8 ms·

Valve’s Steam Deck wows reviewers: ‘The most innovative gaming PC in 20 years’

97 points by mywacaday 5y ago

janfoeh 5y ago
I'm looking for a small, hassle-free machine for my SO to play Cities: Skylines on. The screen would be wasted since it would only ever run docked, but if it turns out to be powerful enough, I'd be very tempted to get one.
yurishimo 5y ago
At this point, I'm not really interested in buying one, but I'm pretty excited for the Steam Deck from the perspective of mobile computing and repairability. Nintendo has made repairing the Switch a pain and is very anti-consumer in giving you access to your save data without forking over more money. In a similar vein, I think it's cool to see Sony take a more repair friendly approach with the PS5. Taking the sides off for cleaning or replacement is super easy and as a bonus creates an extra revenue stream for new accessories. The amount of really cool stuff hacker types are going to get out of the Deck is one area to look forward to. Heck, this could be the mobile workstation tons on this site have been asking for since the iPad debuted. When demand for the Deck dies down, I think I'll buy one if only to show Valve that I support the product and their respect for consumers.
- windmark 5y ago
  > In a similar vein, I think it's cool to see Sony take a more repair friendly approach with the PS5. Taking the sides off for cleaning or replacement is super easy and as a bonus creates an extra revenue stream for new accessories. Too bad Sony was so anti-competetive and sued Dbrand (and others?) for making custom side panels. https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgdqwz/custom-ps5-plate-company-dares-sony-to-sue-it-gets-sued-trolls-sony-again https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgdqwz/custom-ps5-plate-comp...
john567 5y ago
I'm considering using a SteamDeck as a portable workstation. It's no powerhouse but you'd be able to get a lot of stuff done on something like that. I'd connect it to a keyboard, mouse and external monitor. I've been thinking about not using Windows as my primary platform and Valve has put together something I think I could really get behind.
- Rebelgecko 5y ago
  I was in a similar boat, but then I realized that (at least for me) at that point it made more sense to just get a regular laptop.
  - john567 5y ago
    I find that a lot of laptops have underpowered GPUs and I like to game. Also, there's the repairability aspect. I've been interested in the framework laptop but I'd prefer an AMD SoC with some gaming capabilities. Also, I'm not giving my money to Intel for the foreseeable future.
- TillE 5y ago
  If you're not even using the screen, why bother? There are a zillion tiny computers out there.
  - john567 5y ago
    Any decent steam machine could do but I haven't seen many small machines that I'd want to buy.
- LegitShady 5y ago
  if you're not gaming I'm not sure why you wouldn't just get a laptop.
  - derkades 5y ago
    The steam deck might be more portable
tdsamardzhiev 5y ago
I'd insta-preorder a cooler running, less powerful, fanless version.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y ago
  If Steam Deck is a success then I expect knock-off Steam Decks with such alternatives would be available in the near future.
- Havoc 5y ago
  Given the heat output I'd not count on a cool fanless version showing up anytime soon. Not without significantly less performance
- tehbeard 5y ago
  Have others found issues with the heat? From the reviews I've seen they kept it away from the user's hands.
- RF_Savage 5y ago
  Couldn't you just underclock and undervolt the current day SteamDeck to achieve that? Or in general set a really strict power envelope for the AMD APU used in it?
  - tdsamardzhiev 5y ago
    Umm.. maybe? I'll wait and see. Not that I have much of a choice with the current hardware availability issues..
- danr4 5y ago
  It's arch based, you can probably make it cooler, less powerful, and turn the fans off.
Karsteski 5y ago
I didn't pre-order one, because I don't have the money, but I'm very much hoping SteamOS 3 provides a large amount of momentum for the Linux gaming ecosystem :)
parkingrift 5y ago
I’ve watched these reviews and their overall conclusion of the product seems completely divorced from all the details leading up to the conclusion. It runs hot, barely manages acceptable frame rates at 1280x800 on older games, and has pretty abysmal battery life. The performance, poor as it is, requires the most expensive model at $630. But then at the end it’s the most innovative gaming PC in 20 years. Really? It’s an expensive handheld with poor performance and poor battery life for a niche use case of PC gaming on the go and a relatively small subset of the Steam library.
- joeman1000 5y ago
  How is the most expensive model ‘required’? The only difference in models is screen texture and storage.
  - yaniqt 5y ago
    - derkades 5y ago
      So you seem to understand, can you explain?
  - spaceisballer 5y ago
    Agreed. I’m sort of relieved after watching videos that there isn’t a big reason to drop more for some more storage and a matte screen (and better case). And I find it promising is that the micro SD slot loads nearly as fast as the SSD. My use case is to take with me on travel and really to not have to sit in front of the computer to play games. So I’ll load some games on it but likely stream heavier games from my PC.
    - joeman1000 5y ago
      I went for the matte screen. I saw in the LTT tear-down that that the SSD is upgradable by removing ~10 screws to get to it.
Ekaros 5y ago
Getting one, but just because it is essentially free as I can't withdraw wallet funds on Steam... At worst I get a PC for something... Maybe for TV-box... At best something relatively portable.
- MaxikCZ 5y ago
  Never done this and never researched, but maybe buying some expensive skins and reselling it on websites for real money?
  - Ekaros 5y ago
    It is possible but prefer not to risk my account with that. And I don't really like accepting money on online for anything. So would need to find something with SEPA transfer.
- danr4 5y ago
  shoot me a message if you want to sell it :) the top model!
MaxLeiter 5y ago
I feel like a lot of these comments are missing the point. Many of these reviewers have handheld pcs that are comparable or better than the steamdeck on a hardware level but cost 2-3x as much (although they got them for free). They’re excited for what this means for the industry. An affordable, usable linux device by Valve pushes publishers and developers to make their game work on linux (whether natively or via proton). Higher linux adoption means better linux drivers and more use of opensource and free software, which would be huge in an industry plagued with proprietary work.
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
  It also respects the user. You're free to install whatever software or OS you want on it. This thing will still be useful in 10 years.
  - 1_player 5y ago
    Yes, these days it's hard to see actual investments on PC as a platform. Everyone has been cultivating their own walled gardens for the past 20 years, and now that a corporation tries to make profit off an open platform there's a lot of doubt and pessimism. Actual Stockholm Syndrome. I'd rather have a handheld PC based on Linux than a closed, warranty-void-if-opened box from the other players such as Nintendo or Sony or Microsoft.
ddtaylor 5y ago
I'm excited to see the Linux graphic stack improve and suck less, but I'm also not holding my breath as I've seen this entire thing not happen for decades now. I thought maybe Stadia and the other cloud operators would improve the Linux gaming stack, but it didn't really happen.
- TingPing 5y ago
  Valve contracts out a lot of driver work to Mesa and Linux.

97 points by mywacaday 5y ago

I'm looking for a small, hassle-free machine for my SO to play Cities: Skylines on. The screen would be wasted since it would only ever run docked, but if it turns out to be powerful enough, I'd be very tempted to get one.

yurishimo 5y ago

At this point, I'm not really interested in buying one, but I'm pretty excited for the Steam Deck from the perspective of mobile computing and repairability. Nintendo has made repairing the Switch a pain and is very anti-consumer in giving you access to your save data without forking over more money. In a similar vein, I think it's cool to see Sony take a more repair friendly approach with the PS5. Taking the sides off for cleaning or replacement is super easy and as a bonus creates an extra revenue stream for new accessories. The amount of really cool stuff hacker types are going to get out of the Deck is one area to look forward to. Heck, this could be the mobile workstation tons on this site have been asking for since the iPad debuted. When demand for the Deck dies down, I think I'll buy one if only to show Valve that I support the product and their respect for consumers.

windmark 5y ago
> In a similar vein, I think it's cool to see Sony take a more repair friendly approach with the PS5. Taking the sides off for cleaning or replacement is super easy and as a bonus creates an extra revenue stream for new accessories. Too bad Sony was so anti-competetive and sued Dbrand (and others?) for making custom side panels. https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgdqwz/custom-ps5-plate-company-dares-sony-to-sue-it-gets-sued-trolls-sony-again https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgdqwz/custom-ps5-plate-comp...

john567 5y ago

I'm considering using a SteamDeck as a portable workstation. It's no powerhouse but you'd be able to get a lot of stuff done on something like that. I'd connect it to a keyboard, mouse and external monitor. I've been thinking about not using Windows as my primary platform and Valve has put together something I think I could really get behind.

Rebelgecko 5y ago
I was in a similar boat, but then I realized that (at least for me) at that point it made more sense to just get a regular laptop.
- john567 5y ago
  I find that a lot of laptops have underpowered GPUs and I like to game. Also, there's the repairability aspect. I've been interested in the framework laptop but I'd prefer an AMD SoC with some gaming capabilities. Also, I'm not giving my money to Intel for the foreseeable future.
TillE 5y ago
If you're not even using the screen, why bother? There are a zillion tiny computers out there.
- john567 5y ago
  Any decent steam machine could do but I haven't seen many small machines that I'd want to buy.
LegitShady 5y ago
if you're not gaming I'm not sure why you wouldn't just get a laptop.
- derkades 5y ago
  The steam deck might be more portable

tdsamardzhiev 5y ago

I'd insta-preorder a cooler running, less powerful, fanless version.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y ago
If Steam Deck is a success then I expect knock-off Steam Decks with such alternatives would be available in the near future.
Havoc 5y ago
Given the heat output I'd not count on a cool fanless version showing up anytime soon. Not without significantly less performance
tehbeard 5y ago
Have others found issues with the heat? From the reviews I've seen they kept it away from the user's hands.
RF_Savage 5y ago
Couldn't you just underclock and undervolt the current day SteamDeck to achieve that? Or in general set a really strict power envelope for the AMD APU used in it?
- tdsamardzhiev 5y ago
  Umm.. maybe? I'll wait and see. Not that I have much of a choice with the current hardware availability issues..
danr4 5y ago
It's arch based, you can probably make it cooler, less powerful, and turn the fans off.

Karsteski 5y ago

I didn't pre-order one, because I don't have the money, but I'm very much hoping SteamOS 3 provides a large amount of momentum for the Linux gaming ecosystem :)

parkingrift 5y ago

I’ve watched these reviews and their overall conclusion of the product seems completely divorced from all the details leading up to the conclusion. It runs hot, barely manages acceptable frame rates at 1280x800 on older games, and has pretty abysmal battery life. The performance, poor as it is, requires the most expensive model at $630. But then at the end it’s the most innovative gaming PC in 20 years. Really? It’s an expensive handheld with poor performance and poor battery life for a niche use case of PC gaming on the go and a relatively small subset of the Steam library.

joeman1000 5y ago
How is the most expensive model ‘required’? The only difference in models is screen texture and storage.
- yaniqt 5y ago
  - derkades 5y ago
    So you seem to understand, can you explain?
- spaceisballer 5y ago
  Agreed. I’m sort of relieved after watching videos that there isn’t a big reason to drop more for some more storage and a matte screen (and better case). And I find it promising is that the micro SD slot loads nearly as fast as the SSD. My use case is to take with me on travel and really to not have to sit in front of the computer to play games. So I’ll load some games on it but likely stream heavier games from my PC.
  - joeman1000 5y ago
    I went for the matte screen. I saw in the LTT tear-down that that the SSD is upgradable by removing ~10 screws to get to it.

Ekaros 5y ago

Getting one, but just because it is essentially free as I can't withdraw wallet funds on Steam... At worst I get a PC for something... Maybe for TV-box... At best something relatively portable.

MaxikCZ 5y ago
Never done this and never researched, but maybe buying some expensive skins and reselling it on websites for real money?
- Ekaros 5y ago
  It is possible but prefer not to risk my account with that. And I don't really like accepting money on online for anything. So would need to find something with SEPA transfer.
danr4 5y ago
shoot me a message if you want to sell it :) the top model!

MaxLeiter 5y ago

I feel like a lot of these comments are missing the point. Many of these reviewers have handheld pcs that are comparable or better than the steamdeck on a hardware level but cost 2-3x as much (although they got them for free). They’re excited for what this means for the industry. An affordable, usable linux device by Valve pushes publishers and developers to make their game work on linux (whether natively or via proton). Higher linux adoption means better linux drivers and more use of opensource and free software, which would be huge in an industry plagued with proprietary work.

2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
It also respects the user. You're free to install whatever software or OS you want on it. This thing will still be useful in 10 years.
- 1_player 5y ago
  Yes, these days it's hard to see actual investments on PC as a platform. Everyone has been cultivating their own walled gardens for the past 20 years, and now that a corporation tries to make profit off an open platform there's a lot of doubt and pessimism. Actual Stockholm Syndrome. I'd rather have a handheld PC based on Linux than a closed, warranty-void-if-opened box from the other players such as Nintendo or Sony or Microsoft.

ddtaylor 5y ago

I'm excited to see the Linux graphic stack improve and suck less, but I'm also not holding my breath as I've seen this entire thing not happen for decades now. I thought maybe Stadia and the other cloud operators would improve the Linux gaming stack, but it didn't really happen.

TingPing 5y ago
Valve contracts out a lot of driver work to Mesa and Linux.