Which model to get 64GB with microSD card or 256GB?

[Stadsgewestelijk Materieel]

To everyone who has purchased a Steam Deck with 64GB with microSD card or 256GB.

Hello,
I'm looking to get a Steam Deck but don't know which model to get. I don't really care about the extras you get with the Deck. I just don't know if i should get the 64 gig model with an SD card or save up some more money for the 256 gig model. So if you have one of these, please give me your opinion.

Thank you :)

[germanicianus]

What I did: Got the cheapest model, using the sdcard of my Nintendo Switch as intermediate storage and planning to upgrade the internal M2 ssd to a 1 TB model which is about 100 Euro.

The anti-glare screen of the most expensive model is useless if you put a glare screen protector on it. I bought an anti-glare protector, so I have a similar experience to the most expensive model's screen.

[Stadsgewestelijk Materieel]

Originally posted by germanicianus:

What I did: Got the cheapest model, using the sdcard of my Nintendo Switch as intermediate storage and planning to upgrade the internal M2 ssd to a 1 TB model which is about 100 Euro.

The anti-glare screen of the most expensive model is useless if you put a glare screen protector on it. I bought an anti-glare protector, so I have a similar experience to the most expensive model's screen.

Ok great thank you 👍

[Mahjik]

The main challenge with the 64gb model is the shader cache. By default, the shaders are stored in the internal drive. This means that no matter how big of an SD card you purchase, you are still limited by the internal drive.

There are some newer options that you can use to overcome this limitation:

* You can replace the internal drive. I know a lot people are concerned about opening small electronics, but that is an option.

* You can use CryoUtiliities to force the shader cache files into the SD card. Doesn't require opening up the Deck so it's a safer solution.

If money is not an issue, just get the 256gb version and pretty much all of this goes away. If money is a concern, you have some options to solve the challenges.

[germanicianus]

PS: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+SSD+Replacement/148989

You can even clone the old drive to the new one to avoid having to re-setup the Deck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQcf1H5w0zw

Disclaimer: I didn't do this yet, so cannot speak out of experience.

[retrogunner]

Originally posted by Mahjik:

The main challenge with the 64gb model is the shader cache. By default, the shaders are stored in the internal drive. This means that no matter how big of an SD card you purchase, you are still limited by the internal drive.

There are some newer options that you can use to overcome this limitation:

* You can replace the internal drive. I know a lot people are concerned about opening small electronics, but that is an option.

* You can use CryoUtiliities to force the shader cache files into the SD card. Doesn't require opening up the Deck so it's a safer solution.

If money is not an issue, just get the 256gb version and pretty much all of this goes away. If money is a concern, you have some options to solve the challenges.

I've a 256GB and I still use the CryoByte's Steam Deck Utils[github.com] to keep as much off the NVMe as possible. I use Desktop Mode, Flatpaks, etc which do not easily relocate -- unlike my AppImages, which I can run from anywhere - such as right off the SD Card.

Additional, if your use-case involves some of the larger game installs like Halo:MCC, Borderlands 3, etc. and you want to squeeze out every bit of performance, I must leave room to install them internally off my NVMe.

Now the 64GB is eMMC not NVMe. The Boot partitions are 2 5GB (total 10GB). Everything else is storaged under /home (roughly 50GB). That's plenty for Steam Client & Proton to run a few games off the SD Card.

BUT, if you start tweaking, using alt store launchers, retro games, etc. a 64GB eMMC will fill up quickly. And your game saves mileage will vary too -- due to game dev inconsistencies (with the game, in steam userdata, in the game's fake windows drive prefix , in the /home/deck directory for native linux games, etc.)

[invision2212]

get the 64gb and replace the internal storage. you can find 1tb 2230 NVME drives that are cheaper than 1tb sd-cards

[winnie]

I've literally bought 2Tb WD SSD for price difference of 64 GiB vs 256 GIB model. (In my country Deck is slightly more expensive then official price)

So it's not worth it. 512 model at least has some perks, like other screen and unique case. But since you aren't considering 512 model, it irrelevant (there are videos on youtube with compassion of a screen).

P.S. Bought my deck on Thursday, and replaced SSD on Saturday. SSD arrived on Tuesday :D, before Deck itself.

[winnie]

If you aren't comfortable with opening expensive electronics, go to nearest cell-phone repair company, and ask them how much it would cost to replace SSD in deck. It's actually simple job, for half an hour. I hope they won't charge you much. Just don't aske them to reinstall software on new drive, coz it would take way more time and would be more expensive.


P.S. you can order drive with pre-installed SteamOS on AliExpress.

In case you are comfortable with disassembly: Dissembled desktop PC and replaced RAM in laptop -- it's pretty easy to replace SSD in deck. Or you can ask one of your friends, who is tech savvy.


From my experience: It's bit tricky to open the case after you unscrew it. It was sitting way higher than on Acer laptop. But plastic is better, and I didn't break any plastic clips, like I did on my ACER laptop.

P.S. Process of installing Steam OS on SSD can be chunky, it might stuck during installing updates, but hit back button or reboot device few times. Indication that it works is that it started showing download speed.


1. you reset drive from recovery media
2. you reboot, it installs SteamOS into home directory. it takes 3 min
3. It installs updates, here download speed indicator should appear, if it don't then something is wrong and try pressing B or rebooting, if it stuck for too long.


By the way.

Here is speed comparation of eMMC and NVMe SSD:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2988092569

So basically eMMC works like low/mid quality SATA SSD.


To be honest, boot speed of Deck didn't differ a lot, but is slightly faster on NVMe.

I guess difference would be noticeable only on Huge games.

[macxtc]

Go Big or Go Home... I have the big one and I'd get an 8TB model if they offered one!!!

[winnie]

Originally posted by macxtc:

Go Big or Go Home... I have the big one and I'd get an 8TB model if they offered one!!!

That's not very useful reply.

That's more like you are showing off that you have lot of money.

But you are right at one thing, 64 is too small, but it can be upgraded. And can live for a while with SD card.

[Spooky]

If you upgrade the 64gb to a larger WD SN740 from ali then you are not just saving money but you are getting a faster and more efficient drive, not as fast as it's fully capable of since at some point early on in manufacturing valve changed the pcie interface from gen4.0x4 to gen 4.0x3, but still, the drives included with deck all seem to be gen 3.0x4, a generation behind and not able to utilize even gen4.0x3's max speeds really.

[BadHidingPlace]

I got the 256GB one, because I wanted to play with it over the holidays last December, and the 64GB model was showing weeks longer wait. I have since replaced the 256GB drive with a Sabrent Rocket 1TB drive, and I had most of the games installed to a 512GB Samsung SD card. Once I reimaged the new SSD, all the games on the SD card just showed up as installed.

If the 64GB one had been available as quickly, I likely would have gotten that one and the SD card, and that's what I recommend you do. Then upgrade the SSD, as prices are very reasonable for a 1TB 2230 SSD right now.

[Apollo]

I went with the 64GB model because I am comfortable working inside computers and I've extensively studied IT and computer repair.

If you are comfortable opening up the deck and swapping the SSD, then PLEASE consider getting the 64 GB version, as you can literally just get the same benefits as the 512 steam deck outside of the color swapped case and community profile bundle just by buying an anti glare screen protector and swapping for a 512 SSD (or more storage if you want)

Valve says that taking it apart ruins the drop resistance of the steam deck, but that can be remedied just by buying a cool ass looking protective drop case for it and not dropping it out of a moving car or out of your window.

Seriously, for the price of a 512 Deck, you can just get the 64 GB version and get twice the storage on top of a protective case and an anti glare screen protector

[winnie]

Everybody is saying about antiglare screen protector.

But where I can buy one? I tried searching for it, but google finds just regular screen protectors.

[Apollo]

Originally posted by winnie:

Everybody is saying about antiglare screen protector.

But where I can buy one? I tried searching for it, but google finds just regular screen protectors.

Magglass sells one on amazon