- cross-posted to:
- games@sh.itjust.works
- cross-posted to:
- games@sh.itjust.works
New OLED screen. New APU. And lots of small hardware improvements.
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Hahaha, they kept trying to convince people again and again that there will NOT be a hardware refresh any time soon. That was only a few months ago.
They were careful with how they phrased it, leaving the possibility of a refresh without a performance uplift still on the table (as speculated by media). It looks like the OLED model’s core performance will be only marginally better due to faster RAM, but that the APU itself is the same thing with a process node shrink (which improves efficiency a little).
See also: PCGamer article about an OLED version. They didn’t say “no”, and (just like with the previously linked article), media again speculated about a refresh happening.
It looks like they were consistent with what they were talking about with how it wasn’t simple to just drop in a new screen and leave everything else as-is, and used that opportunity to upgrade basically everything a little bit while they were tinkering with the screen upgrade.
The effiency part becomes a larger feature if it’s a mobile device…
Sure, but not much of that battery improvement is coming from migrating the APU’s process node. Moving from TSMC’s 7nm process to their 6nm process is only an incremental improvement; a “half-node” shrink rather than a full-node shrink like going from their 7nm to their 5nm.
The biggest battery improvement is (almost definitely) from having a 25% larger battery (40Whr -> 50Whr), with the APU and screen changes providing individually-smaller battery life improvements than that. Hence the APU change improving efficiency “a little”.
Well yeah, otherwise it will end up like Atari. No sales for the first one because everyone is waiting for the next one.
It’s smart. Also, developers have a solid benchmark to set their games to. Console has long had the benefit of a stable hardware set over the course of many years, which makes it easier to develop to the broadest possible market. Skipping incremental APU updates has a benefit of keeping a longer benchmark for game developers hoping to boost sales by targeting the market with handhelds. Valve was pretty clear in their communication in this regard, which is great.
I received my deck yesterday 😭
Return it 🤷🏻. I’m sure they have some 30 day return window.
They offered me a return/repurchase at current price, so I took that. Gives me some cash back to spend on games 🤷♂️
Oof. I had mine about 6 weeks but that stings lol
That’s not what happened at all. They said they would not be releasing a higher performance version anytime soon. This is just a refresh. Like a Steam Deck 1.8
Yeah I was burned and I’m kinda salty about it.
What I really like is that they double down on hackabilty by switching to metal torx screws, etc.
That, and a Linux system are IMO the main selling points of the SteamDeck, compared to any clones from Asus or Lenovo, etc.
Wait, are their screws not metal?!
The screws were metal, but they went into a plastic casing. Now, the metal screws go into metal threading
When you buy “wood screws” that doesn’t mean that the screws are made of wood, it means they go into wood.
They are mostly (all?) metal.
Torx head are preferred for smaller screws because it is a lot easier to strip the heads with a phillips. Mostly because you can use too big or too small of a phillips head with a screw which means you don’t have a good fit and are going to mangle it. Whereas a torx is very much “one size fits one size”.
But also? If you actually pay attention to the video/read the article and are not a complete monster, you will use a ph0 instead of a ph1 or whatever and that stops being an issue. But it makes people happier and maps better to the ridiculously expensive electronics screwdrivers (cough, lmg, cough) that come with a very narrow set of bits rather than assuming people shell out almost the exact same amount of money for an ifixit kit that has dozens of bits. Or, you know, people who realize their local hardware store also sells bits.
The real advantage is that it sounds like Valve are moving away from self tapping screws. Explaining those is well beyond my brain, but it boils down to the idea that they cut/grind/clomp through plastic to hold themselves in place. That is why Valve have made it very clear that disassembling and reassembling your Steam Deck will lower thermal performance and durability. The screws won’t go in as tight as they used to and, if you do it enough, they won’t hold at all. If you ever were reassembling something and the screw just kind of spun freely, that is likely the cause.
Allen key screws are better, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to buy Allen key tools. Torx tools also don’t last that long. I especially hate them on MTB disk brake rotor mounts, they last one change of rotors and you have to buy a new Torx bit.
Great. Can you fucking release it in Australia now? Fuck Valve and its support here.
Yeah ikr. Feels like they’re still pissed at us for our ACCC taking them to task for not offering refunds here
Meanwhile Gaben said he fell in love with New Zealand while he was stranded there during the pandemic. Shame he couldn’t confuse the two.
Is the steam deck sold in NZ?
Nope
no official Steam Deck available on Brazil too :/
Wouldn’t they need to build it in Brazil, otherwise the tarifs would make it prohibitively expensive?
Making it here to dodge some tariffs could be as simple as importing the boxes and handhelds and doing the boxing locally. That’s what Sony used to do.
Oh nice! They should definitely do that lol
Got myself a steamdeck in russia via aunty from US. Probably best thing to play some games i always wanted to play but was lazy to invest time
Norway too please 😢
They’re a bunch of cunts, pretty par for the course when it comes to getting technology here (without having to grayimport it and roll the dice on warranties)
Ok, this has me hyped because it also implies further iterations.
At not wildly inflating costs. I love my deck, so I can’t wait to see the next iteration :).
Jup, love that the price is not just not being increased with upgraded specs, the remaining stock of the old Steam Deck variants is actually being significantly discounted.
Steam Deck is 1.5 years old and im excited for a new iteration!
It’s closer to 2 years old.
I think they will not do a new processor for another year or so. They said it is years away.
With Snapdragon announcing their M2 like arm processor for desktop, I wonder if Steamdeck and these handhelds will start to switch to ARM?
There is already work being done on x86 to arm translation for Linux.
I doubt it. x86_64 might not be efficient, but it has many instructions that aren’t in ARM. Plus you’d lose out on AMD’s GPU.
People are already using it to run various games.
This person is using it to play world of Warcraft on a raspberry pi.
I’m not saying it’s perfect and ready to go, but if valve puts a few engineers on it, we could have some decent performance in a few years. Just look at how far proton has come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V5_ByVsiFM&pp=ygUFQm94ODY%3D
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
https://www.piped.video/watch?v=1V5_ByVsiFM&pp=ygUFQm94ODY%3D
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I’m open-source; check me out at GitHub.
Maybe after we see that new Snapdragon on Windows PC, and enough games run on ARM Windows, then Valve would consider switching chip.
I don’t see why they would lead the way on that front, in addition to the software compatibility layer between Linux and Windows.
While Linux runs fine on ARM like no games do and what I have seen from the Apple ARM laptops playing X86 games isn’t quite close to being there and the Steam Deck is made with gaming in mind so it doesn’t make much sense IMHO. Plus the added complexity of 2 translation layers and the potential issues different games will have there.
Check out box86. There are videos of people running various games with it.
I posted a link in this thread of someone playing world of Warcraft on a pi 4.
I’m not saying that it’s ready to go today, but in a few years it will be great. Especially if valve develops for it the way they did it it proton.
I agree that translation layers will slow things down, but I don’t think it will be too terribly slow especially as more powerful chips come out.
I’m sure it can run games but it took like half a decade for Proton to be a seemless experience for the majority of games and having 2 translation layers on top of each other sounds like it could take even longer to be on the level Proton already is. Plus there’s the added chance for instability of newly released games. The efficiency from ARM seems like a very minor advantage when looking at those downsides.
Both of your downsides are just things you think. Let’s wait a few years and see what the software can do.
There is a video somewhere of someone using it to play Skyrim on an old android. I don’t think it’s a bad as you believe it to be.
Both WoW and Skyrim are over a decade old, I’m more worried about newly released games but yea, of course those issues are what I think, I’m not clearvoyent. I have seen the x86 emulation on apple’s ARM for modern games and I’m basing my reluctance on that but of course I can’t know for sure, I’m just saying the efficiency is probably not worth it.
The same thing could be said about games in the early days of wine and proton. Now most thing run without any trouble.
There is already work being done on x86 to arm translation for Linux.
Linux runs on ARM though?
Linux does, but the question is if the proton layer optimization holds up for ARM processors as well.
Removed by mod
Linux runs on anything.
I’m referring to projects like box86 that let you run x86 application on arm computers running arm versions of Linux.
Definitely, every other piece of Valve hardware has been one and done. I figured valve would cut the Steam Deck since other companies have entered the market.
Well also every other piece of Valve hardware has largely been a dud.
I think the real question here is, what will the exhaust vent smell like? Have they improved on the aroma?
How can you improve perfection?
Is this a thing? I don’t own a steam deck so I can’t tell if you’re kidding…
They’re half kidding but yes, it’s a thing.
New Steam Deck has a “new electronics” smell coming out of the vents that is stronger than most devices.
The adhesive fumes must be harmful but they smell so healthy.
I own a Steam Deck and I’m not even sure what people are talking about with it, I’ve not really smelled anything coming from mine (which would probably have me more worried than delighted), but apparently it’s a thing amongst some owners.
I’m not the only one!
Please announce a trade in program, Valve. Don’t make me use eBay cause I’m not sure it’s worth the hassle at that point.
Try to sell locally
Like put a sign in my front yard or what
Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, gumtree, OfferUp, or whatever the local buy/sell website is
I’m guessing sell to friends or sell through Facebook Marketplace?
I’ve sold a lot of stuff locally on hardwareswap on reddit
For real. I bought recently and I love it but would’ve absolutely waited had they not promised there wouldn’t be a refresh around the corner. Kinda fumed, Valve thought you were my choom.
Thinking about finally getting one. The 512GB OLED does look very good…
I also wonder if they’re ever going to have a non-handheld console (essentially a revamped Steam Machine). I’ve heard a bunch about people building PCs and running Holo ISO on there as a console replacement, might make sense to have an official solution from Valve.
I do not think they will. But they said they will release steamOS for install on your own machine. It just runs Linux, so it should work on most desktop hardware without any problems.
steam deck can already be used as a non-handheld machine.
and if you actually need one, get a pc.Sure, but the form factor of the Steam Deck will always limit performance and carry some extra cost with it. And for a large user base installing another OS on a PC (Holo ISO) is something they are not going to do. Hence, Steam Machine.
They just need to release a thunderbolt capable SteamDeck with a eGPU.
Seriously, at that point why not just build a PC?
What they need to do is release a widely compatible official SteamOS, as they promised they would do. There’s plenty of affordable hardware you could use for that purpose at that point.
The formfactor, You could dock it and have a full power system or use it on the go. For Valve it also reduces overall SKUs and the need to support a wider range of products/controllers. A eGPU enclosure wouldn’t even need new product development. They could probably rebrand an existing unit. It would extend the life of the SD by making it’s graphics card modular and upgradable at least in docked mode.
But yes they should release the OS and PCs are great to. I just think it would be a nice addition to the SD ecosystem.
Asus is trying to do something like that, including compatibility with the Ally, and I frankly don’t think it’s great.
Decent software and less flaky integration would make things better, but honestly I don’t think the value proposition is there. Then again, I also don’t understand people trying to use PC handhelds as desktop PCs, either, so what do I know.
I do see your point but my use case is that I like to play casually in bed, I like that I have the option to bring it on the go, and I like to sit down at my desk and game with the boys or play FPS. I mostly use it in docked mode these days because I’ve been really busy.
My buddies and I want to play the new Baldurs Gate soon. Which doesn’t run too hot on the SteamDeck. Perhaps with an eGPU it could.
I have a gaming PC as well in another room. Which I stream to the SD sometimes. But it’s honestly a bit of a chore compared to using the SD.
As a side note I find the SD software pretty decent. Not sure if that was directed to the Ally.
And for a large user base installing another OS on a PC (Holo ISO) is something they are not going to do. Hence, Steam Machine.
Steam machines were manufactured by third parties with SteamOS pre-loaded. That could very well be a thing in the future but it likely won’t come from Valve. But they have to make an official SteamOS available first.
There is no PC as capable as the Steam Deck at the same price point.
You could very easily build a significantly more powerful PC with significantly less money, and indeed others have done so already.
you can build a more powerful pc for less, i built a machine with new components during the gpu shortage and it’s still faster. (1050ti, 1600af)
Some leaks point to possibly a non-handheld console, exactly like a steam machine 2. I think it could work with the right set of features, and a good steam controller 2. But with Valve you never know what internal things will actually become launched products.
I also wonder if they’re ever going to have a non-handheld console
Seems unlikely. You can use the Deck as a (very weak) console, if you really want to. I just don’t think it makes sense for PC gamers, as most of them are choosy about their hardware.
HoloISO, last I checked, was not updated for a loooong time, but we do have ChimeraOS and Bazzite, which are similar projects, and hopefully one day Valve will release a “general use” SteamOS.
Stop it Valve, I can only become so erect
Soooo I was looking into buying a steam deck… Guess that’s great news
It is. It’s a significant upgrade for no price increase.
And if you don’t want to get the best model, the old LCD models have crazy discounts right now.
Only true complaint I might have is that it’s actually fairly heavy and your arms will get tired after playing for too long, especially if you compare it to something like a Switch, but otherwise, I love my Deck, it’s been great. I’ve not had much trouble with most games I throw at it and even moved over my emulation game library on to there. It’s like the holy grail of gaming.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve found the opposite. Maybe it’s the ergonomics, but despite the weight I’ve found myself playing the Steam Deck for far longer than I ever could play my Switch before it gets uncomfortable.
I have to rest it on a pillow if I go for too long while playing in handheld mode. We’ve actually been using it alot more docked to our TV now, so it’s really not even an issue in that setup, it’s only when you’re holding the thing itself. Going back and picking up a Switch feels surreal now though, almost like it’s too light or it would break easily.
I’ve never used any other modern handheld but the switch still feels like it could snap in half at any moment.
I’ve found the same. Using the Switch in bed with awful posture my hands would cramp after about half an hour. Using the Deck in bed with the same awful posture my arms fall asleep after an hour but I’m still going strong.
The new one is lighter!
669g -> 640g
Hmm guess it’s not that much difference then. Probably won’t be too noticeable unless you’re gaming for a long time. But the weight has never bothered me, personally
Well shit. I didn’t expect to replace my steam deck so soon, but the extra half an inch plus better battery life could convince me. I use it daily for Final Fantasy XI.
Some guy on lemmy went on a two paragraph rant on me when I said ‘at this point Ill probably just wait for the next version of the deck’ “oh they’re just rumors and valve would never release another model this early in the decks life and yada yada yada…” Well here we are a month later. Ive been alive long enough to know the next model is ALWAYS right around the corner, because it makes the company money. I wanted a PS4 when it came out but held off then a little while later ps4 pro came out and held off some more, then ps5, now ps5 pro. At this point I don’t even play video games that much anymore so the deck is likely the last ‘console’ ill ever want. I know the game and am one patient motherfucker, if I need to wait a few more years for the deck 2 then by god ill wait.
of course Valve will make a steam deck 2.
They just won’t make a steam deck 3.
Steam deck 2: episode 2
Nice!
I see what you did there. Nice.
Don’t bother. By the time the deck 2 comes out, in 6 months there will be a Deck 2.5.
Never buy or enjoy anything! ONLY think about the future
Alright that last comment got me
Right. I buried my dad last month and all his “I’d like to’s” went with him. So I used this opportunity to get a refurbished 512GB steam deck. Yeah, maybe I’ll get a new gaming PC next year, maybe I won’t, but I’ll be snuggling on the couch this winter playing some games.
I don’t understand this, then the deck 2 will be out and you’ll then wait for the refresh that’s coming out soon then the deck 3? At that rate you’ll never have a console.
On the other hand though, it’s Valve so they won’t get to 3.
At some point I have to pull the trigger, and I am the kind of person who uses a device until it dies so I would rather that device be a refined variant of the original. This year was hard for me financially so I just couldn’t eat the $ on a 400-600$ game player no matter how much I really wanted it. I was EXTREMELY tempted to get the deck when it went on sale this summer. Hopefully when 2 rolls out I will be in a better financial spot and its design and specs will be improved over the og
Yeah it doesn’t make sense to always wait, but I also disagree with people who say “there’s always something around the corner, so may as well buy immediately, even mid-cycle.” The middle ground for minimizing FOMO is: buy immediately after a new release.
I know exactly when the Switch 2 will be announced.
It will be the same week that the guy at work who has been holding out for it for 3 years finally relents and buys one.
I still occasionally use my OG switch I got in 2017. Its a fine little device in its own right just a shame that its completely cucked by nintendo. No I am not paying a subscription just to play multiplayer and access to half baked emulators. Horrible sales and overpriced games to boot. I can’t see how anyone in 2023 would want a switch 2 when the deck exist. IDC how good the next gen mario zelda or pokemon are nintendo can suck it.
Dude. I’ve been watching the handheld gaming market, and it is exactly like you said. If you wait about 6 months there is already new more powerful device out. Aya neo, Ayntech, anbernic, powkiddy.
Valve in particular is less prone to this kind of thing with their hardware, for example the Steam link, steam controller and Valve Index
Damn, very much tempted to sell mine and buy this OLED version; the LCD screen is pretty much the only feature I dislike.
What would be a fair price to sell a used 256gb version with no damage?
I just bought a refurb 256 for ~$350 out the door ($319 sticker) so I imagine you could get a bite in the high, mid-200’s although you’d probably also be cross-shopped against the 64 GB refurb (that’s mostly out of stock though)
On the used market you’ll be up against 64gb models upgraded with 1TB SSDs, which are a lot better value compared to the 256 or 512 versions from Valve. So look what those cost and subtract around $100, as that’s what the SSD costs.
Looks this is a refresh for those who were on the edge of buying one or those who really love OLED.
Personally, I would’ve instantly sold mine and upgraded if these also had VRR. Hopefully the proper next generation of these devices comes with it.
Ooff, that’s a bummer it doesn’t come with VRR. Linux has no issue supporting it with amd cards in general so I assume it’s the screen.
The rumor is that the Deck and the Switch use the same supplier for screens. Both the Switch and the Deck’s screens cannot support VRR. The Deck’s OLED also has thinner bezels than the LCD.
Wonder if it would be possible to retrofit the new parts into an existing SteamDeck
I read in a couple spots earlier that the new battery is physically too big and the OLED panel won’t transfer either.
Ah that’s unfortunate if true. Ah well I’m happy with my Steam Deck as is. I’m also sure that some YouTubers will find a way anyway 😂
Even the stick daughterboards are redesigned and the heat sink has different anchor points. None of the internals of these are cross-compatible.
The shell is identical, though, so it seems that sleeves, skins, screen protectors, cases and so on all carry over.
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