Valve Updates the Steam Deck with OLED Display, Overhauled Internals

[Vayra86]

Hello Valve, in the real world, most people usually prefer to get wined & dined BEFORE gettin screwed

This isnt new right. We walk around in a world of obsolete -tomorrow -products

I have found freesync isn't needed as much on SteamOS, I have no idea why that is though. I guess it would have helped harder to run games though you are correct.

Freesync bottom limit is 48 fps or sth right? Pretty pointless if the best fps target on deck is 40

 

[Imouto]

This isnt new right. We walk around in a world of obsolete -tomorrow -products

But you do know that all the Steam Decks in the market still work, right? And that they will receive updates like... forever, right? Like the Steam Link that got a firmware update less than a month ago:

Steam Link build 883 :: Steam Link General Discussions

We've just released an update to the Steam Link firmware. Changes: Fixed immediately waking up when a wired Nintendo Switch Pro controller is connected Fixed freeze when using Xbox 360 controllers Changes in build 882: Improved reliability of Remote Play Anywhere Fixed rare case of the...

steamcommunity.com

Freesync bottom limit is 48 fps or sth right? Pretty pointless if the best fps target on deck is 40

You can still wire your deck to your TV and make use of LFC. And theoretically with a refresh rate of 90 Hz the new OLED screen could still use LFC. So not really pointless.

 

[Space Lynx]

This isnt new right. We walk around in a world of obsolete -tomorrow -products


Freesync bottom limit is 48 fps or sth right? Pretty pointless if the best fps target on deck is 40

No freesync can go all the way down to 1 fps, it just depends how it is implemented. The Alienware OLED monitor for example can go down to 1 fps freesync range with a radeon 6950 xt, I know because my buddy showed me a screenshot one time.

It will almost certainly come with a resolution boost if the APU gets boosted. Its better for marketing to say its now 1080p, 1200p or whatever to say rather than "oh it can now hit the refresh rate" which would imply their old product is substandard.

The reason I like the APU didnt get changed as it keeps a consistent performance target, and that any optimisations done on Steam OS will stay relevant for the older deck's, this is a good policy. For those who want more there is alternative products.

But of course the day will come (it seems probably 2 years) when there will be a more powerful deck 2. I am 100% with them when they say less frequent and more meaningful updates are better.

While I agree with you and Valve it is best to keep the APU consistent, this is definitely its major point of weakness, as Windows 10/11 machines don't give a fuck what CPU/GPU you use. I would say this is the single biggest weakness SteamOS faces, that lack of flexibility. Developers can target w.e they want, but at end of day they are still PC games where you can go into settings and fiddle with the settings to raise or lower fps to what we desire. The fact the hardware can't compliment that is a major crutch, and a huge win for Windows machines.

No. Nothing prevented them to overclock the APU or change it for a similar, more powerful one, or increase the ram capacity, they choose not to, and that's a good thing. It happened in the past that a console released with improved specs, studios focused on the new model because it's the one they have, and then the original model encountered performance issues, example, driver on PSone vs PSX

When Microsoft released the Xbox 360 slim, they were proud of matching closely the performance of the original model by crippling the chip

I see it as a major weak point, since Windows machines are so flexible on this.

 

[Vayra86]

But you do know that all the Steam Decks in the market still work, right? And that they will receive updates like... forever, right? Like the Steam Link that got a firmware update less than a month ago:

Comment referred to hardware being outdated. Its like the gist of tech

 

[trsttte]

No. Nothing prevented them to overclock the APU or change it for a similar, more powerful one, or increase the ram capacity, they choose not to, and that's a good thing. It happened in the past that a console released with improved specs, studios focused on the new model because it's the one they have, and then the original model encountered performance issues, example, driver on PSone vs PSX

When Microsoft released the Xbox 360 slim, they were proud of matching closely the performance of the original model by crippling the chip

Another important point is that they certainly were doing very very thin margins per unit, cheaper model might not have even break even at launch. Now with the components getting cheaper they can increase their margins, just as regular consoles do. For example, the OLED model got higher density ram which are usually cheaper and are 2 less parts to have on the board (and in this case also happen to be faster as a bonus).

Freesync bottom limit is 48 fps or sth right? Pretty pointless if the best fps target on deck is 40

48hz. If the FPS drops bellow 48 you get duplicated frames to match a higher than 48 refresh rate.

 

[leezhiran]

Will there be screen replacement parts for the original SDs?

 

[Space Lynx]

Will there be screen replacement parts for the original SDs?

ifixit will be supporting it yes and already does, they work with Valve on these matters, every part is replaceable on original steam deck LCD and OLED and all parts will be available on ifixit, most already are to my knowledge.

 

[Mahboi]

"The downside you ask? The price"
Frankly not much of a downside when you consider the original prices and how much better this is.

 

[Kyan]

ifixit will be supporting it yes and already does, they work with Valve on these matters, every part is replaceable on original steam deck LCD and OLED and all parts will be available on ifixit, most already are to my knowledge.

I think he mean replacing the lcd screen with the oled one. If that's the case, i don't think the oled screen can be put in the lcd deck like that since they have modified a lot of the internals in the deck oled.

 

[xBruce88x]

welp.... I know where my bonus check is going. lost my 512gb lcd model due to a pawn shop changing management and no longer accepting online pay for pawns. if its early enough I'll go for the limited ed though the "normal" 1tb model will do! i usually lock to 40hz but maybe I'll bump that to 45hz to be 1/2 the refresh rate. honestly just looking forward to the better battery life. eh maybe i can get that guy who did the 32gb ram upgrade to do so with this one later lol

 

[Imouto]

welp.... I know where my bonus check is going. lost my 512gb lcd model due to a pawn shop changing management and no longer accepting online pay for pawns. if its early enough I'll go for the limited ed though the "normal" 1tb model will do! i usually lock to 40hz but maybe I'll bump that to 45hz to be 1/2 the refresh rate. honestly just looking forward to the better battery life. eh maybe i can get that guy who did the 32gb ram upgrade to do so with this one later lol

The memory is now on two far smaller chips instead of four bigger ones. Dunno if he's gonna have trouble with the new ones but sure thing he's gonna try.

 

[r9]

They should have added 2 more cpu and 4 more gpu cores/CUs.
Not a single game at the settings I like goes over 60fps.

 

[Space Lynx]

I think he mean replacing the lcd screen with the oled one. If that's the case, i don't think the oled screen can be put in the lcd deck like that since they have modified a lot of the internals in the deck oled.

ah ok yeah, my bad. yeah lcd model can't have oled replacement screen. too many technical issues

 

[Squared]

They have already replaced the APU in the OLD deck some time ago. So it's not an issue.

According Valve's specifications page, which lists both the OLED and LCD models, the LCD model still has a 7nm APU. Valve said in the past that the 256GB model sold the least. This leads me to believe that the 256GB LCD model isn't in production but Valve has enough of it to keep selling it for a while.

Steam Deck :: Tech Specs

Available now.

www.steamdeck.com

 

[Squared]

What concerns me most about the Deck OLED is that it uses relatively low-frquency PWM to control the brightness, which apparently the Switch OLED also does, and this results in a flicker which is usually not discernable but which nevertheless bothers some users.

An article on the issue in the Switch OLED:

PSA: Sensitive To PWM Flicker? You'll Want To Keep The Switch OLED's Screen Nice And Bright

New screen uses Pulse Width Modulation to control brightness

www.nintendolife.com

The Phawx on YouTube talks about this at 5:05.

 

[THU31]

Doesn't this have a positive side-effect of reducing persistence blur, similar to Black Frame Insertion? I use BFI on my LG OLED at 60 Hz and the flicker doesn't bother me, but the TV doesn't have PWM flicker.

Then again, if it does, for lower-framerate content it would actually strengthen the double image effect, for example when using 40 FPS at 80 Hz. That's what happens if I use BFI at 60 Hz and there's a 30 FPS cutscene.

 

[Squared]

Part of the problem with it is that most people aren't bothered by it, so people who are affected by it are sort of unintentionally gaslit by the people around them. In this case the user can simply choose to return it, but will have to realize what the cause of the issue is, determine whether changing the brightness can solve the issue, and if not return it within 14 days. Most of the reviewers aren't helping. I've seen several reviews and hardware tests and only one mentioned this issue.

I also want to know what the actual flicker frequency is. The Phawx said that the OLED screen on the Deck can go down to 45Hz, but my peripheral vision can see 60Hz Christmas lights flickering. But the 60Hz lights are easier to see because they follow half of an AC wave, starting dim then getting really bright for a moment then getting dim again, before turning off entirely for 1/120th of a second. Now that I think about it, there was one CRT monitor which I could discern flickering on, and it was a second monitor so I always saw it in my peripheral vision. That was annoying to use. I don't remember if it gave me a headache though.

 

[Easy Rhino]

dumb question, but if i were to get this new oled hdr version, can i export the display to my 4k/144hz monitor? obviously it wont play games at that resolution/rate but would i be able to downscale to 1080p/90hz ?

 

[Nordic]

dumb question, but if i were to get this new oled hdr version, can i export the display to my 4k/144hz monitor? obviously it wont play games at that resolution/rate but would i be able to downscale to 1080p/90hz ?

Yes. It can do anything a PC can do. It can display at 4k. You will feel at home with a linux desktop.

 

[Easy Rhino]

Yes. It can do anything a PC can do. It can display at 4k. You will feel at home with a linux desktop.

I think I know what Santa is bringing me for Christmas.

 

[Kyan]

dumb question, but if i were to get this new oled hdr version, can i export the display to my 4k/144hz monitor? obviously it wont play games at that resolution/rate but would i be able to downscale to 1080p/90hz ?

I'm pretty sure it works with the old lcd version too

 

[Nordic]

I'm pretty sure it works with the old lcd version too

It does.

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

no handheld can do AAA games well of recent release, that is what a desktop is for, as well as these other desktop games you mention above. I prefer SteamOS if a game will run on it fine though. I have also found that certain games that won't run on Windows anymore (Prototype steam game) run great on Steam OS, so having a Steam OS device and a Windows device compliment each other nicely.

Not all recent AAA games run heavy for PCs. Warhammer Darktide runs beautifully on my ROG ALLY at 1080p 60fps, and that game also runs well in Linux so I can only imagine running even better. Plus, desktop is not as interesting as mobile imo. Only reason I’m interested in desktop is due to SFFPCs. Big bulky desktop PC with overkill cooling is boring nowadays and Laptop PC parts are getting just as powerful as last gen PCs and damn near up to mid/high-end current gen PCs.

I have the XG mobile 6850m XT and if I need to play more demanding games that the ROG ALLY can’t handle, forget a desktop and plug it into the XG mobile and done.

But man, that Steam Deck with the OLED screen just keeps my interest. I just wish Valve gave it internal storage with the ability to expand it with an SSD and not just microSD.

 

[Mussels]

I have a work phone Samsung s20 phone that I keep the resolution at 720p, only because I get better battery life.

That's only a scaling effect unless it's a 3D game.
It's closer to the DPI scaling setting in windows, than anything else

All the displays pixels are still powered and lit up when the screen is on (unless its black, ofc), it's changing the 3D render resolution rather than the display resolution.

 

[A&P211]

That's only a scaling effect unless it's a 3D game.
It's closer to the DPI scaling setting in windows, than anything else

All the displays pixels are still powered and lit up when the screen is on (unless its black, ofc), it's changing the 3D render resolution rather than the display resolution.

I've never really tested if it really does give longer battery life. In the options when you change resolution it says battery life increases.
I did see some phone reviews that it slightly does increase battery life. In my line of wok, sometimes I carry around a tool belt with phone attached to the belt, I dont want to carry around an extra battery pack to charge the phone.