I’m getting a 64gb steam deck probably next month. It will be used as a portable console and a desktop PC for work (desktop reliant websites). The most heavy game I’ll play is Stray (no 1st person shooters, MMOs or huge open worlds) with an hour or two of play time a day.
I plan to get a 3rd party dock, a screen protector and a case. I will wait until around black friday for those.
Is it necessary to get a ssd? Or will the 128gb micro SD card I have will be okay for one downloaded game at a time?
Main issue is the heat. Will a case make the SD hotter? Will having a JSAUX backplate or a fan matter to keep the console cooler during playing? From what I’ve read, people say the backplates will still get heated after so many minutes of playing. The fans seems to put vaccume pressure on the actual fan and will cause it to stop working in the near future. I want to prioritize coolness before getting everything else.
Yes, get an ssd first. The 64g version doesn’t just have small storage size but it has slow storage type.
It’s absolutely worth the $20 to get at least a 128g 2230 nvme disk, and 1tb can be had for within $10 of a same size SD card.
People love accessories, but the Steam Deck is fantastic right out of the box, and very little is a requirement. For you, I would say these are the only requirements:
- A way to connect the Deck to a screen. A simple USB-C to HDMI connector will work, but if you plan on plugging in a mouse and keyboard, you may want a dock or USB hub, something that has all the USB ports you need.
- A mouse and keyboard for working on a desktop, of course.
- Storage. Your 128gb micro SD card should be fine.
You might want to get a bigger micro SD card. It can absolutely handle one game at a time-- It can handle many games at a time! Stray is only ten gigs. You’re also using it as a work PC, though. I don’t know how much storage your job needs, but it’s possible that managing your storage could get annoying. The PC gaming elitist in me doesn’t want to recommend anything less than a 512gb card, but I don’t think that’s a strict requirement so I’ll leave that up to you. If you do upgrade, I would recommend a bigger SD card over a new SSD since SD cards are way easier and less risky.
When you say you want a case, do you mean something that you clip on to the Deck? I would recommend avoiding that. It’ll mess with the ergonomics of the device. I don’t know if it’ll affect temperature or not so I won’t comment on that. If you’re talking about something like a carrying case, though, that could be a decent investment. The carrying case that the Deck comes with is excellent, but it’s not big enough to store all of your accessories if that’s what you’re going for.
Yeah, I’m talking about a clip on case. I am prone to dropping stuff but I don’t know if I want to spend money on a silicone shell or a hardcover shell.
I would like to use the USB hub to charge my deck and be hooked up to a monitor/TV so nothing dies on me.
Is it comfortable using the abxy buttons? After using a regular controller the joysticks under the other buttons all the time, would the SD be tiring? My hands are on the smaller side.
Sorry for the late reply. I don’t check Lemmy all that often.
I would never want to use a clip on case myself. I would worry that it would make the buttons uncomfortable to use. It would also affect how it sits in a docking station. The Steam Deck has a nice shape that will make it harder to drop. I wouldn’t recommend a case, but some people do like cases, so that’s your call.
USB hub sounds good, and would also work better than a dock if you do get a case.
The ABXY buttons are very comfortable to use! I’ve found the Deck to be a very comfortable device. My hands are a bit bigger so I’m not sure how big of a role that hand size plays, but I think you’ll be fine.
Thanks! Last night I tried placing my thumbs naturally on my Logitech controller and realized how cramped my hands were. Dispite having small hands, my thumbs rested right under the LB and RB buttons. So I guess that and your answer answers how comfortable the controls will be.
Don’t worry about the deck’s cooling, the built in fan is fine. It will work fine with a case as well as long as the case doesn’t cover the vents.
It’s possible to get by with a 64gb deck and microSD cards, but it can be difficult. Even if you don’t install any games to the internal storage, things like shader cache will still be saved to the internal storage and can fill it up. A faster, larger SSD is really nice. Opening the deck isn’t very hard (just make sure you use a proper size screwdriver, make sure it’s fully inserted in the screws before turning them, and don’t overtighten when you put them back).
I wouldn’t buy any accessories other than an SD card and a “dock”. The stock cooling of the Deck is fine unless you plan to game in scorching heat: https://twitter.com/OnDeck/status/1549467955754217473
In my experience the back side gets a bit hot, but it’s not where you touch the device, and as long as the APU is cool enough, I wouldn’t see this as a problem.
About the “dock”: Any USB hub with Power Delivery (min 45W) and an HDMI port is fine. I’m using a D-Link one and am very happy with it.
Really ask yourself if you need 4K 60hz because it adds complexity to the dock, makes it more expensive, and takes up more power. I had a Cable matters USB-C hub with ethernet, HDMI, 4k60 etc and the HDMI died after a few months.
This little guy (which I bought first when the SD launched) has been going strong and was $20 https://sabrent.com/collections/usb-c-hubs/products/hb-tc5p
I use it on my 4K TV but I have the resolution set to 1080p 60 Hz anyway since the desktop UI is easier to navigate and I don’t run my games at that res. So if you don’t need 4K60 (which I bet most don’t) get a $20 dock like this and upgrade to something fancy later if you really need it.
