Valve confirms Steam Deck is upgradable if you're feeling brave

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Valve confirms Steam Deck is upgradable if yous're feeling brave

(Epitome credit: Valve)

Valve has confirmed that the storage on all three models of the Steam Deck can be replaced for repairability reasons, but has stressed that it's only for people "who know what they're doing."

Valve hardware engineer Yazan Aldehayyat revealed the design decision to IGN, stating that the SSD is not soldered to the motherboard, which means it can be replaced or even upgraded by people with the right tools. "Nosotros are using a standard M.2 NVMe SSD in at that place. It'south a separate module – we went against the trend of putting it directly on the motherboard."

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But clearly this isn't something that Valve is encouraging buyers to do for casual upgrades, with repairability existence the focus. "The repairability is something we did really focus on and try to brand it as repairable every bit possible," Aldehayyat connected. "Simply, it's actually meant for people who know what they're doing, and take feel doing it."

How difficult volition that be? Well, Valve's Pierre-Loup Griffais reportedly shed some light on this point on Discord:

Still, this does potentially get out the door open to buyers who pre-ordered the $399 model with 64GB of slower eMMC to improve the Steam Deck at a later on appointment. Valve'south own specs sail folio states that "all models use socketed 2230 Thousand.ii modules (not intended for finish-user replacement)."

Only earlier you abolish your pre-guild, there are a few reasons why upgrading might not exist the most sensible way forwards.

Not only does Valve say that switching SSDs is intended for experts, just it seems likely that cracking open your make new Steam Deck could bear upon your warranty, as Griffais highlighted above. Given the ongoing issue Nintendo has with Joy Con drift (something Valve is confident won't be an consequence with Steam Deck), it might be wise to ensure your warranty status can't be questioned in the future, should any other issues arise.

Secondly, the K.two 2230 drives required aren't hugely widespread, and can prove pretty expensive – around $200 for a TB. Granted, per GB, that's not as expensive as the equivalent jump in Steam Deck from 64GB to 256/512GB, simply it's still pricey enough to alter the cost/benefit analysis of making the switch.

Finally, and peradventure near chiefly, if you've already secured a 256- or 512GB Steam Deck for this year, and so cancelling the club and switching to the entry-level version volition involve rejoining the queue at the very back. And reservations placed for the 64GB model today are now expected to send "after Q2 2022."

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Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are institute all over the web and in the occasional magazine also. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his always-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/valve-confirms-steam-deck-is-upgradable-if-youre-feeling-brave

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