Bazzite Setup Guide¶
Bazzite is a gaming-focused Linux distribution based on Fedora that provides an excellent out-of-the-box experience for the BC-250. Built on Fedora Atomic (immutable system), it offers SteamDeck-like functionality with enhanced stability.
Status: Recommended for gaming, works out-of-the-box Base: Fedora Atomic (OSTree-based) Mesa Version: 25.1+ included Desktop Options: GNOME, KDE, or Deck UI
Why Choose Bazzite?¶
Advantages: - Works out-of-the-box (no nomodeset needed) - Mesa 25.1+ included with GPU drivers pre-installed - Immutable system (harder to break, easy rollback) - Gaming optimizations (GameMode, Gamescope, Proton GE ready) - Steam Deck UI option for couch gaming - Automated governor script available - Custom kernel with BC-250 patches available
Considerations: - Package management more complex (rpm-ostree vs dnf) - Some apps require Flatpak - Updates can occasionally cause issues (but easy to rollback)
Prerequisites¶
BIOS Configuration¶
Before installing, ensure your BIOS is properly configured:
- Flash modified BIOS (P3.00 recommended)
- Set VRAM allocation to 512MB dynamic
- Configure fan speeds
- Disable IOMMU (IOMMU is broken - MUST disable)
See BIOS Flashing Guide for details.
Hardware Requirements¶
- Minimum 90W PSU (120W+ recommended)
- 2x 120mm high static pressure fans
- DisplayPort cable or passive DP-to-HDMI adapter
- USB drive (8GB+) for installation media
Installation¶
Creating Installation Media¶
- Download Bazzite ISO from bazzite.gg
- Choose your variant:
- Bazzite GNOME - Recommended for beginners
- Bazzite KDE - Desktop users (note: fixed as of mid-2025)
- Bazzite Deck - Steam Deck UI experience
- Flash to USB using Fedora Media Writer or balenaEtcher
Installation Process¶
- Boot from USB (no special parameters needed)
- Complete on-screen installation
- Select timezone and language
- Create user account
- Choose disk partitioning
- Installation takes 10-15 minutes
- Reboot when prompted
Note: Unlike Fedora, Bazzite boots directly without needing nomodeset parameter.
Standard Setup¶
Automated Installation (Recommended)¶
One-command installation of Oberon governor:
curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vietsman/bc250-documentation/refs/heads/main/oberon-setup.sh | sudo sh
What this script does: - Installs Oberon GPU governor - Enables governor service - Configures voltage settings (1000mV default for stability) - No Mesa modifications needed (already included)
Important: Run on fresh install for best results. Script auto-reboots when complete.
Manual Installation¶
If automated script doesn't work:
# Add COPR repository
sudo dnf copr enable filippor/bazzite
# Install governor
rpm-ostree install oberon-governor
# Reboot to apply
systemctl reboot
# Enable service after reboot
sudo systemctl enable --now oberon-governor.service
Voltage Configuration¶
Default configuration (/etc/oberon-config.yaml):
voltage:
- min: 1000 # Safe default
- max: 1000
frequency:
- min: 1000 # 1000 MHz
- max: 2000 # 2000 MHz
Some boards are unstable at lower voltages. The script defaults to 1000mV to prevent crashes. If system is stable, you can try lowering min voltage to 700-900mV.
Performance Setup (Advanced)¶
"Bazzite on Steroids" - Custom images with GPU frequency range patch for up to 50% performance boost.
Features¶
- Custom patched kernel (GPU frequency: 350-2230 MHz vs stock 1000-2000 MHz)
- Oberon governor pre-configured
- Weekly automated builds (every Monday)
- Three variants: GNOME, KDE, Deck
Prerequisites¶
If you already have Bazzite installed with Oberon:
# Remove existing oberon installation
sudo systemctl stop oberon-governor
sudo systemctl disable oberon-governor
rpm-ostree uninstall oberon-governor
# Remove config
sudo rm -f /etc/oberon-config.yaml
Rebase to Patched Image¶
Choose your desktop environment:
GNOME (Recommended):
KDE:
Deck:
After rebase:
Power and Cooling Warnings¶
Performance patch increases power draw and temperatures:
- PSU: Minimum 240W on 12V rail, recommended 320W+
- Cooling: High static pressure fans required
- Temps: Expect 85-95°C under full load (normal for this board)
To reduce power consumption, edit /etc/oberon-config.yaml:
Then restart: sudo systemctl restart oberon-governor
Post-Installation Configuration¶
Temperature Sensors¶
Enable NCT6687 module for PWM fan control:
Verify:
CoolerControl (Optional)¶
GUI for fan curve management:
Flatpak Mesa Override (Old Versions Only)¶
As of August 2025, Bazzite ships with Mesa 25.1+ for Flatpaks. This section only applies to older installations:
# Add flathub-beta
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub-beta https://flathub.org/beta-repo/flathub-beta.flatpakrepo
# Install mesa-git for runtime 24.08
flatpak install --system flathub-beta org.freedesktop.Platform.GL.mesa-git//24.08
flatpak install --system flathub-beta org.freedesktop.Platform.GL32.mesa-git//24.08
# Set environment
sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/service.d
sudo bash -c 'echo -e "[Service]\nEnvironment=FLATPAK_GL_DRIVERS=mesa-git" > /etc/systemd/system/service.d/99-flatpak-mesa-git.conf'
systemctl reboot
System Updates¶
Rollback if update breaks:
Known Issues & Solutions¶
Governor Voltage Instability¶
Symptom: Graphics artifacts, crashes, black screens
Cause: Default voltage too low for some boards
Solution:
sudo nano /etc/oberon-config.yaml
# Change:
voltage:
- min: 1000 # Increase from 700
- max: 1000
sudo systemctl restart oberon-governor
Flatpak Apps Don't See GPU¶
Symptom: Flatpak games use software rendering (llvmpipe)
Solution: See Flatpak Mesa Override section above
GPU Locked at 1500MHz¶
Symptom: GPU frequency stuck, won't scale
Solution:
# Check governor status
systemctl status oberon-governor
# If not running:
sudo systemctl enable --now oberon-governor.service
# Restart if running:
sudo systemctl restart oberon-governor
# Verify frequency scaling
cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk
Boot Slow / Black Screen During Boot¶
Symptom: 30-60 seconds black screen during boot
Cause: Normal - display output doesn't initialize until late in boot
Solution: Wait - system will boot. Check uptime after boot to confirm it was actually fast.
Desktop Environment Notes¶
GNOME (Recommended)¶
Most tested, fully working with no known issues.
KDE Plasma¶
Historical issue: Before mid-2025, KDE would crash due to BC-250's faulty RDRAND CPU instruction.
Current status: Fixed in recent Qt releases. Works properly now.
Deck UI¶
If you rebase from Deck to Desktop image, "Return to Game Mode" won't work. Rebase to Deck-patched image if you want Big Picture mode.
Troubleshooting¶
Diagnostic Commands¶
# Check Mesa version
rpm -qa | grep mesa
# Check Vulkan device
vulkaninfo | grep deviceName
# Should show: AMD Radeon Graphics (RADV GFX1013)
# Check GPU frequency
cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk
# Check temperatures
sensors
# Check OSTree deployment
rpm-ostree status
Performance Issues¶
# Verify GPU is being used
vulkaninfo | grep deviceName
# Should NOT show llvmpipe
# Monitor GPU usage
nvtop
# Check governor scaling
watch -n 1 cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk
Quick Reference¶
# Update system
ujust update
# Check governor
systemctl status oberon-governor
# Check GPU frequency
cat /sys/class/drm/card0/device/pp_dpm_sclk
# Check temps
sensors
# Rollback update
rpm-ostree rollback && systemctl reboot
# Rebase to patched GNOME
rpm-ostree rebase ostree-image-signed:docker://ghcr.io/vietsman/bazzite-gnome-patched:latest
Community Resources¶
- Bazzite Official: bazzite.gg
- Setup script: vietsman/bc250-documentation
- Patched images: vietsman/bazzite-patched
- Oberon governor: oberon-governor GitLab
Related Guides: - Fedora Setup - CachyOS Setup - Arch Linux Setup - GPU Governor Configuration