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Steam Deck |OT| Nintendo Switch 2

Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
GLS confirmed they will deliver today.

Video Games 90S GIF
 

Filben

Member
I'll start looking for tips and trick videos and shit like that. Would be nice to know the system before it arrives.
You should install PowerTools because they let you disable the CPUs cores. Some older games don't properly utilise many cores and the Deck's single core speed is increased when only a few of them are active. Tested for myself with the game Venetica, where disabling 4 of them 8 cores increased my FPS by roughly 12%. Also, some emulators might benefit from this.

Also, when you want to limit your FPS, you better use in-game limiters because the Deck's own FPS limiter induces very noticeable input latency. Use it only as a fall back when the game doesn't provide a limiter at all or not the value you're looking for.

If you have the 64GB version and upgrade it with an SD card and install many games, the shadercache and compatibility files, still being stored internally, can take up a good amount of space. You can move those folders/files onto your SD card and link back to the original location; this way the Deck's still looking at the right place but you safe space on your internal storage.
 

Certinty

Member
Anyone have any thoughts if the following games run well on the Steam Deck:
- Portal 1/2
- Batman Arkham games
- Max Payne 3
- GTA IV
- Sunset Overdrive
 

TintoConCasera

I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
Yeah bros, mine arrived too just moments ago.

This thing is bigger, but also lighter than I expected. Surprised at how comfortable it is to hold, and specially with how reachable the dpad and the buttons are, as those seemed to be in a weird position when seeing images or watching videos.

Now to start installing games and fiddling with this thing. :lollipop_content:
 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
I have been playing the game Session on my Deck. Yesterday, I switched over to the PC. The Xbone controller used to be my favorite but holy hell, is it tough to go back to after getting accustomed to the Deck.
 

Filben

Member
Sunset Overdrive
Runs great! 720p at stable 60fps, IIRC also 900p. 1080p should be possible with 40fps. Be sure to set the in-game AA setting to maximum; that way you have a pretty smooth image even with that low resolution.

There's a system requirements warning upon launching the game which has to be ok'ed with the mouse cursor/track pad.

Lately, I had two crashes though, that might be correlate with a corrupted save game due the game's issue with Steam's cloud save game structure. This issue was also persistent on my Windows PC, so it's nothing exclusively on the Deck. Just keep in mind to let that one save game be and don't touch it, if you come across it.
 

TintoConCasera

I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
Any tips when it comes to battery preservation in the long run? Should I avoid things like playing while charging, or leaving it plugged in for long times after being fully charged?
 

Filben

Member
Any tips when it comes to battery preservation in the long run?
Standard practices with lithium-ion batteries apply.

There are some practical and some impractical habits. Keep in mind that this is a consumer grade battery with maximum runtime at lowest cost, means longevity was not the purpose when it was built. This means you have the same energy at 5% as if it was 100%, giving you access to all the functions and performance. Typical lifespan is 300-500 cycles (=recharge to 100%).

Impractical:

The ultimate and best thing to do is to keep the cycles at a minimum. Since that kind of destroys the purpose of having a battery on the go and reduces usage of the Steam Deck, this isn't practical. It's not only the raw number of recharge cycles that count, though. Generally, the deeper the discharge, the more impactful on life reducing will be the charge. So you don't want to run out your battery completely.

In theory, use lower charge voltage. Most chargers (also for smartphones) charge at 4,2V/cell (for safety reason) which gives maximum capacity because that is what counts for most end-consumers. Lower charge voltage and lower capacity is to be found in the industry. This is, also, not practical for this device.

Lowest capacity loss measured is when charged to 75% and discharged to 65%. This reduces utilization tremendously and is hence highly impractical for the Steam Deck.

Practical:

Keep it in a cool environment. Elevated temperatures, that reduces performance (as in long-time capacity), start at 30°C, but in fact decreasing performance already begin around 25°C.

Modern smartphones and chargers charge dependently on your usage; slow charge (lower temperatures) over night (e.g. my smartphones charges at the speed necessary to have it fully charged when I get up), fast charge (higher temperatures) over the day when it's heavily needed. I don't think the Steam Deck and its charger supports that kind of charging, though.

You don't need to disconnect the battery/Steam Deck from the charger when it's at 100%. Modern ion batteries can't be overcharged because charging stops when the battery is full.

Deep cycles will also increase internal resistance which causes temperature increase and voltage drop; increased ion resistance is permanent. So you want to avoid deep cycles; good cycle range is between 25 and 80%, not recharging when over 50% is even better (except for the small range mentioned under the impractical habits).

Keep in mind that recharging earlier increases recharge frequency and hence still "depletes" available recharge cycles until the battery drops capacity. It's not proportional and still helps, though, as charging at 40% battery capacity can prolong the battery life to twice the cycles (while you charge 1.6 times more often than going from 0-100%).

In general it is nothing you should worry about too much since this isn't probably a product for a ten year usage cycle. By the time your battery dropped significantly in capacity to the point it becomes unusable without access to the power grid, there's probably the Steam Deck 3 on its way. (depending on how much you use your Steam Deck there's probably even a Steam Deck 4 out before your battery dies completely).

So in short: keep it cool, don't let the battery deplete completely; charge early, preferably before 25%. You can keep it on the power grid.
 
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Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
I see an option in the battery / performance overlay to use "specific game settings" - does this toggle allow me to change the settings per game so i should always toggle it, if not it will use on settings for all games?
 

daoster

Member
I just paid for the steam deck back on the 22nd, but they don't seem to have shipped it yet? How long does this usually take? Exciting to try this bad boy!
 

TintoConCasera

I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
I see an option in the battery / performance overlay to use "specific game settings" - does this toggle allow me to change the settings per game so i should always toggle it, if not it will use on settings for all games?
Yes, I think so! I enabled it the moment I saw it, since I like setting things up for each game.

I just paid for the steam deck back on the 22nd, but they don't seem to have shipped it yet? How long does this usually take? Exciting to try this bad boy!
I paid on the 23th and it came today, so a full week for me. I'm in Spain and they seem to have a distribution center in the Netherlands, so your mileage may vary depending on where you live.
 

Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
Can I just mention how hilarious it is to use Desktop mode together with mouse trackpad and right clicks?

Also this one for setting Game Pass:
--window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk "https://www.xbox.com/play"

I understand it stretches 1024x640 by 1.25x, but why can't we just set 720p resolution from the start? It will break the Edge browser?
 

TintoConCasera

I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
Anyone has played Prodeus on his Deck? I'm trying to keep constant 60fps. SO far I think I've managed to by lowering the resolution, but I still have some little dips here and there.

Also tried Yakuza 6. Ultra settings, resolution lowered by a bit and manage to keep constant 40fps. Amazing to have a game like this running on a handheld.
 

LiquidMetal14

hide your water-based mammals
Anyone has played Prodeus on his Deck? I'm trying to keep constant 60fps. SO far I think I've managed to by lowering the resolution, but I still have some little dips here and there.

Also tried Yakuza 6. Ultra settings, resolution lowered by a bit and manage to keep constant 40fps. Amazing to have a game like this running on a handheld.
Like a Dragon runs like a dream on this thing. I maxed it all out and just cap it at 30 as it's perfectly playable and can go higher but battery and all.

Watching videos on many games being played on Deck and they all still look really good even on low settings. Dirt 5 looks stellar on this and that is the beauty of it since you can tweak settings to your liking and balance out battery vs visuals/performance. No mainstream handhelds do that or come close.
 

CobraAB

Member
I made the purchase this last Monday and it shows packaged but not shipped yet. Anyone know how long this process takes?
 

Mozza

Member
You are surprised, no issue with a thread about the Steam deck it's a cool piece of tech, but why the need to include any reference to the Nintendo Switch in the OP at all, it's just not needed, even more so when you suggest this is the Nintendo Switch 2, just pure bait imho. ;)
 

kapshin

Member
Damn of course my steam deck reserve comes up now which isn't the best time, wish it was a month from now... owell.
 

CrustyBritches

Gold Member
Damn of course my steam deck reserve comes up now which isn't the best time, wish it was a month from now... owell.
Depending on the region you’re in And the model you’re ordering I wouldn’t really worry about just canceling and reserving it again should push it out by about 2 to 4 weeks in the US at least for the 64 GB model.

PayPal Pay in 4 is another good option if you have it available in your region
 
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rkofan87

Gold Member
Yeah bros, mine arrived too just moments ago.

This thing is bigger, but also lighter than I expected. Surprised at how comfortable it is to hold, and specially with how reachable the dpad and the buttons are, as those seemed to be in a weird position when seeing images or watching videos.

Now to start installing games and fiddling with this thing. :lollipop_content:
how light the thing is blew me away.
 

CobraAB

Member
Depending on the region you’re in And the model you’re ordering I wouldn’t really worry about just canceling and reserving it again should push it out by about 2 to 4 weeks in the US at least for the 64 GB model.

PayPal Pay in 4 is another good option if you have it available in your region
That option did not some up for me on this purchase but often does at other places that offer PayPal.
 

Midn1ght

Member
Damn of course my steam deck reserve comes up now which isn't the best time, wish it was a month from now... owell.
Don't buy it and put up a new reservation, it takes around 30 days, sometimes less from reservation to invitation now. You won't have to wait forever.
 

CrustyBritches

Gold Member
That option did not some up for me on this purchase but often does at other places that offer PayPal.
For my new 64GB I wanted to do Pay-in-4 and it allowed me to do but at the last second I realize I was spending some of my son’s Steam Credit, too, so I backed out after being approved and ran the payment and it payed the whole amount. It still had the first Pay-in-4 preauthorized for 72hrs then it fell off, so I know it would have worked.
 

Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
Did some power washing over xCloud, was a rather comfortable experience. My only issue is broken image when entering the menu from Steam Deck (look at the top):

aNBB73u.jpg


I installed all the art assets correctly (banner, icon, capsule).
 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
Eh... I went on a bit of a buying spree this morning. I picked up that Humble Choice for this month, which is 8 games. 3 at Fanatical in the Deck bundle and NFS Heat on Steam. :messenger_grinning_sweat:
 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
American Fugitive is playing really well on the Deck. I had tried this game before but couldn't get into it. For some reason, being on handheld, makes me want to play through the entire game. There is just something magical to me about the form factor of the Deck.
 

TintoConCasera

I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
Had some fun today with Apeture Desk Job. It's just 30 minutes, but it does a well job of explaining what the Deck can do while keeping you entertained with some Pixar-like charm and humor. It also looks quite nice on the Deck.
 

TintoConCasera

I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
I love my deck so much, but do any of you get bad hand cramp playing in bed (with the steam deck!)
Been playing while lying down and so far it's pretty comfortable. No cramps at all, so far it's much better than the Switch when it comes to ergonomics imo.
 

TintoConCasera

I bought a sex doll, but I keep it inflated 100% of the time and use it like a regular wife
Which Proton version do you use as default? I tried Quake with the last one and also the last GE one and I'm getting some weird stutters here and there. Wonder if it's because of that or because NightDive's port is busted on the Deck.
 

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
Which Proton version do you use as default? I tried Quake with the last one and also the last GE one and I'm getting some weird stutters here and there. Wonder if it's because of that or because NightDive's port is busted on the Deck.
I actually think I switched to the experimental after reading positive things with the branch. I've only had to change one game to a different version. I forget which game.
 

Resenge

Member
I love my deck so much, but do any of you get bad hand cramp playing in bed (with the steam deck!)
Same here. Was playing Yakuza 0 earlier today and having to hold R1 to target an enemy and spam buttons cramps my hand. I think I'll change target to a back button.
 
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LiquidMetal14

hide your water-based mammals
I love my deck so much, but do any of you get bad hand cramp playing in bed (with the steam deck!)
I was thinking about this too and I think if you live certain way like any other handheld or your phone it will start to feel kind of uncomfortable and you have to move around but the end of the day it's the most comfortable handheld I've ever held and it's not as heavy as it looks. The real answer really is to try to lay on your stomach and stop being a bitch.
 

BadBurger

Is 'That Pure Potato'
I get an error when firing up Apex Legends that the client is not running the anti-cheat, or has failed authentication. Rebooting, updating, and changing to experimental Proton didn't work. I assume some daemon is supposed to start when the client fires up. Ah well, time to reinstall I guess. I hope I didn't get banned for some reason.

Edit: looks like reinstalling fixed it
 
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CrustyBritches

Gold Member
When I'm playing with my Deck in bed I usually have to sit up against the headboard or put a pillow on my stomach to prop it up a bit. It's not so much a hand cramp issue, but rather that holding it up can get tiring and it's hard to kink my neck to see it if I just rest it on my belly.
 
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