At some point, Valve quietly tweaked the specifications for the upcoming official Steam Deck Dock and it's actually better than what they said originally. We still don't even know exactly when it will be out, and they likely want to improve the overall docked experience first as there's quite a few quirks (especially in desktop mode).
Originally, the Steam Deck Dock listed it had 1 x USB-A 3.1 Port and 2 x USB-A 2.0 Ports along with Ethernet. Now though, it states it has 3 x USB-A 3.1 Ports and Gigabit Ethernet.
Seems this was updated in February, when checking the Wayback Machine it shows the text specifications with the original on February 12 but then the text was updated sometime around February 22 to note the newer ports. Later around February 25 the actual image of the Dock was updated to also note it has Gigabit Ethernet too.
Seems Valve are also now calling it a "Docking Station", which was noted around February 22 too.
At least for now, this USB-C Hub has been working well enough for me, as noted in my original review.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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16 comments
Seems Valve are also now calling it a "Docking Station", which was noted around February 22 too.
I simply cannot believe they're not calling it the "Decking Station".
Last edited by scaine on 22 April 2022 at 7:27 am UTC
20 Likes, Who?
Would be nice if the dock had a more powerful GPU (eGPU?) that the deck switches to it when it's docked.
0 Likes
hardpenguin Apr 22, 2022
I simply cannot believe they're not calling it the "Decking Station".Or Steam Dock!
10 Likes, Who?
I still think it would be cool to make a smart dock with basically a build in updated Steam Link.
3 Likes, Who?
RavenWings Apr 22, 2022
Guys, there is only one true option: The Deck Dock!
7 Likes, Who?
LordDaveTheKind Apr 22, 2022
Are there any recommended alternatives of dock stations currently in the market? I can see lots of them with provided power supply, but which ones of them are the most reliable? (honest question)
1 Likes, Who?
Would be nice if the dock had a more powerful GPU (eGPU?) that the deck switches to it when it's docked.
Gaming performance would be bottlenecked by the quadcore CPU. Youtube Channel ETA Prime kept their promise of testing a external GPU via the m.2 slot. While there were gains in most games, it is clear that the CPU cannot keep up with something much more powerful than the iGPU.
This actually demonstrates that the components of the Steam Deck APU were carefully chosen, to make the best use of its 15W power limit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WEGY6aY8lM
6 Likes, Who?
The store page just redirects to the steam deck page, so I can't really tell - is this "just" a USB-C dock or does it come with something else? (eg. locked to decks, or other valve specific lock ins )
Having spendt entirely too much time and money finding a USB-C dock that works properly with linux it could be very interesting if it will work with any USB-C device, especially if the two outputs aren't linked
Last edited by Guppy on 22 April 2022 at 11:32 am UTC
Having spendt entirely too much time and money finding a USB-C dock that works properly with linux it could be very interesting if it will work with any USB-C device, especially if the two outputs aren't linked
Last edited by Guppy on 22 April 2022 at 11:32 am UTC
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Would be nice if the dock had a more powerful GPU (eGPU?) that the deck switches to it when it's docked.
Not possible since the Steam Deck only has USB 3.2 Gen 2 which, not only doesn't have enough bandwidth for an eGPU, it doesn't have the needed PCIe access. You'd need USB4/Thunderbolt 3+ if you want an eGPU over USB-C.
Currently the only viable eGPU method on the Steam Deck involves using an adapter to plug a GPU into the M.2 SSD slot inside the device.
1 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Apr 22, 2022
I just hope that I will be able to buy both the Steam Deck and Docking Station, when I receive my email, in Q3 (probably early, I was originally a Q2).
3 Likes, Who?
Gaming performance would be bottlenecked by the quadcore CPU. Youtube Channel ETA Prime kept their promise of testing a external GPU via the m.2 slot. While there were gains in most games, it is clear that the CPU cannot keep up with something much more powerful than the iGPU.
This actually demonstrates that the components of the Steam Deck APU were carefully chosen, to make the best use of its 15W power limit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WEGY6aY8lM
I didn't watch the video yet but yeah, of course the CPU is a bottleneck, games can't run at extremely high fps, but a GPU will help to run games at higher resolution on same fps.
Not possible since the Steam Deck only has USB 3.2 Gen 2 which, not only doesn't have enough bandwidth for an eGPU, it doesn't have the needed PCIe access. You'd need USB4/Thunderbolt 3+ if you want an eGPU over USB-C.
Currently the only viable eGPU method on the Steam Deck involves using an adapter to plug a GPU into the M.2 SSD slot inside the device.
Oh true, I forgot about this "little" detail.
0 Likes
Interesting. To be honest, I haven't followed the Deck Dock at all it seems.
That's really nice that they upgraded the specs. I'll admit, I think I expected a physical docking station, like laptop or the Switch, where the Deck would Dock on the Deck Dock.
That's really nice that they upgraded the specs. I'll admit, I think I expected a physical docking station, like laptop or the Switch, where the Deck would Dock on the Deck Dock.
0 Likes
TheRiddick Apr 24, 2022
Valve should just release the Steam NUC which would be just a Steam Deck without the Battery/controller/LCD components and sell it for like $100-150 cheaper... it would create riots in the NUC community which are typically more expensive devices with less power....
Last edited by TheRiddick on 24 April 2022 at 4:31 am UTC
Last edited by TheRiddick on 24 April 2022 at 4:31 am UTC
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Cyba.Cowboy Apr 24, 2022
Ugh. Why go with older standards (USB Type-A)?
The whole world is moving towards USB Type-C, albeit slowly... It would have made waaay more sense to include multiple USB Type-C ports, and just one or two USB Type-A 3.1 ports (it's just silly to use superseded standards).
I really don't understand the logic here... Not that it matters, because Australians can't get the Steam Deck anyway, and by the time we will be able to, USB4 (the latest standard, released in 2019) will probably be commonplace. 🙄
The whole world is moving towards USB Type-C, albeit slowly... It would have made waaay more sense to include multiple USB Type-C ports, and just one or two USB Type-A 3.1 ports (it's just silly to use superseded standards).
I really don't understand the logic here... Not that it matters, because Australians can't get the Steam Deck anyway, and by the time we will be able to, USB4 (the latest standard, released in 2019) will probably be commonplace. 🙄
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