I don't suppose we're getting iFixit coupons, right?

[Discussions_Acc]

I got the Delta fan with the skull drilling whining noise which limits me to simple games that won't cause too much heat. RMA is not an option since I'll most likely just get another unit with the same fan back. If they even accept RMAs for that reason.

So in order to fix this I have to...
...wait who knows how many weeks until fans are in stock.
...pay ~€30+ to get said fan.
...void my warranty (pretty sure that's the case in Germany).

In their video Valve also lets me know that I...
... definitely lessen the cases integrity.
...perhaps strip the screws.
...possibly damage the battery.
...potentially start a fire.
...maybe die.
...shouldn't do this anyway.

That's quite a lot to fix a problem that shouldn't be there to begin with.
I assume I'm not even getting a discount on the fan, right?

[badboyec24]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย RoyalMetalKnights:

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย badboyec24:

i recall you can tweak the fan curve for the Steam Deck. Did you even try to that, before coming to these forums to complain? If you RMA it they can't give you a guarantee and they are not going to turn it on to test it before shipping as they want you the customer to set the system up.

You cannot tweak the fan curve. There is the pre-3.2 fan settings that keep the unit cooler in menu and lighter games by running the fan at higher speed, then the 3.2 fan settings let the unit run hotter, which does mitigate fan noise in-menu and light 2D, but cannot prevent fan whine that's most evident at 4000rpm+. I've told Valve that they only possible software fix is to allow users to set a fixed fan speed, and posted the same on these forums. For me, 5800-6000rpm is less annoying than 4000-5300rpm, and 6000rpm+.

My most played games are all heavy 3D games like DOOM Eternal, Days Gone, and Horizon Zero Dawn, which can hit 80-90°C. You can't run lower fan speeds at those temps.

What motivates you to be defensive of a corporation? Telling me I'm complaining and that I should try something that doesn't exist? This topic is about fan whine. My post and issue fits within this discussion. We'll see what Valve says. If they can't guarantee a new, functional unit, then I have to wait for iFixit fans to come back into stock.

Bringing us back to the OP's original point, if they can't fix it, and the user has to not only buy the fan, but fix it themselves, then what will Valve do to compensate them for their loss? You might argue they won't do anything, but how would you know without asking them? How would they know if it's an issue if users don't complain?

Then wait for ifixit and replace the fan yourself even though your fan isn't defective. And Valve isn't going to pay a user to replace their own fan, that is on the user. And like I said if you RMA, Valve can't guarantee you will get a different fan. They are mass producing these decks and shipping them out when they can. And no I'm not defending Valve, I'm just using common sense.

So I will repeat if you don't like your current fan then wait till they are in stock on ifixit and replace it yourself on your dime and time.

[Discussions_Acc]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย badboyec24:

And no I'm not defending Valve, I'm just using common sense.

You put everything on the customer and nothing on Valve even though they randomly give people a lesser product. One could call that defending.

I paid the same amount of money as other people but received an outright worse Deck that has less value and is less useable.
There is no way for me to remedy the situation except RMA lottery, which may not actually be a way at all unless they just keep letting me RMA dozens of Decks until I maybe get a good one.
Even if I invest time and money into replacing the fan, just opening it diminishes its value if I ever decide to sell it at some point.
It will never be as good as other peoples unit, despite costing the same.

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย xxsemb:

the bad fans work fine - noise does not stop it doing its job, if you sadly got a noisy one... well that sucks but it is not defective.

Didn't say it's defective. It's just straight up a worse part leading to an overall worse product.

[Taktloss]

Cant you just give it back then ? I mean if you are not happy with the product and dont want to open it or so what other option do you have.

[RoyalMetalKnights]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย xxsemb:

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย RoyalMetalKnights:

...I also suspect they're cycling used units as replacements, but I'm waiting for them to clarify that.

They are - by now they have had time to 'fix' returned units so there is now a high chance you get a refurb, near the start we got brand new units as replacements. This was fully expected, same happened with the Index. They can not guarantee you anything so if you are unhappy you will just have to request a refund. I would expect a high amount of refurbs to have a bad fan due to early returns.

I got an answer back from Support and they stated:
"1. All units currently received as a Steam Deck replacement are new units."

My earlier assertion that they *might* send refurbished units was wrong, or at least is wrong at this time.

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย xxsemb:

the bad fans work fine - noise does not stop it doing its job, if you sadly got a noisy one... well that sucks but it is not defective.

I believe it's defective because it fails to meet the acoustic standards of the good fan. This is the reason Valve issued an RMA, and considering they're sending new units, they're eating the cost at this time.

Now on my end, I have to eat the cost of the trackpad protectors I peeled off($12), spend an hour reformatting, repacking, driving to ship the device back using about a 1.5 gallons of gas in my pickup so ~$7.50 in fuel. Then I would be without the unit for around 3 weeks.

Despite all this, there is no solid guarantee that I won't receive a whiney fan in the new unit, although Support stated:
"2. Steam Support doesn't have detailed assembly information for these units, but we have been working on improvements in hardware as well as software and are confident that your replacement will meet or exceed Valve's standards for fan acoustics."

Although I'd prefer to just purchase a new fan from iFixit, after missing out on the first iFixit shipment, I wasn't confident I'd be fast enough to get one. Even if I go through with the RMA, I'll still attempt to buy a good fan just in case the new unit I receive has the sub-par whiney fan.
---
Unfortunately, OP, you'll be faced with the same dilemma. You'll have to choose between being without the Deck for 3 weeks and hoping to get a unit with a good fan, or waiting on iFixit and hoping to get it before it sells out. I recommend doing both.

Steam Support has been understanding and informative. They apologized and offered a brand new replacement. That's in stark contrast to the treatment I've received from alledged "fans" of Valve, who shame, name-call, and offer illogical advice(i.e.- Just refund it and shut up).

[badboyec24]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Discussions_Acc:

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย badboyec24:

And no I'm not defending Valve, I'm just using common sense.

You put everything on the customer and nothing on Valve even though they randomly give people a lesser product. One could call that defending.

I paid the same amount of money as other people but received an outright worse Deck that has less value and is less useable.
There is no way for me to remedy the situation except RMA lottery, which may not actually be a way at all unless they just keep letting me RMA dozens of Decks until I maybe get a good one.
Even if I invest time and money into replacing the fan, just opening it diminishes its value if I ever decide to sell it at some point.
It will never be as good as other peoples unit, despite costing the same.

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย xxsemb:

the bad fans work fine - noise does not stop it doing its job, if you sadly got a noisy one... well that sucks but it is not defective.

Didn't say it's defective. It's just straight up a worse part leading to an overall worse product.

I disagree about less usable just annoying, but if you want to rma it and hope you don't get the same fan then do so. If you want to replace the fan yourself don't expect Valve to be giving coupons. It's either rma it and wish for the best, or replace it yourself and you could still get more than retail on auction sites even if you open it up to replace the fan. Besides it lost some value once you set up the system. Sorry that you aren't happy with your current model, but all I can do is wish you the best.

[Lruce_Bee]

So what is actually happening to all the returned units? Are they stock piled somewhere to be sent out again as replacements, or do they get sent out as 'new' units to people still waiting for their Q3 & beyond orders?

[Taktloss]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Lruce_Bee:

So what is actually happening to all the returned units? Are they stock piled somewhere to be sent out again as replacements, or do they get sent out as 'new' units to people still waiting for their Q3 & beyond orders?

Most likely they do the same as every other company does when you RMA something

[Xedhadeaus]

I do agree getting a fan voucher to ifixit would be ideal. I've seen or heard a couple people have fumbles with decks, I need to put my battery through its paces and stop being a coward,

People telling you to adjust the fan curve are basically telling you to have a hotter device, and I don't think that's fair. But I also don't think valve wants to eat dirt on a buttload of delta fan problems. Some people don't mind, some do. It's kind of the only thing that reminds me this thing is a PC anymore lol.

[Discussions_Acc]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Taktloss:

Cant you just give it back then ? I mean if you are not happy with the product and dont want to open it or so what other option do you have.

I'll replace the fan. Not that I like to and not that it should be necessary.
Assuming I can even get a fan at some point. They were available for a few minutes like 2 weeks ago or something.
Add "checking iFixit every 15 minutes for several weeks" to the list of annoyances.

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย badboyec24:

I disagree about less usable just annoying,

It's annoying and that's why I'm not fully using it. I could play Elden Ring in bed, but I'm not.

[Cypherous]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย RoyalMetalKnights:

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย my new friend:

It is in the Hardware Warranty and RMA support docs. They can not guarantee what you ask for.

People also claimed they wouldn't RMA for the defective fan, but they will, so we'll see what happens.

For an actual defective fan they would have to RMA it, just because its too loud, thats not really an RMA reason aslong as the fan is functioning