Steam Deck vs ROG ally in terms of modding

[Dweller Beyond the Threshold]

All of my favorite games on PC are heavily modded. I know you can dual-boot SD with windows but it's still a hassle (and might have some stability issues from what I read), so originally I thought I would just exclusively play the non-modded games on the Deck.

But then I learned about ROG Ally that comes with Win 11, so that would mean I can just start modding and using hooks, dll etc. Plus with the ROG ally, I can more easily play games using other launchers.

So just curious, owners of SD, do you mod your games? How's the experience over all?

[Prezidentas]

some extreme stuff might be a hassle but DLLs and file replacement is not difficult. I would look into things like battery life and trackpads to choose which one to get.

[Dweller Beyond the Threshold]

Escrito originalmente por Prezidentas:

some extreme stuff might be a hassle but DLLs and file replacement is not difficult. I would look into things like battery life and trackpads to choose which one to get.

I only play handheld when I'm at the airport/on the plane where there are always an outlet for charging, so battery life is completely a non-issue for me.

[ReBoot]

Once you get used to Linux (including emulated Windows) having somewhat of a different folder structure, it's not that different and Dolphin isn't that different from Explorer. My point is, if you hard-memorized the steps to take, you're gonna have a bad time with SteamOS. If you understand concepts, it's pretty much the same.

[Dweller Beyond the Threshold]

Escrito originalmente por ReBoot:

Once you get used to Linux (including emulated Windows) having somewhat of a different folder structure, it's not that different and Dolphin isn't that different from Explorer. My point is, if you hard-memorized the steps to take, you're gonna have a bad time with SteamOS. If you understand concepts, it's pretty much the same.

thanks. I have actually never used Linux before, so I was thinking just completely sticking with Steam games so to avoid the hassle of using other apps, dual-booting, modding etc. But ultimately, I think having access to a much bigger library and ease of win 11 win out for me. Guess I'm gonna go with ROG ally despite some flaws like design and build-quality.

[ReBoot]

Escrito originalmente por UnhappyLawbro:

Escrito originalmente por ReBoot:

Once you get used to Linux (including emulated Windows) having somewhat of a different folder structure, it's not that different and Dolphin isn't that different from Explorer. My point is, if you hard-memorized the steps to take, you're gonna have a bad time with SteamOS. If you understand concepts, it's pretty much the same.

thanks. I have actually never used Linux before, so I was thinking just completely sticking with Steam games so to avoid the hassle of using other apps, dual-booting, modding etc. But ultimately, I think having access to a much bigger library and ease of win 11 wins out for me. Guess I'm gonna go with ROG ally despite some flaws like design and build-quality.

... if you got the money (it is more expensive) and don't care (much) about battery life (which is worse), the Ally certainly isn't a bad option!

[invision2212]

Get the ROG ally. Linux is an annoyance to deal with when it comes to modding games. If you are use to windows than Linux will certainly piss you off.

I used my steam deck for almost 2 years and upgraded to the Lenovo Legion go. The steam deck now collects dust.
Better performance, better compatibility, and all games work properly.

I enjoyed my deck, but the performance and compatibility of windows just makes life easier. Plus with all the new updates and drivers, the Z1 extreme blows the steam deck away at 15 watts now

[Zef]

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

Get the ROG ally. Linux is an annoyance to deal with when it comes to modding games. If you are use to windows than Linux will certainly piss you off.

I used my steam deck for almost 2 years and upgraded to the Lenovo Legion go. The steam deck now collects dust.
Better performance, better compatibility, and all games work properly.

I enjoyed my deck, but the performance and compatibility of windows just makes life easier. Plus with all the new updates and drivers, the Z1 extreme blows the steam deck away at 15 watts now

Yeah.. get an ally he said.. completely clueless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pMrssIrKcY

You're also forgetting that for your better performance you have abysmal battery life, those things (ally/go) aren't handhelds at all, you can barely play them more then an hour on full charge with increased TDP and everything cranked to maximum. After a few months your battery life is gonna be even worse due to degredation since you'll have that thing constantly hooked up to a wall charger.

Since all windows games using proton are containerized it's no more difficult modding games in steam OS then finding the right compatdata folder and drag/dropping the mods in place.

Hell there are even scripts and custom launchers that allow for full nexus mod vortex and the like integration.

Windows on a handheld is just a massive fail.

[invision2212]

Escrito originalmente por Zef:

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

Get the ROG ally. Linux is an annoyance to deal with when it comes to modding games. If you are use to windows than Linux will certainly piss you off.

I used my steam deck for almost 2 years and upgraded to the Lenovo Legion go. The steam deck now collects dust.
Better performance, better compatibility, and all games work properly.

I enjoyed my deck, but the performance and compatibility of windows just makes life easier. Plus with all the new updates and drivers, the Z1 extreme blows the steam deck away at 15 watts now

Yeah.. get an ally he said.. completely clueless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pMrssIrKcY

You're also forgetting that for your better performance you have abysmal battery life, those things (ally/go) aren't handhelds at all, you can barely play them more then an hour on full charge with increased TDP and everything cranked to maximum. After a few months your battery life is gonna be even worse due to degredation since you'll have that thing constantly hooked up to a wall charger.

Since all windows games using proton are containerized it's no more difficult modding games in steam OS then finding the right compatdata folder and drag/dropping the mods in place.

Hell there are even scripts and custom launchers that allow for full nexus mod vortex and the like integration.

Windows on a handheld is just a massive fail.

Don’t crank it to max TDP then. I can play at 5w or 30w or leave it and let the game decide what it needs. But you’re right about battery, it will drain it fast if you play at max settings but so will the deck. However you can have the battery max charge to 80% plugged in, so no long term damage. Steam deck goes from 93% to 100% over and over.

The deck has an extremely weak CPU that can barely keep up with its GPU. You can forget trying to do productive tasks that require high CPU usage. You can also forget installing most of windows software too.

You say win11 is a fail but why? After you uninstall the things that aren’t needed to run windows it’s a smooth experience.
I’ve had no issues.

I’m not crapping on the deck, it’s a great value for the 64gb and swap the SSD. If you are going to spend 650.00 you should get a real handheld (rog ally - lenovo legion go)

Oh yeah……good luck running any newer games too. Both the ally and legion go can use external GPUs and run games at max settings 1080-1440p if the internal APU isn’t up to it (which it is)

[Prezidentas]

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

Oh yeah……good luck running any newer games too. Both the ally and legion go can use external GPUs and run games at max settings 1080-1440p if the internal APU isn’t up to it (which it is)

why are you wasting your money on a handheld if you are planning on keeping power always plugged in and use an external GPU (which you won't because the GPU docks are more expensive than some GPUs)

[invision2212]

Escrito originalmente por Prezidentas:

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

Oh yeah……good luck running any newer games too. Both the ally and legion go can use external GPUs and run games at max settings 1080-1440p if the internal APU isn’t up to it (which it is)

why are you wasting your money on a handheld if you are planning on keeping power always plugged in and use an external GPU (which you won't because the GPU docks are more expensive than some GPUs)

But I do have one. A 7600mXT oneXgpu
I only use this in bed so all that “BUT THE BATTERY LIFE” makes no difference to me.

And yes I have a gaming pc before you say anything. I like this setup better

[Prezidentas]

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

Escrito originalmente por Prezidentas:

why are you wasting your money on a handheld if you are planning on keeping power always plugged in and use an external GPU (which you won't because the GPU docks are more expensive than some GPUs)

But I do have one. A 7600mXT oneXgpu
I only use this in bed so all that “BUT THE BATTERY LIFE” makes no difference to me.

And yes I have a gaming pc before you say anything. I like this setup better

so you paid $600 for a $250 GPU?

[invision2212]

Escrito originalmente por Prezidentas:

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

But I do have one. A 7600mXT oneXgpu
I only use this in bed so all that “BUT THE BATTERY LIFE” makes no difference to me.

And yes I have a gaming pc before you say anything. I like this setup better

so you paid $600 for a $250 GPU?

Bedroom gaming is serious and has no price cap. I’ll probably eventually get a 4080 for it. This is good for now.

[[?]legit]

Escrito originalmente por Prezidentas:

some extreme stuff might be a hassle but DLLs and file replacement is not difficult. I would look into things like battery life and trackpads to choose which one to get.

Modding isn't just DLL and file replacement.

I would definitely not get the steam deck, it has already enough problems to start games without any mods, if you are modding, especially with 3rd party tools it can get a nightmare.

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

You say win11 is a fail but why?

Hyperbole in par with typical black and white thinking. I don't think he can answer that question. Most of the haters forget that windows has been optimized for touch use since windows 8 (which was a fantastic os for touch devices). Steam OS is light years away from the easy usablitiy of windows.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Escrito originalmente por ?legit:

Escrito originalmente por Prezidentas:

some extreme stuff might be a hassle but DLLs and file replacement is not difficult. I would look into things like battery life and trackpads to choose which one to get.

Modding isn't just DLL and file replacement.

I would definitely not get the steam deck, it has already enough problems to start games without any mods, if you are modding, especially with 3rd party tools it can get a nightmare.

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

You say win11 is a fail but why?

Hyperbole in par with typical black and white thinking. I don't think he can answer that question. Most of the haters forget that windows has been optimized for touch use since windows 8 (which was a fantastic os for touch devices). Steam OS is light years away from the easy usablitiy of windows.

That's why Windows handhelds sell so well. That's why the Windows phone did so well.

Because Windows is 'optimized for touch'.

[Zef]

Escrito originalmente por invision2212:

Escrito originalmente por Zef:

Yeah.. get an ally he said.. completely clueless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pMrssIrKcY

You're also forgetting that for your better performance you have abysmal battery life, those things (ally/go) aren't handhelds at all, you can barely play them more then an hour on full charge with increased TDP and everything cranked to maximum. After a few months your battery life is gonna be even worse due to degredation since you'll have that thing constantly hooked up to a wall charger.

Since all windows games using proton are containerized it's no more difficult modding games in steam OS then finding the right compatdata folder and drag/dropping the mods in place.

Hell there are even scripts and custom launchers that allow for full nexus mod vortex and the like integration.

Windows on a handheld is just a massive fail.

Oh yeah……good luck running any newer games too. Both the ally and legion go can use external GPUs and run games at max settings 1080-1440p if the internal APU isn’t up to it (which it is)

Lmao an external GPU hooked up to a gaming handheld?

At that point you could just get a gaming notebook, which will absolutely destroy your ally (and steam deck) in performance.

I don't see my deck as gaming pc replacement, but as a portable PS4 (graphics wise) capable of emulating everything up to PS3 and with better battery life.

Steam deck is way more efficient with it's custom AMD APU, Steam OS, and lower TDP ranges. I dindn't say Windows 11 is a fail (even though i dislike the spyware features) but that Windows on a handheld is fail, simply because it's such a resource hog compared to lightweight linux distro's.

It's battery life (oled) allows it to be actually used as a handheld, as in on the go without acces to a wall charger or chungus power bank.