If we use PC parts, we can have our own Steam Deck, although for compatibility issues it is preferable to use parts with the same architecture. That is, AMD Ryzen 3000 processors and above, with Zen 2 architecture or above along with RX 6000 graphics cards or, alternatively, a laptop with Ryzen 6000. All you need to have installed as an operating system is HoloISO, and that’s nothing more than the version of SteamOS 3.0 used by the Steam Deck. However, what we will talk about in this article is what could be a version that can only be connected to the TV.
Is a traditional console-style Steam Deck possible?
Well, the answer is yes, as it uses the same technology as PS5 and the Xbox series. That is, a CPU with Zen 2 architecture and a GPU with RDNA 2 architecture, both from AMD and sharing space on the same chip. So the technology has already been tested. In any case, let’s not forget that the Steam Deck already has a Dock accessory that allows us to use the system on a monitor or a television, so that it can also be used as a desktop console.
The problem with it? We are limited by the fact that it is originally a portable system. So we’re talking about a more powerful desktop system, to the point where it can display 4K graphics at 60 frames per second, like the current generation of systems.
What specs would the Steam Dock have?
Taking into account the previous experiences with SONY and Microsoft, it is clear that AMD would have no problem making an exclusive chip for a Steam Deck as a traditional console, which could also load all the games from the Valve console catalog. , which it has now reached 5,000 fully supported PC titles. Knowing the experience of Lisa Su’s company in creating custom designs for its partners, for almost 10 years now, there is no doubt that they can create a Steam Deck that can compete with PS5 and Xbox Series X on a technical level. or at least as close as possible.
What specs could have what would become a potential Steam Dock?
- Since Valve is dedicated to distributing games over the Internet and not in physical format, the system would not contain any type of Blu-ray or DVD drive.
- As in the Steam Deck, the storage would be made with 2230-size NVMe SSDs, the same ones used by Valve for the current console.
- Few games on PC use 6 cores and even fewer use 4. However, if you can allocate one or two cores to the Proton interpreter, it would improve the game performance. So an 8 core CPU would be fine. Incidentally, AMD and Valve could use TSMC’s 6nm technology, which is already used in the Ryzen 6000, where they have already ported their RDNA 2 graphics.
- And speaking of the Ryzen 6000, the processor could be a Zen 3+, which is fully compatible.
- RAM would remain 16 GB, but this time GDDR6 instead of LPDDR5, meaning a 256-bit bus. So we can talk about a bandwidth of 448 GB/s or 512 GB/s, depending on the speed of the memory.
- The unknown would be the integrated graphics, because depending on the size, the cost of the console will be higher or lower and affect the number of consoles
Although economically unfeasible
However, we must assume that with the current production costs of chips from Valve, they have to ensure a sufficiently large volume in terms of the number of wafers. And here we enter the reason why Steam Deck is a portable console, because they had to consider it as a portable console to reach a certain sales volume.
That is, it would be technically possible, but the economics would make it impossible. Let’s not forget that the fact that we can use our Steam library prevents them from reselling the games for their platform. So they can’t take advantage of selling the console at cost and get the money back with the royalties from the games. Microsoft and SONY can do it, besides, Valve can’t afford to make a Game Pass because that would devalue the store. Also, they cannot make an online payment to fund themselves as this is not common on PCs.
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