS... etc etc.

 

I, meanwhile, have been productive in Windows for the same 3-5 hours.  

 

Yes - I'm a windows geek. Linux is definitely awesome just... can't (or won't) wrap my head around it. I do like RetroPie though! Bazzite seems to be the same "type" of OS? I have some old laptops that may need to be test subjects for this.  

[Draco1962]

I'm still a Windows fanboy at heart, but MS is making it difficult for older kit to stay viable.

The original CPU was not Windows 11 compatible, but the replacement was. Replacing it and adding a discreet GPU, and the other upgrades, provided an opportunity to explore a SteamOS-like experience at a much lower price point than the soon-to-be released Steam PC. 

In the process, I am forcing myself to learn Linux one kicking (and sometimes screaming) issue at time. 

[Draco1962]

UPDATE - As luck would have it, I am having recurring issues with the GRUB loader when it comes to booting into Windows. It will not load from GRUB  unless I select the Windows drive first from the BIOS boot order screen, then subsequent restarts will allow me to select Windows or Bazzite from GRUB. 🤬

I am considering ripping off the Band-Aid but installing Bazzite on the 1TB NVME SSD and pulling the 1TB SSD, thus removing Windows 11 altogether. This will make booting to Steam Big Picture mode almost seamless and enhance the "10-foot view" that I am looking for.

[Draco1962]

Here is a How-To-Geek Grub Makeover Tutorial to modify and beautify your GRUB loading screen.

[Draco1962]

UPDATE (FINAL) - As much as this has been a learning lesson, I have decided to end this build due to several reasons:

• First, given the limiting nature of the very proprietary architecture (motherboard, PSU, chassis) I am at the limits of what this system can do. That is not to say that it cannot play any games. It certainly can! BUT, I have another build on an older DDR3 system that knocks it out of the park in comparison, even working well in 1440p! Here is a summary of the anticipated FPS performance (1080p) across various genres of Windows 11 vs. Bazzite for this build:

• Second, given the skyrocketing costs of RAM, SSD (NVME, m.2 & regular SATA SSD. This is forcing me to dial back some of my ambitions and pull the 1 SATA SSD & 4TB HDD for use in other projects. A 1TB 7200 HDD will be added to replace the 4TB HDD for backups, storage, etc. 

All other upgrades will be left and the build put up for sale locally. It's been fun, but the home economy dictates a more "draconian" and practical approach going forward for now.