Support us on Patreon
PayPalIt seems that Valve had incorrect details on the specification sheet for the Steam Deck, and as a result we now know the RAM is more impressive.
Originally (as seen on the Web Archive), Valve listed the Steam Deck as having "5500 MT/s dual-channel" which they've now adjusted to say it's actually "5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels". Thanks to that, we know that the Steam Deck should perform even better than we originally thought it would. The speed may not have changed, but dual to quad is still a pretty nice boost.
We've known for some time now that RAM speed and bandwidth is important to Ryzen CPUs, so this is quite an important clarification to come from Valve. For such a small (relatively speaking) device, every little bit of possible performance is going to be vital, especially since likely the majority of games will end up being played using the Steam Play Proton compatibility tool.
Additionally, Valve designer Lawrence Yang has clarified that when the Steam Deck was recently shown off to IGN the games were actually being played from an SD Card:
Yep, games will load faster off internal storage, but games still play great off an SD card. When IGN came by, all the games they tried (and shot footage of) were played off a microSD card.
Yang also confirmed on Twitter that when docked you can run Steam Deck games off of an external SSD.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
TheRiddick Jul 21, 2021
I bought a 180MB/s 512GB mSD card the other day, hopefully it will be decent. Might need a SD reader that can support that speed however.
You can get microSD cards up to 300MB/s but price climbs allot, and storage space can be reduced as I presume their getting better speed via dual/quad write methods.
You can get microSD cards up to 300MB/s but price climbs allot, and storage space can be reduced as I presume their getting better speed via dual/quad write methods.
2 Likes, Who?
Now I just want to know whether the 7" screen supports variable refresh rate.. If it does, it really starts to look like a dream handheld.
2 Likes, Who?
I think I haven't seen it mentioned here yet: All Steam Decks got an M.2 slot for short (M.2230) SSDs. In the smallest variant, it's empty. I cannot say how accessible it is, though.
Last edited by Eike on 21 July 2021 at 9:32 am UTC
Last edited by Eike on 21 July 2021 at 9:32 am UTC
5 Likes, Who?
Quoting: mahagrNow I just want to know whether the 7" screen supports variable refresh rate.. If it does, it really starts to look like a dream handheld.
I wouldn't think so. Sounds like some extra complication. (Though I do think there will be a time when we'll wonder why not everything on a computer had variable refresh rate decades earlier. :D )
3 Likes, Who?
Yeah, the information about the m.2 sockets is also new, it wasn't there before. As for not being user-accessible, I'm guessing it means you need to open the deck up to access it and it'll void your warranty.
2 Likes, Who?
A feature that allows to import and/or exchange library folders without restarting the Steam client is now kind of mandatory.
You might have several SD cards holding libraries, or when docking you want to have the external storage accessible immediately to make it a smooth experience.
Gosh, I. can. not. wait. :D
You might have several SD cards holding libraries, or when docking you want to have the external storage accessible immediately to make it a smooth experience.
Gosh, I. can. not. wait. :D
4 Likes, Who?
TheRiddick Jul 21, 2021
Quoting: damarrinI'm guessing it means you need to open the deck up to access it and it'll void your warranty.
Invalid here in Australia, we are allowed to open electronics up. (stores will fight, then you show them the law and they shut up)
80-90MB/s is the typical MicroSD cards sold and also Nintendo ones. I bought a 512GB 180MB/s R/W one however so hopefully that will be a little bit faster. (faster ones cost more)
Last edited by TheRiddick on 21 July 2021 at 9:51 am UTC
3 Likes, Who?
It runs Rust well
https://twitter.com/garrynewman/status/1415741642385117189
https://twitter.com/garrynewman/status/1415741642385117189
1 Likes, Who?
TheRiddick Jul 21, 2021
Rust needs EAC support via proton, so runs, yes mostly (its possible to bug out the prefix and get infinite crashes on launch). No multiplayer however except for the hidden non-EAC servers nobody wants to play on. (no players or errors on connecting)
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: EikeIn the smallest variant, it's empty.I read the opposite, i.e. even the 64gb emmc uses it.
1 Likes, Who?
TheRiddick Jul 21, 2021
Quoting: Hori, let's be honest, is considered a forbidden arcane art by the average user.
No you just backup whats on there already and restore it on the new drive. I don't know if they will provide any tools for this, guess we'll find out. Then again just putting steamOS3 on a microsd card is not that hard.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: EikeAll Steam Decks got an M.2 slot for short (M.2230) SSDs. In the smallest variant, it's empty. I cannot say how accessible it is, though.
The website you linked to says that, but the tech specs on steamdeck.com says "All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules" which suggests that the eMMC is on an M2 card too. It certainly makes more sense to manufacture a single main PCB and plug in the appropriate storage card rather than having to make two with just this one difference.
As for how accessible there has been a widely circulated screen shot of Plagman (presumably Valve's Pierre-Loup Griffais) saying:
Quotethe slot is behind emi and thermal shielding so its not really "user replaceable" like a regular m2 tray on a laptop
I look forward to the iFixit teardown.
2 Likes, Who?
Pretty funny that the majority of the talk on the web around the handheld is about the storage. Not much about the APU or steamOS. I see the year of the Linux desktop, sorry handheld :D.
Cant wait till december !!
Cant wait till december !!
1 Likes, Who?
"Yep, games will load faster off internal storage, but games still play great off an SD card. When IGN came by, all the games they tried (and shot footage of) were played off a microSD card."
i guessed that that would be the case, they would show the worst case scenario instead of the best to not disapoint anyone, but it still impressive!
i guessed that that would be the case, they would show the worst case scenario instead of the best to not disapoint anyone, but it still impressive!
1 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jul 21, 2021
And now this:
https://www.pcgamer.com/steams-big-picture-mode-will-be-replaced-by-steam-decks-ui/
Which is great news for ChimeraOS and those that want to build a PC console. The old BPM was collecting dust and a lot of store features didn't work anymore.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 21 July 2021 at 4:09 pm UTC
https://www.pcgamer.com/steams-big-picture-mode-will-be-replaced-by-steam-decks-ui/
Which is great news for ChimeraOS and those that want to build a PC console. The old BPM was collecting dust and a lot of store features didn't work anymore.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 21 July 2021 at 4:09 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Jul 21, 2021
Quoting: damarrinYeah, the information about the m.2 sockets is also new, it wasn't there before. As for not being user-accessible, I'm guessing it means you need to open the deck up to access it and it'll void your warranty.Wasn't there a decision out there at some point some what recently that stated warranty stickers don't mean anything, and outside if a user modifying something in an extreme way, the manufacturer still has to honor a warranty?
Last edited by slaapliedje on 22 July 2021 at 2:08 am UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Does anyone know if the Steam Deck can boot an OS (or at least a GNU/Linux OS) from a memory card?
Also, does anyone know if the Steam Deck can boot an OS (or at least a GNU/Linux OS) from a USB drive?
Also, does anyone know what the maximum memory card size that can be used with the Steam Deck is?
Last edited by s8as8a on 21 July 2021 at 10:49 pm UTC
Also, does anyone know if the Steam Deck can boot an OS (or at least a GNU/Linux OS) from a USB drive?
Also, does anyone know what the maximum memory card size that can be used with the Steam Deck is?
Last edited by s8as8a on 21 July 2021 at 10:49 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: EikeI wouldn't think so. Sounds like some extra complication. (Though I do think there will be a time when we'll wonder why not everything on a computer had variable refresh rate decades earlier. :D )
If anything variable refresh rate can reduce power consumption of the screen, so sounds like a good feature for a portable device, but it requires extra logic in the display controller. Question is, is anyone making them? Though given Valve are designing their own hardware (to some degree), they can simply make it happen.
Last edited by Shmerl on 22 July 2021 at 12:26 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
By the way, speaking of the UI. Is there some FOSS console oriented GUI now? Let's say I want to play GOG games, itch games or whatever other games on it without using Steam. What are the options? Using KDE Plasma as is, while holding it like a console probably isn't a good idea.
I'm not a big fan of closed source UIs in general.
Last edited by Shmerl on 22 July 2021 at 12:29 am UTC
I'm not a big fan of closed source UIs in general.
Last edited by Shmerl on 22 July 2021 at 12:29 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jul 22, 2021
Quoting: ShmerlBy the way, speaking of the UI. Is there some FOSS console oriented GUI now? Let's say I want to play GOG games, itch games or whatever other games on it without using Steam. What are the options? Using KDE Plasma as is, while holding it like a console probably isn't a good idea.
I'm not a big fan of closed source UIs in general.
Gamehub, maybe?
1 Likes, Who?
See more from me