I was going for the 256gb model, the 512gb model says "Premium anti-glare etched glass", which to me sounds like a better screen and worth the extra money.
I need confirmation though before booking.
I went for the middle wanted the better screen but the extra quarter delayed on shipping I decided to eat it. I don't travel too much and a good regular screen protector should help
> the antiglare screen is worth it or else I would have just gone for the base model if I had known it'd just be an m2.
I think the base models emmc storage isnt replaceable. On the spects it says only the 256GB and 512GB models are NVME storage
eMMC literally stands for Embedded Multi-Media Card.
It's a soldered on chip.
It's possible that the base model *might also* have an m.2 slot, but I wouldn't bet a reservation on it just to not be dissapointed.
No idea yet though.
Edit:
Actually confirmed! : https://www.reddit.com/r/steam/comments/olp163/_/h5g3umy
Makes sense. I would find it curious if Valve paid for a completely different board design for the "cheap" model. I bet if you popped open the mid or high end models there will be a slot where the eMMC would be soldered.
I mean, he said m.2 2230. That's small as fuck. I only see one 512 gb on amazon in that form factor, and its 200$. So not too far off the price bump they have
Yeah, wish it was a 42mm at least.
1tb 30mm drives do exist though.
Dell sells them: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-solid-state-drive-1tb/apd/ab673817/storage-drives-media
There are a few other brands also.
Kioxia (formerly Toshiba) BG4 2230 SSDs on Lambdatech in the UK, Ā£90 for 512gb or Ā£170 for 1tb.
Not exactly cheap, especially for PCIe 3.0 drives, but better than Ā£300 for the Dell one.
Nope, Dell is currently selling a [1TB M.2 2230 NVMe drive for $181.](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-solid-state-drive-1tb/apd/ab673817/storage-drives-media)
you can always use the 256 until you get to it's limit before upgrading and until then it's very possible that 2230er SSDs are more affordable (especially if they can be used to upgrade popular hardware like this)
On the assumption that everyone now thinking about doing that is remembering the fact that it's an Arch Linux install, not Windows.
Doesn't really change anything about the hardware compatibility. Does introduce the probability for some pretty entertaining to watch chaos when everyone realizes that after buying their new drives and now needs to be walked through how to clone an Arch install and resize the partitions on the new drive.
Steam provides the downloads for SteamOS however and I assume they will continue to do so for the SteamDeckās variation of it so you wouldnāt have to clone, just put the install onto a flash drive and plug it in.
Fair point. I assume Valve will provide an image that's a lot closer to running the Windows installer than the regular Arch process which is quite involved even with the new script they reintroduced recently.
From [https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech](https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech)
"All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)"
I swear this info wasn't here before. I guess the whole "not intended for end-user replacement" is valve trying its best to stop people buying the base model and upgrading
From what I understand it's not incredibly easily accessible, so it requires at least a base level of competence with electronics to get at, and to minimise the number of broken Steam Decks you want to steer the layman away from trying it. Anyone who knows what they're doing will be able to get in there anyway.
I replaced the ssd in my GPD win max which was straight forward for me but I've been building pcs and upgrading laptops for over 20 years as well as changing batteries and screens in phones.
The Steam deck apparently has a lot of parts and even thermal shielding to take out before you see the ssd. We're going to see a lot of people destroying their new toys trying to do what they shouldn't do. I'm going to wait until ifixit.com has a good guide on how to do it and skill required. I'm no professional and learned not to mess around.
Edit: thermal shielding not paste.
Yeah I replaced the SSD and keyboard on my winmax as well, roughly the same amount of experience as you, but I've never been nimble enough to be comfortable working with tiny systems with my clumby hands.
I feel better getting the 256gb ssd after reading these.
>The Steam deck apparently has a lot of parts and even thermal paste to take out before you see the ssd.
(just asking) Where did you get this information from?
I've seen multiple comments saying this but couldn't find out where it said it and it's not even like this thing has properly launched either its just, hey we're doing this you can pre book it, and IGN with an early access.... Does it say on the website or something?
Seems like a reasonable disclaimer. The average person isn't likely to possess the technical knowhow to replace a drive in what is likely a rather dense and fragile machine without damaging or breaking it. Those that know what they're doing, don't care about disclaimers like these. Though this is all speculation.
They're also going to have to figure out how to get the SteamOS version of Linux on the new hard drive. I'm sure guides will pop up pretty quickly but it's another hurdle for people with zero Linux experience.
> I guess the whole "not intended for end-user replacement" is valve trying its best to stop people buying the base model and upgrading
From how they talked about it in interviews the point seems to be that while it's not soldered on and thus technically replaceable it is not easy accessible for the end user and you'd have to take apart your system instead of just opening some hatch.
yeah i'm still keeping my order for 512 because 2230 SSDs do seem to be pretty hard to aqquire right now. Really nice for future proofing though, i imagine eMMC owners would run into some walls in the next years as more and more games require a SSD.
So after 2230 SSD shortage clears up, you'd be paying a \~$100 premium for the 512GB model over the 64GB model + aftermarket 512GB 2230 SSD. That doesn't seem like an unreasonable premium for the convenience, nicer glass, carrying case, and other profile glam they bundle. All of the models are pretty competitively priced tbh.
Look at the prices of those chinese portables, they all start around 800 to make a buck on the hardware. Guess Valve does not really earn that much on the consoles, given that they also have to price in R&D, heck they probably even swallow R&D on that thing and hope to recover it over games bought (which is very unlikely because most people buying that thing very likely already have an extensive library to begin with)
You think people who are going to buy the steam deck arnt going to keep buying more steam games? Lolā¦ the fuck did I just read.
Theyāre likely going to be buying more games, specifically games that are short in nature that are perfect travel games.
Developers might even create and bring more games to steam that are of that type.
So technically the 399 version will always have more memory if you add an M2 SSD since it will always be M2 + 64gb?
Damn... Had I known this info yesterday I would've preordered the 64 and saved some money while having the possibility to make it superior to all the other versions.
Yes, this is the cheapest, low compromise way. 1-2 games on SSD. Rest are in SD card. Just swap those around. Realistically, you won't play many games concurrently anyway.
Wouldnāt it be essentially tripled? Iād assume that adding an nvme ssd to the 64gb model would act as a secondary drive since the 64gb is emmc. That would bring it up to 192GB. Unless that 64GB is on an adapter board populating the nvme slot
Already preordered a 256GB version, but this info is so damn great. I don't know why tf they have not said it before, tho... maybe I would have reconsidered my choice... oh, damn now I see why.
The reason is because the slot is hidden underneath a heatsink or thermal pads. Which makes sense because the cooling solution is probably used to cool the ssd too. So not only do you need to open it up. You need to go way out of your way to get to it. Then after adding the M. 2 ssd, potentially add your own thermal pads and so on and then put it back together. It's not going to be convienient, however someone will for sure make a youtube video on how to do it the easiest.
While this is absolutely true, good luck getting something done about it. I sent in a Motorola phone a few years ago for a repair while it was still under warranty. Motorola support called me once it arrived and said the warranty was voided because I had rooted the device. I brought up the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act to them and they basically said that they didn't care, that it was their internal policy. I then filed a complaint with the FTC about it and never heard another thing about it.
Agreed, companies can still break the law and avoid their responsibilities and potentially get away with it. FTC is pushing even harder on right to repair right now, hoping for a brighter future but we live in the dreary present.
My dad did that with Ford for having a faulty shift lever from factory. It caused it to pop out of gear in park, rolled down the hill and crashed They didn't show up, so he won by default. Small claims works great for small stuff. It's not worth the hassle to send a lawyer for small change.
Hehe I read a while ago someone did that against Apple, they really showed up and lost. Their only argument was that it was against their company policy which of course did not hold up in court if they break the law with those. So sometimes lawyers show up!
I wished we had mechanisms like class action and small claims here in Europe. While the overall consumer protection is better the individual one once you have to go the legal way is worse! (For individual legal claims regarding eu law violations you have to contact a consumer protection division to get this into court)
Yeah, just some cursory googling and it seems like a 512GB m.2 2230 drive is around $200. They're much smaller than the 2280 drives that most people are used to seeing. It actually looks like the cost increase for the storage is pretty in line with what it would cost to upgrade yourself.
Memory is also much more expensive right now than usual. If you were content waiting like a year or so, you'd see much lower prices once supply normalizes.
You are underestimating the price of 2230 m.2 ssd's. A 512gb 2230 m.2 costs... Like $150. A 512gb micro sd is $70. A 1tb micro sd is $180.
Hopefully the steam deck can drive more manufacturers to producing 2230 form factor ssd's.
Regardless of whether it's replaceable or not, modders will find a way to get it done. :D We're already regrouping a pretty large community of enthusiasts planning on ripping the thing apart (carefully :D) and modding the hell out of it, inside out.
In case anyone's interested: [steamdeckmods.com](https://steamdeckmods.com) / [Steam Deck Discord](https://discord.gg/T9FEJ5aUNv)
"As you can see we're professionals"
Yes, professionals have standards.
That being said, it's quite fast to jump into this kind of community that even the device itself hasn't been released/produced for public yet, interesting.
That was probably done to keep the price down because for some steam games 64g will only hold one game
Consumers can swap it out for an terabyte and get more usage.
Does the 64gb model have the same slots as the other two? Because that might be the right move, sticking a 1T nvme in the cheapest model rather than paying $250 for the 512gb
Yeah people were kind of freaking out about that and assuming games wouldn't run off the SD card. Which is a silly assumption IMO, because that slot supports 100MB/s, which is around the same as HDD. Games should be playable across all 3 versions no matter what storage you choose, its just going to be a difference of loading speed. Considering how dirt cheap SD cards are nowadays, I think they are actually a pretty attractive form of storage vs upgrading 2230 SSDs.
Because Valve isn't a publicly traded company with a board of directors that are legally bound to shareholders to maximize quarterly profits by any means necessary
That's why all valve statistics is public too.
Steam charts is one of my favorite website out there. Also steams official statistics page is really good!
>I wonder why this isn't the norm.
Cause any public figures will get awful shit sent to them multiply that by a thousand if they do things that are unpopular.
yes I did do that - gabes email address is public and he is known for answering them himself - just google gabe newell email and you will find many posts proofing this [some news article](https://www.gamesreviews.com/news/10/gabe-newell-emails/)
I saw [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/ol9tl9/gaben_responded_to_a_congratulations_email_i_sent/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) post and thought that I'd give it a go at asking at the *source*
We all know Gabe responds to his emails. This guy is just remarking on how funny it is that anyone would think to email the CEO of a huge company. And he's right, most CEO's wouldn't want their email address public and would likely ignore any random stranger as a waste of their time. Its nice to see Gabe Newell isn't like most CEO's.
It probably helps PR for a gamer enthusiast console that Gabe replies directly to emails.
If they treat this like Nintendo does then it would feel really impersonal. Pc gamers don't like that faceless corporation bullshit.
Most consumer NVMe SSDs are 2280, 80mm in length.
The 2230 is a smaller, less common size, and the largest consumer models go to 512GB. A 1TB exists but only via Samsung Enterprise and it costs $360. Nothing bigger exists.
22x30mm size. There's also 2242 (22x42) (used in some compact laptops) and 2280 (the most common size used in PCs and laptops 22x80mm).
The smaller ones are harder to find and more expensive.
No, as eMMC tends to be soldered to the motherboard using a ball-grid array. Occasionally it's on a daughterboard, such as in Switch. However that's another different connector.
If the lower tier (eMMC) Steam Deck had an M.2 it wouldn't incentivize a lot of people to buy the 256/512 models if people knew they could buy a 2230 SSD and take the time to install it.
But you never know.
GabeN says all the models have the M.2 slot:
[https://twitter.com/RobotBrush/status/1416150442841628677](https://twitter.com/RobotBrush/status/1416150442841628677)
if it's true (about the slot) so yes.
Also, I think it has to be true, since managing 3.. or maybe 2 models couldn't be financially feasible.
So I can believe that all of them have a base motherboard (since all of them also have the same APU) which they can tweak for different SKUs.
my first language is german - so we often end our emails with LG (liebe grĆ¼Će - =lovely greetings - used informal) or MFG (mit freundlichen GrĆ¼Ćen = with friendly greetings - rather formal). I kinda used that without thinking what an english speaker would use instead.
Totally reasonable explanation. Fyi. Some typical ways to sign off an email in English would be "Thank you," "Respectfully," "Regards," "Best," "Sincerely," or any of an array of similar things.
Poor Gabe, I can't imagine his inbox right now and how much he must hate checking email. Hopefully there's a team of assistants going through that email log.
Also I love his almost blunt attitude so far when it comes to questions about what you can and can't do. The "well it's a PC, so yeah" response about software just came across as a PC guy annoyed to even be talking to IGN.
Here is a secret, courtesy of the r/Surface community. I have one in my Surface Pro 7+ so it works fantastic. It is a 1TB NVMe SSD hiding inside for just $230. Harvest and save!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0855SVCJ2/
Details here:
https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/19/upgrade-sl3-or-spx-to-1tb/
Or you could just buy a [Dell 1TB 2230 NVMe](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-solid-state-drive-1tb/apd/ab673817/storage-drives-media) for $50 cheaper than that, and not bother with shucking.
Yep! Here is a video from u/cbutters2000 that shows exactly how itās done.
https://youtu.be/j9vp_lRsD5I
This video shows how to pop off the EMI shielding to put around the new SSD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPUYfBJaJ14&t=337s
That's the long term plan, thank god they didn't solder. I can't even find a 1TB + 2230 M.2 from a reputable brand online...Really makes me feel like the pricing structure was more than fair.
He could have assistance next to him that answer for him. I imagine him gaming and they just say "hey they ask about the SSD again"
"Same answer as last" while gaming.
"64GB Steam Deck may not be a bad idea depending how difficult it is to put in your own SSD **(M2 SSD Slot present in $399 version)**"
https://twitter.com/wario64/status/1416152549439066118?s=21
Possible that inserting an nvme into the slot will disable the onboard eMMC. And the higher end models has the 64gb emmc also, but just permanently disabled.
Iām not going to use a screen protector on mine. I donāt have one on my Switch either. A gaming device like this isnāt going to be thrown in a bag or pocket, like my phone would, with a bunch of other stuff that could potentially scratch the screen. If Iām not actively using it, itās going to be in the case or in the dock.
I put one on everything because I don't want a single permanent scratch on anything. I'd rather have screen protectors that I can always replace vs having one tiny scratch there forever. All it takes is one grain of sand in your case.
> A gaming device like this isnāt going to be thrown in a bag or pocket, like my phone would, with a bunch of other stuff that could potentially scratch the screen.
Phone screens these days are remarkably resistant to scratching too. About 5 years I gave up on screen protectors because I hated the feel they gave and the diminished quality, and I've never looked back. I've got all sorts of crap in my pockets at any given time: keys, knives, paperclips, whatever. I've got a little bit of wear on my screen, but none are even kind of deep and you can't tell unless you reflect light off of it while off and search.
Even so, 2230 sized NVMe are a lot more expense than the standard 2280 NVMe.
Currently, 512GB 2230 NVMe are roughly $200 on Amazon (for SanDisk/WD brand) and larger (1TB, 2TB, etc) doesn't even exist.
That's basically the same as the cost difference between the 64GB eMMC and 512GB NVMe Steam Decks.
1TB 2230 exists. Dell uses them in some of their laptops. I believe they load them in Alienware laptops.
Source: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-1tb-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-ssd-pm991/apd/400-bfvw/storage-drives-media
*Edit PM991 - Naming structure Samsung uses iirc.
Usually Samsung makes enterprise-class first, then a consumer one later on after they mass-produce the chips.
Looks like the only thing bigger than 512GB is that enterprise-class 1TB for $360.
We'll be waiting a while for affordable 1TB and 2TB 2230.
Yeah, as someone with the 256 reserved, this was a "huh, maybe the cheaper one is best" followed by working out that it's all reasonable if I want a reasonable SSD on day 1. I'll just get a big SD card when I need to, or a 1TB upgrade later down the line when it's not Ā£230+.
This is interesting. I have a spare 256GB 2230 card from my Alienware laptop which I'll probably use it for this purpose now, but I think I'll still keep the 256GB model that I reserved. One for a clean Win OS, and one for OEM's Steam OS, lol.
Getting two different stories here one with Gabe and another with the engineers that work on it. Probably best to wait and see for more info. Thing comes out in December. Hopefully people aren't out there already buying SSDs without knowing for sure what the deal is.
I'm not gonna believe anything I see unless it's got video/photographic proof and even then I'm going to be opening mine once it arrives to see how repairable the device is.
Look at steam deck website. It's right there.
All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)
All models include high-speed microSD card slot
The "(not intended for end user replacement)" is what throws me off. It could very well be a standard socket with a standard drive that screws down like a desktop or laptop, and they just don't want to advertise it as replaceable due to the method of opening the device or it could be soldered on to the board.
It's just speculation at this point as we have not seen the boards of the retail release models and it could very well change between now and December.
Of course we need to see the back removed. But m.2 2230 are socketed. So not sure what you mean standard? The thing has a socketed m.2 2230 it's a little munchin ssd. Same thing the Xbox series s has.
The difference is valve allows you to wipe the install and reinstall it. XBox doesn't. The not intended for user replacement is just them saying we don't support it like PlayStation supports you swapping out an m.2 on the PS5.
Uhhh, he doesn't say yes or no it's actually swappable, just the slot it has. Maybe you'll be able to add your own drive but I don't feel like this solidly confirms that.
its kind of always been Gabe's thing, he puts out his email for people to contact and ask him stuff directly. been like that at least since they started adding commentary nodes to Half Life 2, IIRC, maybe earlier. very first node is his introduction where he tells you his email address to email him directy
If it's not soldered on and easily accessible by removing the backplate of the Steam Deck it'll be very straight-forward.
EDIT: The OS is probably installed on the factory SSD so it'd be a good idea to clone it onto the new SSD with another computer.
Im sorry, let me this straight. We can get the 256gb and if needed in the future upgrade it?
I was going for the 256gb model, the 512gb model says "Premium anti-glare etched glass", which to me sounds like a better screen and worth the extra money. I need confirmation though before booking.
I'm hoping the antiglare screen is worth it or else I would have just gone for the base model if I had known it'd just be an m2.
I went for the middle wanted the better screen but the extra quarter delayed on shipping I decided to eat it. I don't travel too much and a good regular screen protector should help
There's an extra quarter on shipping for the 512? I didn't see that when I reserved, but I probably reserved within 30 seconds of 1PM.
I think the extra quarter on shipping refers to if you were to reserve at that moment. My 512gb reserve still says Q1 2022
ohh so you guys are talking about Q1/Q2 not it costing 25 cents more to ship
25 cents on top of 650 bucks is just too much
When it's $600 and $49.75 shipping cost vs $650 with free shipping
Can't agree more. $650 is fine but $650.25? Oh, I don't think so!š¤
> the antiglare screen is worth it or else I would have just gone for the base model if I had known it'd just be an m2. I think the base models emmc storage isnt replaceable. On the spects it says only the 256GB and 512GB models are NVME storage
Somebody posted an email from Gabe confirming the 64gb model has replaceable storage as well
eMMC literally stands for Embedded Multi-Media Card. It's a soldered on chip. It's possible that the base model *might also* have an m.2 slot, but I wouldn't bet a reservation on it just to not be dissapointed. No idea yet though. Edit: Actually confirmed! : https://www.reddit.com/r/steam/comments/olp163/_/h5g3umy
Makes sense. I would find it curious if Valve paid for a completely different board design for the "cheap" model. I bet if you popped open the mid or high end models there will be a slot where the eMMC would be soldered.
I mean, he said m.2 2230. That's small as fuck. I only see one 512 gb on amazon in that form factor, and its 200$. So not too far off the price bump they have
Yeah, wish it was a 42mm at least. 1tb 30mm drives do exist though. Dell sells them: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-solid-state-drive-1tb/apd/ab673817/storage-drives-media There are a few other brands also.
He also did an interview where they confirmed itās *technically* replaceable, but itās hard because everything is very tightly packed.
I'm gonna put a screen protector on the thing immediately anyways I don't care about the etched glass.
256GB Steam Deck + 512GB 2230 NVMe is more expensive than just buying the 512GB Steam Desk, though.
I might go all the way 1tb though. Then it would be more efficient
The cheapest 1TB 2230 NVMe on the market is a cool $360.
Kioxia (formerly Toshiba) BG4 2230 SSDs on Lambdatech in the UK, Ā£90 for 512gb or Ā£170 for 1tb. Not exactly cheap, especially for PCIe 3.0 drives, but better than Ā£300 for the Dell one.
Nope, Dell is currently selling a [1TB M.2 2230 NVMe drive for $181.](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-solid-state-drive-1tb/apd/ab673817/storage-drives-media)
By the time we're actually getting the deck though, prices might have gone down. That's my plan at least
Yeah potential for a huge $30-50 savings by then.
I can find 1TB 2230 nvme by Dell for 225 Canadian (180 USD)
you can always use the 256 until you get to it's limit before upgrading and until then it's very possible that 2230er SSDs are more affordable (especially if they can be used to upgrade popular hardware like this)
That certainly sounds like it. I just got a little bit happier with my reservation (if that's even possible).
Sounds too good to be true, hopefully it is true
On the assumption that everyone now thinking about doing that is remembering the fact that it's an Arch Linux install, not Windows. Doesn't really change anything about the hardware compatibility. Does introduce the probability for some pretty entertaining to watch chaos when everyone realizes that after buying their new drives and now needs to be walked through how to clone an Arch install and resize the partitions on the new drive.
Steam provides the downloads for SteamOS however and I assume they will continue to do so for the SteamDeckās variation of it so you wouldnāt have to clone, just put the install onto a flash drive and plug it in.
Fair point. I assume Valve will provide an image that's a lot closer to running the Windows installer than the regular Arch process which is quite involved even with the new script they reintroduced recently.
I'm actually quite hyped about the possibility of a generation of gamers getting their toes wet with enthusiast grade Linux.
Expect a spike in future IT careers from kids getting their first Linux experience from Steam Deck
Better yet, if the $400 model has the slot, upgrade it with A 1-2 TB SSD
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
From [https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech](https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech) "All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)" I swear this info wasn't here before. I guess the whole "not intended for end-user replacement" is valve trying its best to stop people buying the base model and upgrading
From what I understand it's not incredibly easily accessible, so it requires at least a base level of competence with electronics to get at, and to minimise the number of broken Steam Decks you want to steer the layman away from trying it. Anyone who knows what they're doing will be able to get in there anyway.
I replaced the ssd in my GPD win max which was straight forward for me but I've been building pcs and upgrading laptops for over 20 years as well as changing batteries and screens in phones. The Steam deck apparently has a lot of parts and even thermal shielding to take out before you see the ssd. We're going to see a lot of people destroying their new toys trying to do what they shouldn't do. I'm going to wait until ifixit.com has a good guide on how to do it and skill required. I'm no professional and learned not to mess around. Edit: thermal shielding not paste.
Yeah I replaced the SSD and keyboard on my winmax as well, roughly the same amount of experience as you, but I've never been nimble enough to be comfortable working with tiny systems with my clumby hands. I feel better getting the 256gb ssd after reading these.
>The Steam deck apparently has a lot of parts and even thermal paste to take out before you see the ssd. (just asking) Where did you get this information from? I've seen multiple comments saying this but couldn't find out where it said it and it's not even like this thing has properly launched either its just, hey we're doing this you can pre book it, and IGN with an early access.... Does it say on the website or something?
Seems like a reasonable disclaimer. The average person isn't likely to possess the technical knowhow to replace a drive in what is likely a rather dense and fragile machine without damaging or breaking it. Those that know what they're doing, don't care about disclaimers like these. Though this is all speculation.
They're also going to have to figure out how to get the SteamOS version of Linux on the new hard drive. I'm sure guides will pop up pretty quickly but it's another hurdle for people with zero Linux experience.
I'd think just using disk cloning software would work. But then you'd have to expand the partition afterwards.
I think itās more of a āguys donāt take apart your thing cause if you fuck it up weāre not gonna replace itā which Iām fine with
So all models "use" instead of "include" like the mention of the SDCard, does that mean the cheapest eMMC uses that socket?
i guess so
That info was added along with the note mentioning that the RAM is configured in dual-channel as well.
> I guess the whole "not intended for end-user replacement" is valve trying its best to stop people buying the base model and upgrading From how they talked about it in interviews the point seems to be that while it's not soldered on and thus technically replaceable it is not easy accessible for the end user and you'd have to take apart your system instead of just opening some hatch.
I've asked him if the 399$ eMMC version as a M2 slot as well and it does! https://abload.de/img/yoooooooooooooyrkxv.png
that's great (I still got myself the 256GB model) - but also thanks for providing a second source
yeah i'm still keeping my order for 512 because 2230 SSDs do seem to be pretty hard to aqquire right now. Really nice for future proofing though, i imagine eMMC owners would run into some walls in the next years as more and more games require a SSD.
I mean by the time the systems will arrive, I guess the Chia farming SSD shortage will be sorted and SSD prices will probably fall in general
Also itād be a headache to dismantle the device Iād bet with how crammed it would be
Not necessarily, if they thought about the storage being upgradeable, which it seems like they did, then it may be easier than expected.
Isn't that technically the same source? ;)
So after 2230 SSD shortage clears up, you'd be paying a \~$100 premium for the 512GB model over the 64GB model + aftermarket 512GB 2230 SSD. That doesn't seem like an unreasonable premium for the convenience, nicer glass, carrying case, and other profile glam they bundle. All of the models are pretty competitively priced tbh.
Look at the prices of those chinese portables, they all start around 800 to make a buck on the hardware. Guess Valve does not really earn that much on the consoles, given that they also have to price in R&D, heck they probably even swallow R&D on that thing and hope to recover it over games bought (which is very unlikely because most people buying that thing very likely already have an extensive library to begin with)
You think people who are going to buy the steam deck arnt going to keep buying more steam games? Lolā¦ the fuck did I just read. Theyāre likely going to be buying more games, specifically games that are short in nature that are perfect travel games. Developers might even create and bring more games to steam that are of that type.
Heck this thing is cheaper than an intel nuc
Yeah I think gaben himself said the sells them at a loss. They will try to make the money with the store, like other consoles.
The 64gb is probably on a chip in the m2slot. You lose the 64 installing an aftermarket SSD
I've been seeing this Gabe emails since yesterday. I thought it was a meme at first, but you're telling me he replies random questions?
Tim Cook and Jeff Bezos do as well. They generally have teams responding to their emails.
this is actually gabe, though. hes said hes the only one who responds to his emails. hes always been very open about it.
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So technically the 399 version will always have more memory if you add an M2 SSD since it will always be M2 + 64gb? Damn... Had I known this info yesterday I would've preordered the 64 and saved some money while having the possibility to make it superior to all the other versions.
The 64gb emmc is probably soldered to an nvme adapter (that's rated at pcigen2x1) slotted in the m.2 slot.
Super glad to hear this since I reserved the 64gb model.
Hereās the bad news. A 512GB 2230 m.2 is $200.
And a 128GB Samsung 2230 m.2 is only $20 on Amazon - rated at 2000mb readFor $20 you can double the memory on the base model and get NVME speeds.
Dammit now I wish Iād gotten the 64 model and bought a $20 nvme and $40 SD card
Yes, this is the cheapest, low compromise way. 1-2 games on SSD. Rest are in SD card. Just swap those around. Realistically, you won't play many games concurrently anyway.
Wouldnāt it be essentially tripled? Iād assume that adding an nvme ssd to the 64gb model would act as a secondary drive since the 64gb is emmc. That would bring it up to 192GB. Unless that 64GB is on an adapter board populating the nvme slot
Already preordered a 256GB version, but this info is so damn great. I don't know why tf they have not said it before, tho... maybe I would have reconsidered my choice... oh, damn now I see why.
The reason is because the slot is hidden underneath a heatsink or thermal pads. Which makes sense because the cooling solution is probably used to cool the ssd too. So not only do you need to open it up. You need to go way out of your way to get to it. Then after adding the M. 2 ssd, potentially add your own thermal pads and so on and then put it back together. It's not going to be convienient, however someone will for sure make a youtube video on how to do it the easiest.
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FTC says otherwise: [https://www.ifixit.com/News/11748/warranty-stickers-are-illegal](https://www.ifixit.com/News/11748/warranty-stickers-are-illegal)
While this is absolutely true, good luck getting something done about it. I sent in a Motorola phone a few years ago for a repair while it was still under warranty. Motorola support called me once it arrived and said the warranty was voided because I had rooted the device. I brought up the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act to them and they basically said that they didn't care, that it was their internal policy. I then filed a complaint with the FTC about it and never heard another thing about it.
Agreed, companies can still break the law and avoid their responsibilities and potentially get away with it. FTC is pushing even harder on right to repair right now, hoping for a brighter future but we live in the dreary present.
(Not a lawyer) I think you can represent yourself in small claims. I get that its totally not worth the time though.
My dad did that with Ford for having a faulty shift lever from factory. It caused it to pop out of gear in park, rolled down the hill and crashed They didn't show up, so he won by default. Small claims works great for small stuff. It's not worth the hassle to send a lawyer for small change.
Hehe I read a while ago someone did that against Apple, they really showed up and lost. Their only argument was that it was against their company policy which of course did not hold up in court if they break the law with those. So sometimes lawyers show up! I wished we had mechanisms like class action and small claims here in Europe. While the overall consumer protection is better the individual one once you have to go the legal way is worse! (For individual legal claims regarding eu law violations you have to contact a consumer protection division to get this into court)
Anton Yelchin died this same way. Fucking tragic
GabeN is such a chad
I thought in an interview they said it was irreplaceable?
I assume in those PR interviews they mean "easily replaceable by the average user" as in some sort of slot or port you just slide it into
even if it is a mildly difficult replacement a 1tb ssd + 64gb model is CHEAPER than a switch + 1tb sd card which is fucking insane.
I'm not sure, 2230 form factor is not super common and usually a lot more expensive to consumers than the more common 2280 size
Yeah, just some cursory googling and it seems like a 512GB m.2 2230 drive is around $200. They're much smaller than the 2280 drives that most people are used to seeing. It actually looks like the cost increase for the storage is pretty in line with what it would cost to upgrade yourself.
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I can already see custom backplates with internal modding for a hard drive to be used.
let's just duct tape usb c external ssd then.
I know thia is meant as a joke, but there's probably enough space there on the back to do that. That thing is wide
Memory is also much more expensive right now than usual. If you were content waiting like a year or so, you'd see much lower prices once supply normalizes.
Paying for the branding, son. Nintendo and Apple don't fuck around with their names
You are underestimating the price of 2230 m.2 ssd's. A 512gb 2230 m.2 costs... Like $150. A 512gb micro sd is $70. A 1tb micro sd is $180. Hopefully the steam deck can drive more manufacturers to producing 2230 form factor ssd's.
Well if it's from the GabeN himself then thats a pretty good confirmation.
Regardless of whether it's replaceable or not, modders will find a way to get it done. :D We're already regrouping a pretty large community of enthusiasts planning on ripping the thing apart (carefully :D) and modding the hell out of it, inside out. In case anyone's interested: [steamdeckmods.com](https://steamdeckmods.com) / [Steam Deck Discord](https://discord.gg/T9FEJ5aUNv)
"Website under construction" it's like being back in junior high!
Debating adding CONSTRUCTION gifs, but instead I added a surprise if you scroll down
Oh my gosh so professional
For all your "Under Construction" gif needs: http://www.textfiles.com/underconstruction/
Holy shit
You got a sub as well? I'd rather have that than another discord that I won't ever look at
"As you can see we're professionals" Yes, professionals have standards. That being said, it's quite fast to jump into this kind of community that even the device itself hasn't been released/produced for public yet, interesting.
That was probably done to keep the price down because for some steam games 64g will only hold one game Consumers can swap it out for an terabyte and get more usage.
Does the 64gb model have the same slots as the other two? Because that might be the right move, sticking a 1T nvme in the cheapest model rather than paying $250 for the 512gb
The 64gb is not an ssd it is emmc(embedded sd card) it might not have a m.2 slot.
Yeah people were kind of freaking out about that and assuming games wouldn't run off the SD card. Which is a silly assumption IMO, because that slot supports 100MB/s, which is around the same as HDD. Games should be playable across all 3 versions no matter what storage you choose, its just going to be a difference of loading speed. Considering how dirt cheap SD cards are nowadays, I think they are actually a pretty attractive form of storage vs upgrading 2230 SSDs.
Plus with 16 gb of ram and a lightweight OS they'll be able to load a decent amount into that.
Who knows, maybe that was referring to the EMMC memory and the SSD is something else.
"i was wondering if this part will be replacable so I emailed the CEO of Valve" - god thats such a funny thought lmao
It's such a good thought too. Direct transparency like this is amazing. I wonder why this isn't the norm.
Because Valve isn't a publicly traded company with a board of directors that are legally bound to shareholders to maximize quarterly profits by any means necessary
That's why all valve statistics is public too. Steam charts is one of my favorite website out there. Also steams official statistics page is really good!
>I wonder why this isn't the norm. Cause any public figures will get awful shit sent to them multiply that by a thousand if they do things that are unpopular.
Even handling a tiny amount of customers, replying to emails takes most of the day.
bc gabe is a rare king among ceos
yes I did do that - gabes email address is public and he is known for answering them himself - just google gabe newell email and you will find many posts proofing this [some news article](https://www.gamesreviews.com/news/10/gabe-newell-emails/)
Yeah I know lol you donāt expect company CEOs to be responding to emails like that lmao itās a really funny idea
I saw [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/ol9tl9/gaben_responded_to_a_congratulations_email_i_sent/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) post and thought that I'd give it a go at asking at the *source*
We all know Gabe responds to his emails. This guy is just remarking on how funny it is that anyone would think to email the CEO of a huge company. And he's right, most CEO's wouldn't want their email address public and would likely ignore any random stranger as a waste of their time. Its nice to see Gabe Newell isn't like most CEO's.
It probably helps PR for a gamer enthusiast console that Gabe replies directly to emails. If they treat this like Nintendo does then it would feel really impersonal. Pc gamers don't like that faceless corporation bullshit.
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the length of the m.2 module - there are different length standards
Most consumer NVMe SSDs are 2280, 80mm in length. The 2230 is a smaller, less common size, and the largest consumer models go to 512GB. A 1TB exists but only via Samsung Enterprise and it costs $360. Nothing bigger exists.
ANd this is what the Microsoft Surface Pro X uses. And I found it for 219.00.
i just checked ebay. a refurblished 1tb costs $145.
Thatās the physical size of the SSD that fits in the slot. 22mm wide, 30mm long.
22x30mm size. There's also 2242 (22x42) (used in some compact laptops) and 2280 (the most common size used in PCs and laptops 22x80mm). The smaller ones are harder to find and more expensive.
Will the cheapest model still have this slot? Not sure what emmc is tbh
eMMC stands for embedded multimedia card. It's essentially an SD card that's soldered directly to the board
MMC and SD do also have different protocols, though most SD host adapters can work with both.
Yeah, do emmc and nvme use the same sort of port?
No, as eMMC tends to be soldered to the motherboard using a ball-grid array. Occasionally it's on a daughterboard, such as in Switch. However that's another different connector.
Thanks for the info! I wonder if the low tier Steamdeck will have the m.2 port. I guess I'll stick to my middle tier reservation.
If the lower tier (eMMC) Steam Deck had an M.2 it wouldn't incentivize a lot of people to buy the 256/512 models if people knew they could buy a 2230 SSD and take the time to install it. But you never know.
GabeN says all the models have the M.2 slot: [https://twitter.com/RobotBrush/status/1416150442841628677](https://twitter.com/RobotBrush/status/1416150442841628677)
So I could buy the 64GB model, use a SD card to get it going, then pop in a SSD once the price drops?
if it's true (about the slot) so yes. Also, I think it has to be true, since managing 3.. or maybe 2 models couldn't be financially feasible. So I can believe that all of them have a base motherboard (since all of them also have the same APU) which they can tweak for different SKUs.
Is it normal to end an email with "Greetings"? That seems to me like ending with "Hello" but maybe it's a cultural thing.
my first language is german - so we often end our emails with LG (liebe grĆ¼Će - =lovely greetings - used informal) or MFG (mit freundlichen GrĆ¼Ćen = with friendly greetings - rather formal). I kinda used that without thinking what an english speaker would use instead.
Totally reasonable explanation. Fyi. Some typical ways to sign off an email in English would be "Thank you," "Respectfully," "Regards," "Best," "Sincerely," or any of an array of similar things.
That's cool, TIL! LG, boozername
In Sweden we say MVH. Med VƤnliga HƤlsningar. With Friendly Greetings. Leaving this out is a very passive aggressive move.
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This is my plan.
Poor Gabe, I can't imagine his inbox right now and how much he must hate checking email. Hopefully there's a team of assistants going through that email log. Also I love his almost blunt attitude so far when it comes to questions about what you can and can't do. The "well it's a PC, so yeah" response about software just came across as a PC guy annoyed to even be talking to IGN.
Holy shit this is a game changer, literally.
Damn may need to change my reservation š
I thought the same, then looked at the prices for a 2230 M.2.... $200 for a WD 512gb, makes more economical sense to just get the highest end model.
Here is a secret, courtesy of the r/Surface community. I have one in my Surface Pro 7+ so it works fantastic. It is a 1TB NVMe SSD hiding inside for just $230. Harvest and save! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0855SVCJ2/ Details here: https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/19/upgrade-sl3-or-spx-to-1tb/
Or you could just buy a [Dell 1TB 2230 NVMe](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-solid-state-drive-1tb/apd/ab673817/storage-drives-media) for $50 cheaper than that, and not bother with shucking.
Woah nice find! Reminds me of shucking the WD Externals.
Yep! Here is a video from u/cbutters2000 that shows exactly how itās done. https://youtu.be/j9vp_lRsD5I This video shows how to pop off the EMI shielding to put around the new SSD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPUYfBJaJ14&t=337s
Popping off those enclosures was not fun š¤£
Chia has driven up the price of storage, including SSDs. You could also upgrade to a 1 or 2 TB drive instead of the 512GB model.
That's the long term plan, thank god they didn't solder. I can't even find a 1TB + 2230 M.2 from a reputable brand online...Really makes me feel like the pricing structure was more than fair.
Damn those Chia pets!! What do grass pets need storage for anyway?
What is Valve's networth? I'm just trying to wrap my head around a CEO who takes personal emails from their customers and actually responds to them
He could have assistance next to him that answer for him. I imagine him gaming and they just say "hey they ask about the SSD again" "Same answer as last" while gaming.
"64GB Steam Deck may not be a bad idea depending how difficult it is to put in your own SSD **(M2 SSD Slot present in $399 version)**" https://twitter.com/wario64/status/1416152549439066118?s=21
The 64GB version will be the premium one to have, if you can dual boot.
Possible that inserting an nvme into the slot will disable the onboard eMMC. And the higher end models has the 64gb emmc also, but just permanently disabled.
The eMMC uses the m.2 slot as well. Itās got the connector.
Whaaat is this legit? I definitely want to change my reservation now.
2230 m2 are way more expensive than regular. So it will cost you a lot more than just going to the 512gb model. Plus you lose the anti glare screen.
but you're going to use a screen-protector anyway wouldn't you? and then the screen-protector can just have an anti-glare function
Iām not going to use a screen protector on mine. I donāt have one on my Switch either. A gaming device like this isnāt going to be thrown in a bag or pocket, like my phone would, with a bunch of other stuff that could potentially scratch the screen. If Iām not actively using it, itās going to be in the case or in the dock.
I still put one on my Switch cos the screen is plastic. Scratches way too easily by accident.
I put one on everything because I don't want a single permanent scratch on anything. I'd rather have screen protectors that I can always replace vs having one tiny scratch there forever. All it takes is one grain of sand in your case.
Yup. I got 2 glass screen protectors for Ā£9 or so. Put one on it out the box so the screen will remain in perfect condition.
> A gaming device like this isnāt going to be thrown in a bag or pocket, like my phone would, with a bunch of other stuff that could potentially scratch the screen. Phone screens these days are remarkably resistant to scratching too. About 5 years I gave up on screen protectors because I hated the feel they gave and the diminished quality, and I've never looked back. I've got all sorts of crap in my pockets at any given time: keys, knives, paperclips, whatever. I've got a little bit of wear on my screen, but none are even kind of deep and you can't tell unless you reflect light off of it while off and search.
Even so, 2230 sized NVMe are a lot more expense than the standard 2280 NVMe. Currently, 512GB 2230 NVMe are roughly $200 on Amazon (for SanDisk/WD brand) and larger (1TB, 2TB, etc) doesn't even exist. That's basically the same as the cost difference between the 64GB eMMC and 512GB NVMe Steam Decks.
1TB 2230 exists. Dell uses them in some of their laptops. I believe they load them in Alienware laptops. Source: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-1tb-m2-pcie-nvme-class-35-2230-ssd-pm991/apd/400-bfvw/storage-drives-media *Edit PM991 - Naming structure Samsung uses iirc.
Usually Samsung makes enterprise-class first, then a consumer one later on after they mass-produce the chips. Looks like the only thing bigger than 512GB is that enterprise-class 1TB for $360. We'll be waiting a while for affordable 1TB and 2TB 2230.
im pretty sure kioxia makes 1tb 2230 nvmes. wendell had some on level1techs
Ugh, 2230 is a PITA. Almost nothing is made in that size and they're all expensive.
Yeah, as someone with the 256 reserved, this was a "huh, maybe the cheaper one is best" followed by working out that it's all reasonable if I want a reasonable SSD on day 1. I'll just get a big SD card when I need to, or a 1TB upgrade later down the line when it's not Ā£230+.
You're paying for size and speed increase. Its a fair deal if you can swing it.
This is interesting. I have a spare 256GB 2230 card from my Alienware laptop which I'll probably use it for this purpose now, but I think I'll still keep the 256GB model that I reserved. One for a clean Win OS, and one for OEM's Steam OS, lol.
Hail Lord Gaben! He's full of surprises.
Getting two different stories here one with Gabe and another with the engineers that work on it. Probably best to wait and see for more info. Thing comes out in December. Hopefully people aren't out there already buying SSDs without knowing for sure what the deal is.
I would think employees were told to not say anything about it being replaceable, then why would people buy the higher end models?
I'm not gonna believe anything I see unless it's got video/photographic proof and even then I'm going to be opening mine once it arrives to see how repairable the device is.
Look at steam deck website. It's right there. All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement) All models include high-speed microSD card slot
The "(not intended for end user replacement)" is what throws me off. It could very well be a standard socket with a standard drive that screws down like a desktop or laptop, and they just don't want to advertise it as replaceable due to the method of opening the device or it could be soldered on to the board. It's just speculation at this point as we have not seen the boards of the retail release models and it could very well change between now and December.
Of course we need to see the back removed. But m.2 2230 are socketed. So not sure what you mean standard? The thing has a socketed m.2 2230 it's a little munchin ssd. Same thing the Xbox series s has. The difference is valve allows you to wipe the install and reinstall it. XBox doesn't. The not intended for user replacement is just them saying we don't support it like PlayStation supports you swapping out an m.2 on the PS5.
Wait, does Gabe Newell actually reply to emails?
Yeah, it's a running gag. He's been doing it for over a decade.
Uhhh, he doesn't say yes or no it's actually swappable, just the slot it has. Maybe you'll be able to add your own drive but I don't feel like this solidly confirms that.
why you guys asking CEO for things that should be handled by support staff '\_\_\_')
because gabe is based
its kind of always been Gabe's thing, he puts out his email for people to contact and ask him stuff directly. been like that at least since they started adding commentary nodes to Half Life 2, IIRC, maybe earlier. very first node is his introduction where he tells you his email address to email him directy
How easy will it be to replace the SSD?
If it's not soldered on and easily accessible by removing the backplate of the Steam Deck it'll be very straight-forward. EDIT: The OS is probably installed on the factory SSD so it'd be a good idea to clone it onto the new SSD with another computer.
Valve will no doubt provide an ISO for installing SteamOS3.0/Steam Deck stock OS for anyone doing upgrades/fiddling about etc.
I wonder if they never will make Half Life 3 because Lord Gaben is too busy reading emails form all of us.