Steam Deck vs the other "mini gaming laptop" options.... thoughts?

[NimrodX]

I noticed that Steam Deck isn't the only game in town for this type of device, but haven't really looked at the others due to assuming there would be little to no effort put into making them usable.

Anyone have one of these to provide a comparison?

[Drak3]

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

I have lowered settings like that for some games and it ends up being really choppy. That’s the difference between deck and switch. The switch has lowered graphics and frame rate but better battery and more games on its default built in low settings are rarely choppy.

I think the deck is a good idea but this concept needs work. I think a lot has to do with steam os which imo has way to many issues.

The Switch’s library is predominately ports of older lightweight games, Nintendo first party games, and heavily stripped back games. More demanding games don’t run well on Switch (and even games that aren’t demanding by today’s standards can run like crap on the original Switch hardware, like NEO: The World Ends With You), which is why less games are being ported natively, instead resorting to streaming or just not having Switch versions.

And if you think SteamOS has issues, ignore the Legion Go. It is a UX/UI nightmare on top of the issues of Windows on a small touchscreen. The Ally is somewhat better than the Legion Go, but I still say its a worse experience than the Deck.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by ?legit:

Originally posted by SlowMango:

You can't change the graphical or power settings on a Switch.

You don't have to because games are optimized for the hardware.

Good joke.

Unless you count running sub 30fps "optimized".

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Drak3:

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

I have lowered settings like that for some games and it ends up being really choppy. That’s the difference between deck and switch. The switch has lowered graphics and frame rate but better battery and more games on its default built in low settings are rarely choppy.

I think the deck is a good idea but this concept needs work. I think a lot has to do with steam os which imo has way to many issues.

The Switch’s library is predominately ports of older lightweight games, Nintendo first party games, and heavily stripped back games. More demanding games don’t run well on Switch (and even games that aren’t demanding by today’s standards can run like crap on the original Switch hardware, like NEO: The World Ends With You), which is why less games are being ported natively, instead resorting to streaming or just not having Switch versions.

And if you think SteamOS has issues, ignore the Legion Go. It is a UX/UI nightmare on top of the issues of Windows on a small touchscreen. The Ally is somewhat better than the Legion Go, but I still say its a worse experience than the Deck.

I tried playing Battle Chasers:Nightwar on my Switch and it crashed constantly as well as running sub 30 in the over world and sometimes in battle.

That game is not that graphically intensive.

[[?]legit]

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Originally posted by ?legit:

You don't have to because games are optimized for the hardware.

Good joke.

Unless you count running sub 30fps "optimized".

Not a joke, it's a fact that games are optimized for the hardware on the switch. This is not the case on the steam deck.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by ?legit:

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Good joke.

Unless you count running sub 30fps "optimized".

Not a joke, it's a fact that games are optimized for the hardware on the switch. This is not the case on the steam deck.

So sub 30fps is optimized?

[MISO4EVER]

Originally posted by ?legit:

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Good joke.

Unless you count running sub 30fps "optimized".

Not a joke, it's a fact that games are optimized for the hardware on the switch. This is not the case on the steam deck.

Exactly so much copium for the steam deck cult. Games are literally optimized when ported to the switch. For steam deck it’s cross your fingers do your little Linux fruit bag tweaks and hope it runs

[MISO4EVER]

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Originally posted by ?legit:

You don't have to because games are optimized for the hardware.

Good joke.

Unless you count running sub 30fps "optimized".

Says the people who lowered all their games setting on the deck to run / look worse than the switch.

[MISO4EVER]

Originally posted by Drak3:

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

I have lowered settings like that for some games and it ends up being really choppy. That’s the difference between deck and switch. The switch has lowered graphics and frame rate but better battery and more games on its default built in low settings are rarely choppy.

I think the deck is a good idea but this concept needs work. I think a lot has to do with steam os which imo has way to many issues.

The Switch’s library is predominately ports of older lightweight games, Nintendo first party games, and heavily stripped back games. More demanding games don’t run well on Switch (and even games that aren’t demanding by today’s standards can run like crap on the original Switch hardware, like NEO: The World Ends With You), which is why less games are being ported natively, instead resorting to streaming or just not having Switch versions.

And if you think SteamOS has issues, ignore the Legion Go. It is a UX/UI nightmare on top of the issues of Windows on a small touchscreen. The Ally is somewhat better than the Legion Go, but I still say its a worse experience than the Deck.

And ? All I play is retro titles and games from 2011-2017 the only current game that isn’t a pixel game is Elden ring.

The fact that the switch still runs these games better, with better battery is very telling about the deck and Linux as an os.

[Drak3]

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

And ? All I play is retro titles and games from 2011-2017 the only current game that isn’t a pixel game is Elden ring.

The fact that the switch still runs these games better, with better battery is very telling about the deck and Linux as an os.

Then you’re not actually adjusting any system settings on the Deck, and just letting it run at whatever settings you left it on for Elden Ring. In games on both systems, the Deck can last as long as the Switch or get drastically better performance than the Switch, often a little of both. We’re comparing a 2021 custom x86 APU that’s designed to run between 3 and 15W against a 2015 ARM SoC that’s designed to run between 5 and 10W (and its slightly more powerful 2019 die shrunk refresh).
Tech has improved considerably in the 6 year span. x86 now has surpassed ARM from back then.

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

Originally posted by ?legit:

Not a joke, it's a fact that games are optimized for the hardware on the switch. This is not the case on the steam deck.

Exactly so much copium for the steam deck cult.

Tears of the Kingdom, a Nintendo developed title, frequently drops to 20FPS and stutters. It’s not the Deck “cult” coping.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Good joke.

Unless you count running sub 30fps "optimized".

Says the people who lowered all their games setting on the deck to run / look worse than the switch.

I actually have games that I bought on my Switch that I've re-bought for my Deck. I've literally had none of them look worse than the Switch and they all run better.

But I know you needed a strawman to beat on so it's ok.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Drak3:

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

And ? All I play is retro titles and games from 2011-2017 the only current game that isn’t a pixel game is Elden ring.

The fact that the switch still runs these games better, with better battery is very telling about the deck and Linux as an os.

Then you’re not actually adjusting any system settings on the Deck, and just letting it run at whatever settings you left it on for Elden Ring. In games on both systems, the Deck can last as long as the Switch or get drastically better performance than the Switch, often a little of both. We’re comparing a 2021 custom x86 APU that’s designed to run between 3 and 15W against a 2015 ARM SoC that’s designed to run between 5 and 10W (and its slightly more powerful 2019 die shrunk refresh).
Tech has improved considerably in the 6 year span. x86 now has surpassed ARM from back then.

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

Exactly so much copium for the steam deck cult.

Tears of the Kingdom, a Nintendo developed title, frequently drops to 20FPS and stutters. It’s not the Deck “cult” coping.

It's weird to say people who own a Deck are "coping" in a thread started off with a cope about the Deck OLED not being as bad as someone was wishing it was.

[MISO4EVER]

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Originally posted by Drak3:

Then you’re not actually adjusting any system settings on the Deck, and just letting it run at whatever settings you left it on for Elden Ring. In games on both systems, the Deck can last as long as the Switch or get drastically better performance than the Switch, often a little of both. We’re comparing a 2021 custom x86 APU that’s designed to run between 3 and 15W against a 2015 ARM SoC that’s designed to run between 5 and 10W (and its slightly more powerful 2019 die shrunk refresh).
Tech has improved considerably in the 6 year span. x86 now has surpassed ARM from back then.


Tears of the Kingdom, a Nintendo developed title, frequently drops to 20FPS and stutters. It’s not the Deck “cult” coping.

It's weird to say people who own a Deck are "coping" in a thread started off with a cope about the Deck OLED not being as bad as someone was wishing it was.

The other comments… that did not relate to the oled was what I was talking about but if you throw that straw man be my guest:

[MISO4EVER]

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

Says the people who lowered all their games setting on the deck to run / look worse than the switch.

I actually have games that I bought on my Switch that I've re-bought for my Deck. I've literally had none of them look worse than the Switch and they all run better.

But I know you needed a strawman to beat on so it's ok.

Hmm dark souls remastered which I have tried briefly definitely runs way better on the switch (2 hours of battery no bugs no issues ) Skyrim sometimes doesn’t even open on the deck. (A nice 2.5 hours on the switch and opens every time ) What games are you playing uno ?

[Adrian789]

FACT: Steam deck: more rediment and posibilites. Swich: the best experience in games

[MISO4EVER]

Originally posted by Drak3:

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

And ? All I play is retro titles and games from 2011-2017 the only current game that isn’t a pixel game is Elden ring.

The fact that the switch still runs these games better, with better battery is very telling about the deck and Linux as an os.

Then you’re not actually adjusting any system settings on the Deck, and just letting it run at whatever settings you left it on for Elden Ring. In games on both systems, the Deck can last as long as the Switch or get drastically better performance than the Switch, often a little of both. We’re comparing a 2021 custom x86 APU that’s designed to run between 3 and 15W against a 2015 ARM SoC that’s designed to run between 5 and 10W (and its slightly more powerful 2019 die shrunk refresh).
Tech has improved considerably in the 6 year span. x86 now has surpassed ARM from back then.

Originally posted by Isadoraisacat:

Exactly so much copium for the steam deck cult.

Tears of the Kingdom, a Nintendo developed title, frequently drops to 20FPS and stutters. It’s not the Deck “cult” coping.

I wouldn’t know Zelda sucks. I mostly used my switch to play things like Skyrim on the go and dark souls on the go and it definitely does those jobs better than steam deck. It also runs vampire survivors and brotato just fine. If other games were ported to the switch I’d have zero use for a steam deck I only got it because some games are not available on the switch.

Not everyone wants to be a mad tinkerer. A lot of the people buying did not even know what Linux was and didn’t expect this cancer that is shader cache/ horrible updates / unintuitive ui design / reports of battery charger melting / trash battery life / bugs up the wazoo, os updates that turn the deck into a Walmart game gear looking paper weight. Keep smoking your copium pipe. Great idea this device is but … terrible execution too many problems.