Do You Know Which Steam Deck To Get?

The Steam Deck gaming console is now available in the world. The days of registering for an online lottery to obtain this device are gone. 

With three different options to choose from and a myriad of options to choose from it can be difficult to decide which Steam Deck is the best one to purchase. This is why I as an experienced Steam Deck handheld gaming console 256GB owner who's written numerous pieces about this device will clarify what each model is and help you choose which one is best for you.

Which Steam Deck Should You Get?

The most crucial thing to take into consideration when buying the Steam Deck handheld gaming console is the amount of storage space you'll require. There are a few choices, such as the most expensive model has a different bag and some virtual objects, but in regards to the way every Steam Deck differs in comparison to the others, they're nearly identical except for the size of the hard drive. RAM and CPU, GPU, screen size, and other system-specific characteristics are identical all over the board.

The decision here comes down to the amount of storage that is required: 64GB, the 256GB option, but it's worth considering the speed as well.

Both the models 64GB and 256GB utilize NVMe SSDs. That's right, the two Steam Deck gaming console versions will be more efficient than the 64GB base model, which uses the eMMC format, which is a middle ground between conventional hard drives and solid-state drives.

I have my Steam Deck 64GB and when I updated and installed the most up-to-date software that allows Windows games to run in the Linux environment I ended up with only 22GB of space to store games. I ended up using one 1-TB microSD card for storing games although but it also means that I'm not able to enjoy the full speed that is available on this eMMC hard drive when loading games or doing tasks. For me, this isn't an issue. However, for some, the issue could be.

On the other hand, consider the 256GB model as a Jack of all trades. It comes with a bigger quantity of storage and uses NVMe for the solid-state option which results in higher speed than 64GB model and is priced between the three.

For the Steam Deck handheld gaming console, 256GB is the most expensive of all. The 256GB capacity is standard for gaming PCs that are basic and provides plenty of storage space for multiple AAA games. It also comes with a more stylish bag. Woop.

Factor In Your Game Library

It's worth thinking about what kind of games you'll play with your Steam Deck. If the aim is to play AAA gaming that appears as great as possible, you're likely to require plenty of space.

For instance, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 clocks in at 125GB. In contrast, Assassin's Creed Valhalla weighs in at 130GB, which is a lot more than Steam. The games aren't possible with Steam Deck 64GB unless you buy an enormous SD card and play the games you want to from that card.

For a better understanding To put this in perspective, if you installed each game on the Steam Deck 256GB the result would be 1GB. That's not even considering the amount that operating systems as well as Proton versions consume. In my Steam Deck 64GB after installing running the OS and the software that runs games were installed, I had just 23GB of space for games.

All of this shouldn't put anyone off from purchasing Decks, however, it is important to organize your storage in a way.

Can You Upgrade the Storage Later?

Internally, the gaming console drive can be upgraded either internally or via external storage. In order to upgrade it internally you'll have to purchase the NVMe M.2 2230 SSD in addition The prices at present are soaring due to the demand. If you choose to go with the most affordable model you don't have to be stuck with 64GB for the rest of your life.

If you decide to upgrade, you must make sure that you're using the correct drive. Not all M.2 SSD is compatible with the Steam Deck and installing a bigger (length-wise) drive can cause damage to the Deck.

"The charger integrated circuit gets very hot and nearby thermal pads should not be moved, " User Experience Designer at Valve Lawrence Yang said when discussing the need to accommodate larger drives.

A normal M.2 2230 upgrade will work However, it's not a bad upgrade. It's very similar to the one already on the device and shouldn't harm your device.

Where to Buy

At the present, the only way to buy Steam Deck is via Wise Market PK. However, if it is possible to purchase a Steam Deck previously owned through third-party marketplaces, I wouldn't recommend it. If you buy a brand new one it comes with a warranty to use in the event of a problem.

In the end, there aren't a lot of defective gaming console available It's just not worth the risk.

Conclusion

As I mentioned I chose the 64GB version and am not disappointed. Although it's not as speedy as the other Steam Deck versions, but the storage capacity was refilled within days. However, as I've got an impressive SD card and an SSD inside my dock There are ways to circumvent it.

If you own thousands of Steam games Storage is likely to be your primary concern. If you're only planning on playing games that are indie or emulated games until PS1 64GB will be more than enough storage.

If you've got the cash saved up and you don't want ever to worry about storage again opt for the 256GB model.