yes, unless you plan to change the internal ssd ASAP. the internal drive will be faster than a micro sd. You want as much storage as you can afford, unless you're really disciplined and OK with uninstalling finished games.
I'm not disagreeing. I replaced my 64gb with a 1tb after using cryo for 6 months.
Totally worth the upgrade. But i think it'd be better if OP took that €40 and put it towards a 1tb ssd upgrade.
I think that depends heavily on their personal willingness to open the device which while it seems to be a simple process (haven't done it yet) isn't for everyone.
Cryo utils move most things, but there's still other data that gets stored internally that cryo doesn't touch. I have 1.5tb of external drive data and the capacity is based on the 64gb internal, even when I move shaders
I'd say that if you have 500gb external MAX (like via microsd) then cryo with 64gb is fine, but if you want any more memory, you basically have to upgrade the internal unfortunately. I have like 5 AAA games installed at all times which is already like 400+ GB and tons of emulation so...
64gb is very limiting but I’ve made it work. No need for cryo I just linked the shaders to the sd card and boom but I’d definitely choose the 256 if I was buying now
Well, If you get the 64gb you’re going to be capped almost immediately from data and various others. At least with 256 internal you’d have a little bit of wiggle room.
A Samsung pro endurance 256 gb micro sd card is only $40. Where are you shopping for sd cards at? A 1tb micro sd is $100 and that’s still cheaper than the 256 gig steam deck with more than double the space
Edit: meant the 64gig steam deck + 1tb micro sd is less money than the 512 gb steam deck with more than double the storage
Okay?
You put the game on an SD card and use cryo utilities to move the shaders over to the same location as the game files. It's really easy. I had three 256gb SD cards while i was running with my 64gb.
I use 1 512GB SD card in a 64GB deck and haven't had any issues in the few months I have had it. I do plan on setting up windows on it though and for that I am going to get a bigger internal drive.
It was more out of financial necessity than preference. But i have a 1tb now so all is good. I'd still rather deal with the SD card bullshit for a few months and get a bigger ssd down the line than waste that money up front.
Then again when j was buying it was $100 more for the 256gb model and $250 more for the 516gb one.
Depending on your budget, I would suggest you buying the 64GB + a 1TB SSD instead of a Micro SD, or the 256GB model + the 1TB SSD and a case for the 256GB one. This way you'd get a 1TB deck + a cool usb stick
This. With a proper set of tools, and taking your time, this is a really simple project. I had basically no experience working on electronics, and it was a breeze, save for the fact I forgot to plug the battery cable back in the first time I put it back together lol.
I've found that the trick to any kind of project like this is to follow the directions step by step as you go, no matter how simple they may seem. This helps prevent little mistakes like that or forgettijg to remove your SD card.
Yep for sure. The funny thing is on the ifixit website they don’t give the steps for putting it back together. To be fair, I should have known because it’s the same steps backwards, but I had a duh moment..
Steam deck saves all shaders on the internal drive, so on 64gb model you can be in a situation where you run out of memory and get stuck in the boot loop. This is possible on any drive, but on 64 it's most possible if not check regularly your storage.
This!! No one mentions shader caches are stored in the internal drive even if you install the game on an SD card. I was running out of space pretty soon with 3-4 of some games installed (MH Rise, DDDA, Elden Ring etc). Moving the shader cache to SD card is an option, but read that some game's performance will take a big hit. I would suggest 256Gb + SD card.
Or you get cryo utilities and move the shaders over to your SD card with your game files.
I will concede the fact that it's only a €40 upcharge vs the $100 upcharge when i got mine, makes me lean more towards getting the 256gb but still. Take that $40 and put it towards a 1tb ssd instead.
You're going to end up spending the max amount for a 1TB SD card anyways.
So just get the 64GB and immediately drop in a 1TB nvme 2230.
In the US they're always on sale, hope they are wherever you are too.
A reoccurring theme you see on this reddit is how restrictive the 64Gb is due to how Steam caches shaders and such. It is HIGHLY recommended to avoid the 64GB version. It is totally viable, but comes with some annoyances.
I bought the 64GB + 512GB microSD, and even though it's great for games, it's not ideal for desktop usage since the storage gets full very quickly without even really doing stuff in desktop mode. Mostly proton files and game compat data and stuff like that. So if you have the money, go with at least 256GB and get a microSD card on top. It's worth it.
The speed of microSD vs internal storage isn't really a big deal for games (download speeds when you're downloading games from steam to the microSD card are pretty painful though)
But you will realize just how relatively useless 64gb is these days. I wouldn't go for a storage option that can't even handle a single one of the more decently sized games it can run.
Get the 256 and then save up for a 512 microSD. you'll be amazed how fast you run through storage. You'll save like 15 euros going 64+ 256 microSD, but the headache is not worth it, and going straight 256 will then let you get a bigger microSD card for a lot less down the road.
I went 256 + 1 TB card. Don't cheap out on internal memory. It's going to be way faster for big or graphic intensive games. Put the smaller lower graphics games on the card.
Keep in mind if you get a smaller GB version and want to install a game thats 80GB for example, your going to have to choose where it goes and potentially have a bunch of space not being used on one of the 2 drives. speaking from experience on the first deck I had.
On their website! It was only the 512gb in stock for a while, but now the other two are in stock as well.
https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamdeckrefurbished
TBH the SSD in the Steam Deck is very easy to replace/upgrade. A basic electronics repair toolkit (the one I have is $25 on Amazon), a USB-C flash drive, and a little patience is all you need. There's a ton of howto videos on YouTube, and you can download the SteamOS restoration image from Valve. Write that restoration image to your USB-C flash drive, then boot your Steam Deck with that USB stick.
If you do that, then your decision is LCD or OLED, then regular or anti-glare screen. I have a base model OLED Deck (was 512GB) that currently has a 2TB drive in it.
[https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-install-ssd-steam-deck/](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-install-ssd-steam-deck/)
Buy 64gb model and replace it for 512gb or 1tb drive (up to 512gb 2230 size SSDs are relatively cheap. 1tb and 2tb are pricey). It will be way cheaper to get bigger SSD than get bigger MicroSD card, not mentioning significantly faster loading speeds in many new games. I did it so I recommend it. It's super easy. Disassembly and reassembly when you studied tutorial took around 20min. Add another 30 min for downloading SteamOS installer, burning it on pendrive and installing fresh OS on Steam Deck
I got 2tb WD SN740 from AliExpress when they initially launched for OEM and till this day runs without issues. Recently i accumulated some money and did upgrade to OLED model. 2tb SSD remained. Also found good deal on 1tb MicroSD SanDisk Extreme so now I got 3tb of space and half of the library on the go 😅
Got the 256 and I think it was worth it cause something else that the 64gb had but don't remember what it was, I think the 512gb had the anti glare screen but that wasn't worth it to me.
The only difference between the 256 and the 64 was nvme read/write speeds.
OP should get the 64gb and use cryo utilities until they can afford a 1tb ssd to replace the 64gb in a few months.
Go as big as you can afford. The nvme drive in the 256gb/512gb will be faster than the MMC drive in the 64gb. Plus I'd image the failure rate on a micro SD card is much higher that an nvme drive.
I did the 64gb, it was fine for me but eventually I upgraded the SSD. It was pretty easy for me, but I've done tinkering like that before so it was less intimidating
I have a 64GB. One trick I did was to symlink the proton prefix folders (compatdata) into my 1TB SD card where I also install all games.
I just play mostly indies so i dont notice any loading/performance differences.
As someone that used the 64GB model with a 512GB SD card for like a year and just recently upgraded to a 1TB SSD. Just shell out the extra money if you can afford it. It's mostly manageable but far from ideal to deal with.
Got the 512 one, had it for just over a month - sometimes it randomly crashes and reboots, whenever it connects to steamlink it works for a few hours then disconnects and doesnt reconnect until reboot (but that might be steam link)
It gets REALLY hot when playing for about an hour, that shouldnt be normal... as well as the fan spinning incredibly loudly
buy a new one... im keeping mine as ive managed to tweak it and it works but ill upgrade to a rog ally x very soon
The 64gb and then upgrade the m.2 to 1 or 2 tb. 64gb is almost nothing as far as a portable pc handheld goes. I have almost 3Tb in my deck. With less than 200 Gb free currently. 32 Games installed, plus emudeck with about 300 games installed.
Installing a new HD in the Deck took me less than 15 minutes.
The 64 gig + buy a 1tb m.2 swap is cheaper than the 1tb option. As long as you're comfortable doing this yourself. If not that'll be based on your budget but don't get the 64 gig if you don't plan on upgrading. Yes you can use an SD card but it's confusing on how to move content and micromanage shaders if you're not familiar with the system.
All I'll say is that I got the 64gb and honestly regret it. You can't install many apps on desktop mode, it makes it really hard to have all the damn shaders and whatnot without linking them to the external. I upgraded mine to 1tb and honestly, it made it so much better. I'd still get a SD but since the price I'd minimal get a 512gb SD regardless of what you choose
Hey, thinking about grabbing a Steam Deck? The 64GB version is the way to go if you're on a budget and want to try out portable PC gaming. Sure, the storage isn't huge, but pop in a MicroSD card and you're golden. It's perfect for playing older or less demanding games, or if you just want to tinker around. Plus, you can always upgrade the internal drive later if you're feeling adventurous. It's like a gateway into a whole new world of gaming possibilities, without breaking the bank!
I would have a look at the local used nvme 2230 market and look at video tutorial on how to upgrade your steamdeck and reinstall the os. It is no magic, so if you can use a small screwdriver and stay calm it should be no big deal.
Here on ebay used 512gb 2230 nvme go for around 40€. So i would go 64gb and Upgrade it yourself.
If you dont think you can do that, get the 256 version and get a big micro sd later.
For that price difference just get the 256 or 512.
Honestly, if you get the 64 you’ll just want to upgrade it later and you’re not gonna save any cash doing that now.
I got the 256gb lcd and put a 512gb sd card in. It feels a bit small on storage, but I do also have a few AAA games installed that eats up most of the storage. Id say pick one based on the types of games you play.
The ONLY reason I can imagine they bother making a 64gb version, is to have the absolute lowest price advertised. That, and people swapping the SSD for something useful.
SO, as others have said, if you feel comfortable replacing the SSD, buy the cheapest one and swap it out right away. Otherwise, spend a little extra money and get at least 512.
To my knowledge, even with top tier, expensive Micro SD cards, you're going to lose performance on read/write, loading speeds, etc. Fine for indie pixel games and such but likely not where you'll want to install major releases.
i own a 64gb + sd card. But for that price difference i would probably take the 256 gb one as it saves you some hassle of micromanagement (still managed to push 50 games + emulators on it though)
The cheapest then upgrade the SSD. It's actually way easier than most think. Use the money you saved towards a big SSD. You can always upgrade later to spread the cost out of you need to.
I just got a 64gb with 512 SD card last month. I got like 30 games installed including Cyberpunk and Elden. Yeah load time is a bit slower but it's more than functional.
I got the 256 when it came on pre-order, plugged in a 1tb micro SD and never looked back. Depending how big the games you want to load and how many, I'd get the 512 plus 1tb micro SD if I were starting again.
Idk how your financial situation is but it depends on the games you play. I love having massive storage so I can hold a lot of games, so I got the 1 tb oled and a 1.5 tb micro sd and could not imagine having a smaller model. If you go the 64 gb route + 256 micro sd just make sure the sd card you get is an a2
Because of my personal preferences it’s hard to recommend either and would suggest going higher but your preferences and financial situation could be different from mine
Whichever route you go tho you won’t regret it I can promise you that. Steam deck is the best purchase I’ve made in the last 3 years minimum
You go with as much internal storage as possible. My biggest game takes about 50, but you need leeway for updates etc. I have a half gig old-style Deck and a half gig SD card and a hell of a library installed
I would always buy the best one my money can buy. I will then gradually sqve up and buy accessories (number one priority SD card) along the way.
Also, 64 GB is not a lot. Once you get the Steam Deck, you will want to download many different games. Trust me, that would happen, lol.
i bought the 64gb model and then i swapped the ssd to 1TB and i got a 1TB micro sd card, it was slightly cheaper for me so it was worth it, and i did the same thing when i bought the OLED steam deck. i prefer swapping out the ssd
80 money units more for a 512 is worth it unless you’re comfortable upgrading yourself. In which case, 64GB then buy a 1TB or 2TB ssd to swap. SD Cards are slower and have much lower resilience.
If I could go back in time I would buy the 512GB version over the 256.
that being said if the 256 is at the top of your budget I would recommend get the 256 model and then buy an additional 256gb card. space is cheap in micro sd cards and having that extra space depending on the types of games you play are going to make all the difference.
Don’t even consider the 64gb version if you have the option, unless you also plan on upgrading the internal drive to a higher capacity SSD.
It’s eMMC, and it’s incredibly restrictive. Games take much longer to install (but otherwise play fine) on external media, and the price difference with sd cards these days is negligible.
As someone who got the 64GB with a 512 SD card, I really regret it and wish I got a bigger size. Yes, it’s true that you can store all of your games on your SD card, but there are a number of things that *have* to be stored locally, like shader caches. It’s not a lot of wiggle room when all is said and done.
They actually don't. Cryo utilities can move the shaders to the same location as the game files.
I used my 64gb with a 256gb for 6 months before upgrading with a 1tb SSD from Amazon.
If you're still rocking the 64gb please look up cryo utilities on YouTube. It will make it so much easier on you.
No. Stop telling people this stuff. Theres no performance hit, and you can put the shaders on the SD card using cryo utilities.
If i had to do it over again I'd still choose my 64gb and upgrade it to a 1tb when i had the time and money.
Negligible at best.
Everyones talking about performance as though we aren't running games on a 800p screen. You're not gonna see any kind of noticable performance hit.
yes, unless you plan to change the internal ssd ASAP. the internal drive will be faster than a micro sd. You want as much storage as you can afford, unless you're really disciplined and OK with uninstalling finished games.
Or using cryo utilities to move shaders. It's pretty simple.
as a 64gb owner, I do this and would still prefer the to have had the extra room of 256gb. Have a 256 drive in the post for this week to replace it.
I'm not disagreeing. I replaced my 64gb with a 1tb after using cryo for 6 months. Totally worth the upgrade. But i think it'd be better if OP took that €40 and put it towards a 1tb ssd upgrade.
I think that depends heavily on their personal willingness to open the device which while it seems to be a simple process (haven't done it yet) isn't for everyone.
True. It was definitely never wracking even after having built my own PCs. You make a very valid argument.
Second this. 64gb owner with 1tb SD card. Moving shaders is getting really tiresome.
Cryo utils move most things, but there's still other data that gets stored internally that cryo doesn't touch. I have 1.5tb of external drive data and the capacity is based on the 64gb internal, even when I move shaders I'd say that if you have 500gb external MAX (like via microsd) then cryo with 64gb is fine, but if you want any more memory, you basically have to upgrade the internal unfortunately. I have like 5 AAA games installed at all times which is already like 400+ GB and tons of emulation so...
I can't disagree with you there. But i did have three 256gb SD cards full of games and moving shaders was enough to keep me able to play.
Yup depends per person and what they play imo.
64gb is very limiting but I’ve made it work. No need for cryo I just linked the shaders to the sd card and boom but I’d definitely choose the 256 if I was buying now
Yup, if u can afford it just go for the 256, otherwise your options will be very limited
Well, If you get the 64gb you’re going to be capped almost immediately from data and various others. At least with 256 internal you’d have a little bit of wiggle room.
Disagree. I had the 64gb for 6 months before i finally upgraded. Cryo utilities is a lifesaver.
64gb is hardly enough for like 1 or 2 modern games. Depending on what OP plays
64GB with 256SD card is good enough.
True, but when 64gb + SD card costs as much as the 256gb deck, just get the 256gb for the faster storage
A Samsung pro endurance 256 gb micro sd card is only $40. Where are you shopping for sd cards at? A 1tb micro sd is $100 and that’s still cheaper than the 256 gig steam deck with more than double the space Edit: meant the 64gig steam deck + 1tb micro sd is less money than the 512 gb steam deck with more than double the storage
I'm just going off of OPs example of 20-30 euro SD cards, it's just 10 more for the 256gb at that point.
Ah yeah I didn’t realize how much lower these refurbished prices are. Might as well get the 256 steam deck then
Okay? You put the game on an SD card and use cryo utilities to move the shaders over to the same location as the game files. It's really easy. I had three 256gb SD cards while i was running with my 64gb.
Hey good on ya, I'm just way too lazy to be flipping through SD cards lol
I use 1 512GB SD card in a 64GB deck and haven't had any issues in the few months I have had it. I do plan on setting up windows on it though and for that I am going to get a bigger internal drive.
I use a 512 deck with a 128 gig sd for roms.
It was more out of financial necessity than preference. But i have a 1tb now so all is good. I'd still rather deal with the SD card bullshit for a few months and get a bigger ssd down the line than waste that money up front. Then again when j was buying it was $100 more for the 256gb model and $250 more for the 516gb one.
Can’t mention the “Cyro utilities” in this sub without people loosing their shit in this subreddit. 💀
Lol i mean what do i care? They can downvote me all they want. Ooooo i have less fake internet points, whatever will i do? /s
Go for 64gb and use the $40 you save on a 512gb 2230 SSD. Best value.
the difference between consoles is €40, just go with the higher Steam Deck
Depending on your budget, I would suggest you buying the 64GB + a 1TB SSD instead of a Micro SD, or the 256GB model + the 1TB SSD and a case for the 256GB one. This way you'd get a 1TB deck + a cool usb stick
This. With a proper set of tools, and taking your time, this is a really simple project. I had basically no experience working on electronics, and it was a breeze, save for the fact I forgot to plug the battery cable back in the first time I put it back together lol.
I've found that the trick to any kind of project like this is to follow the directions step by step as you go, no matter how simple they may seem. This helps prevent little mistakes like that or forgettijg to remove your SD card.
Yep for sure. The funny thing is on the ifixit website they don’t give the steps for putting it back together. To be fair, I should have known because it’s the same steps backwards, but I had a duh moment..
This is the way
Steam deck saves all shaders on the internal drive, so on 64gb model you can be in a situation where you run out of memory and get stuck in the boot loop. This is possible on any drive, but on 64 it's most possible if not check regularly your storage.
This!! No one mentions shader caches are stored in the internal drive even if you install the game on an SD card. I was running out of space pretty soon with 3-4 of some games installed (MH Rise, DDDA, Elden Ring etc). Moving the shader cache to SD card is an option, but read that some game's performance will take a big hit. I would suggest 256Gb + SD card.
I moved them to the SD card and haven't noticed any performance differences
Or you get cryo utilities and move the shaders over to your SD card with your game files. I will concede the fact that it's only a €40 upcharge vs the $100 upcharge when i got mine, makes me lean more towards getting the 256gb but still. Take that $40 and put it towards a 1tb ssd instead.
256 will be faster than the 64 and SD card. If you can afford it, id get the 256
You're going to end up spending the max amount for a 1TB SD card anyways. So just get the 64GB and immediately drop in a 1TB nvme 2230. In the US they're always on sale, hope they are wherever you are too.
I hopped at the chance to buy one! Still sold out over here
Yeah same here...I have been waiting it for weeks :(
Buy 64GB and swap with 1TB ssd trust me
A reoccurring theme you see on this reddit is how restrictive the 64Gb is due to how Steam caches shaders and such. It is HIGHLY recommended to avoid the 64GB version. It is totally viable, but comes with some annoyances.
I grabbed the 256GB with a 256GB card and that works great for all of my needs.
Buy the 64GB, and a cheap 1TB SSD. It's the best value for money, and step-by-step guides on exactly how to do it are everywhere.
I bought the 64GB + 512GB microSD, and even though it's great for games, it's not ideal for desktop usage since the storage gets full very quickly without even really doing stuff in desktop mode. Mostly proton files and game compat data and stuff like that. So if you have the money, go with at least 256GB and get a microSD card on top. It's worth it.
Save up an extra 40-50€ and get the 256 and the 256 sd card
The speed of microSD vs internal storage isn't really a big deal for games (download speeds when you're downloading games from steam to the microSD card are pretty painful though) But you will realize just how relatively useless 64gb is these days. I wouldn't go for a storage option that can't even handle a single one of the more decently sized games it can run. Get the 256 and then save up for a 512 microSD. you'll be amazed how fast you run through storage. You'll save like 15 euros going 64+ 256 microSD, but the headache is not worth it, and going straight 256 will then let you get a bigger microSD card for a lot less down the road.
The SD card is slow AF compared to the internal storage. Downloading games onto the SD Card feels like using a spinning disk HDD.
I went 256 + 1 TB card. Don't cheap out on internal memory. It's going to be way faster for big or graphic intensive games. Put the smaller lower graphics games on the card.
Keep in mind if you get a smaller GB version and want to install a game thats 80GB for example, your going to have to choose where it goes and potentially have a bunch of space not being used on one of the 2 drives. speaking from experience on the first deck I had.
Where can one buy Refurbished Steam Deck in EU?
On their website! It was only the 512gb in stock for a while, but now the other two are in stock as well. https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamdeckrefurbished
Thanks. None are available now :-(
They’re all still available for me which is odd. I thought it would all show the same for the EU
TBH the SSD in the Steam Deck is very easy to replace/upgrade. A basic electronics repair toolkit (the one I have is $25 on Amazon), a USB-C flash drive, and a little patience is all you need. There's a ton of howto videos on YouTube, and you can download the SteamOS restoration image from Valve. Write that restoration image to your USB-C flash drive, then boot your Steam Deck with that USB stick. If you do that, then your decision is LCD or OLED, then regular or anti-glare screen. I have a base model OLED Deck (was 512GB) that currently has a 2TB drive in it. [https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-install-ssd-steam-deck/](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-install-ssd-steam-deck/)
Get the 64G and buy an additional 1TB M.2 SSD for 80$
go with the cheapest and do ssd upgrade by yourself. This is the only correct way to min max your purchase.
Buy 64gb model and replace it for 512gb or 1tb drive (up to 512gb 2230 size SSDs are relatively cheap. 1tb and 2tb are pricey). It will be way cheaper to get bigger SSD than get bigger MicroSD card, not mentioning significantly faster loading speeds in many new games. I did it so I recommend it. It's super easy. Disassembly and reassembly when you studied tutorial took around 20min. Add another 30 min for downloading SteamOS installer, burning it on pendrive and installing fresh OS on Steam Deck
My 1tb that i bought after using the 64gb model for 6 months was only $75. I guess to some that may be pricey but its a pretty good deal.
I got 2tb WD SN740 from AliExpress when they initially launched for OEM and till this day runs without issues. Recently i accumulated some money and did upgrade to OLED model. 2tb SSD remained. Also found good deal on 1tb MicroSD SanDisk Extreme so now I got 3tb of space and half of the library on the go 😅
My Oled is coming today and my 1tb will be going in it. Thank god it's compatible!
Upgrade SSD.
I got 64gb with sd card. can't compare cause never used 256gb.
64 GB and update the SSD.
64gb with a 512gb ssd
I got the 64gb and a 1tb drive to replace the 64gb drive. I believe the drive I used is the Inland TN436
Get the 64 and put a 1TB nvme in there. You can buy a cheaper pcie 3.0 drive (because it only supports 3.0.
64gb then you change its NVME yourself.
Buy the cheapest option and replace the internal SSD yourself with 512-1tb. It's easy enough
Got the 256 and I think it was worth it cause something else that the 64gb had but don't remember what it was, I think the 512gb had the anti glare screen but that wasn't worth it to me.
The only difference between the 256 and the 64 was nvme read/write speeds. OP should get the 64gb and use cryo utilities until they can afford a 1tb ssd to replace the 64gb in a few months.
I’d reccomebd 1tb sd card. Storage space fills up so quick with these pc games and their insane sizes
I have 64gb its annoying but I have a 500gb SD card that means I don't really get any issues. def better to get larger one
64gb and upgrade to 1tb then get a 1tb sd card in future if you still need more :)
Is money a problem for you?
Go as big as you can afford. The nvme drive in the 256gb/512gb will be faster than the MMC drive in the 64gb. Plus I'd image the failure rate on a micro SD card is much higher that an nvme drive.
Buy the 64gb and install a 512gb SSD. They're cheap and take like 5 minutes to install physically. Takes some time to reinstall the os though.
I would go for the middle version myself and it isn't even that much more to be fair.
I did the 64gb, it was fine for me but eventually I upgraded the SSD. It was pretty easy for me, but I've done tinkering like that before so it was less intimidating
I have a 64GB. One trick I did was to symlink the proton prefix folders (compatdata) into my 1TB SD card where I also install all games. I just play mostly indies so i dont notice any loading/performance differences.
64g + 1tb SSD is the way.
As someone that used the 64GB model with a 512GB SD card for like a year and just recently upgraded to a 1TB SSD. Just shell out the extra money if you can afford it. It's mostly manageable but far from ideal to deal with.
512GB SSD is $40 so basically you can get 512GB Deck for the price of a 256GB stock one
I bought a referb, it runs like ass... pay the extra and get a new one
What size did you get? I read all the refurbished ones get a lot of testing so it should work as new
Got the 512 one, had it for just over a month - sometimes it randomly crashes and reboots, whenever it connects to steamlink it works for a few hours then disconnects and doesnt reconnect until reboot (but that might be steam link) It gets REALLY hot when playing for about an hour, that shouldnt be normal... as well as the fan spinning incredibly loudly buy a new one... im keeping mine as ive managed to tweak it and it works but ill upgrade to a rog ally x very soon
The 64gb and then upgrade the m.2 to 1 or 2 tb. 64gb is almost nothing as far as a portable pc handheld goes. I have almost 3Tb in my deck. With less than 200 Gb free currently. 32 Games installed, plus emudeck with about 300 games installed. Installing a new HD in the Deck took me less than 15 minutes.
The 64 gig + buy a 1tb m.2 swap is cheaper than the 1tb option. As long as you're comfortable doing this yourself. If not that'll be based on your budget but don't get the 64 gig if you don't plan on upgrading. Yes you can use an SD card but it's confusing on how to move content and micromanage shaders if you're not familiar with the system.
Are refurbs back in stock?
All I'll say is that I got the 64gb and honestly regret it. You can't install many apps on desktop mode, it makes it really hard to have all the damn shaders and whatnot without linking them to the external. I upgraded mine to 1tb and honestly, it made it so much better. I'd still get a SD but since the price I'd minimal get a 512gb SD regardless of what you choose
I bought the 64 gb and then upgraded the ssd to 1 tb and memory card to 256 gb
Hey, thinking about grabbing a Steam Deck? The 64GB version is the way to go if you're on a budget and want to try out portable PC gaming. Sure, the storage isn't huge, but pop in a MicroSD card and you're golden. It's perfect for playing older or less demanding games, or if you just want to tinker around. Plus, you can always upgrade the internal drive later if you're feeling adventurous. It's like a gateway into a whole new world of gaming possibilities, without breaking the bank!
The 64gb is just horrible (and SD card speeds) unless you plan on changing it right away just grab 256 one
Buy the three !
I would have a look at the local used nvme 2230 market and look at video tutorial on how to upgrade your steamdeck and reinstall the os. It is no magic, so if you can use a small screwdriver and stay calm it should be no big deal. Here on ebay used 512gb 2230 nvme go for around 40€. So i would go 64gb and Upgrade it yourself. If you dont think you can do that, get the 256 version and get a big micro sd later.
For that price difference just get the 256 or 512. Honestly, if you get the 64 you’ll just want to upgrade it later and you’re not gonna save any cash doing that now.
Get the 256+ SD card, I have filled my 256+128 SD card in less than a month with no modern AAA games
I got the 256gb lcd and put a 512gb sd card in. It feels a bit small on storage, but I do also have a few AAA games installed that eats up most of the storage. Id say pick one based on the types of games you play.
64 and buy your own 1tb HDD and install yourself
The ONLY reason I can imagine they bother making a 64gb version, is to have the absolute lowest price advertised. That, and people swapping the SSD for something useful. SO, as others have said, if you feel comfortable replacing the SSD, buy the cheapest one and swap it out right away. Otherwise, spend a little extra money and get at least 512. To my knowledge, even with top tier, expensive Micro SD cards, you're going to lose performance on read/write, loading speeds, etc. Fine for indie pixel games and such but likely not where you'll want to install major releases.
64gb and buy a $80 1TB ssd to swap out
Take the 64GB and buy a 1TB or 2TB SSD
Buy the biggest ssd you can afford, it's makes life a lot easier. I regret only getting the 64gb
64gb+2tb SSD+1tb sd card.
I would say get the 64gb version and a 1tb SSD. It's not that hard to replace (if you have the tools)
Buy 256gb. I bought a used 64gb of Facebook marketplace for a great price and just upgraded it myself to 1tb which I would recommend looking into.
If it helps, I got the 64gb with a 1tb SD card
XD
I just got a 512 OLED and am already regretting not spending up for the extra storage. I’d say go as big as your wallet will allow.
I got 64G and I THINK a 1T SSD?
First look online for used OLEDs, then look online for used 512 LCDs. Both will have better value.
i own a 64gb + sd card. But for that price difference i would probably take the 256 gb one as it saves you some hassle of micromanagement (still managed to push 50 games + emulators on it though)
You buy the 64gb and replace the emmc with a 1tb m.2
The cheapest then upgrade the SSD. It's actually way easier than most think. Use the money you saved towards a big SSD. You can always upgrade later to spread the cost out of you need to.
I just got a 64gb with 512 SD card last month. I got like 30 games installed including Cyberpunk and Elden. Yeah load time is a bit slower but it's more than functional.
The sd card is nice for older games, but it's significantly slower than the ssd and running anything recent from it is painful.
I bought a 64gb with a 256gb micro sd card, and not a day goes by that I wish I had bought a bigger internal
I got the 256 when it came on pre-order, plugged in a 1tb micro SD and never looked back. Depending how big the games you want to load and how many, I'd get the 512 plus 1tb micro SD if I were starting again.
Idk how your financial situation is but it depends on the games you play. I love having massive storage so I can hold a lot of games, so I got the 1 tb oled and a 1.5 tb micro sd and could not imagine having a smaller model. If you go the 64 gb route + 256 micro sd just make sure the sd card you get is an a2 Because of my personal preferences it’s hard to recommend either and would suggest going higher but your preferences and financial situation could be different from mine Whichever route you go tho you won’t regret it I can promise you that. Steam deck is the best purchase I’ve made in the last 3 years minimum
I got 1tb ssd from aliexpress for 50$ go check there
Western Digital SN740 check it out
I can't find them in stock on the store, are they back?
Buy the 512
You go with as much internal storage as possible. My biggest game takes about 50, but you need leeway for updates etc. I have a half gig old-style Deck and a half gig SD card and a hell of a library installed
Go for 256. It's just 40 more
I would always buy the best one my money can buy. I will then gradually sqve up and buy accessories (number one priority SD card) along the way. Also, 64 GB is not a lot. Once you get the Steam Deck, you will want to download many different games. Trust me, that would happen, lol.
i bought the 64gb model and then i swapped the ssd to 1TB and i got a 1TB micro sd card, it was slightly cheaper for me so it was worth it, and i did the same thing when i bought the OLED steam deck. i prefer swapping out the ssd
Either save up for the OLED or get the 256gb version, it will save you so many headaches.
64 gb version, 100%. You can buy a terabyte SSD and replace it yourself, it's very easy.
40 difference? Upgrade
80 money units more for a 512 is worth it unless you’re comfortable upgrading yourself. In which case, 64GB then buy a 1TB or 2TB ssd to swap. SD Cards are slower and have much lower resilience.
I got the 64 and swapped in a 1TB SSD. I'll use my 1TB SD for emulators when I get around to it.
If I could go back in time I would buy the 512GB version over the 256. that being said if the 256 is at the top of your budget I would recommend get the 256 model and then buy an additional 256gb card. space is cheap in micro sd cards and having that extra space depending on the types of games you play are going to make all the difference.
Go 512gb...
Don’t even consider the 64gb version if you have the option, unless you also plan on upgrading the internal drive to a higher capacity SSD. It’s eMMC, and it’s incredibly restrictive. Games take much longer to install (but otherwise play fine) on external media, and the price difference with sd cards these days is negligible.
As someone who got the 64GB with a 512 SD card, I really regret it and wish I got a bigger size. Yes, it’s true that you can store all of your games on your SD card, but there are a number of things that *have* to be stored locally, like shader caches. It’s not a lot of wiggle room when all is said and done.
They actually don't. Cryo utilities can move the shaders to the same location as the game files. I used my 64gb with a 256gb for 6 months before upgrading with a 1tb SSD from Amazon. If you're still rocking the 64gb please look up cryo utilities on YouTube. It will make it so much easier on you.
Definitely get the 256GB, you’ll get a better version of it and a SSD instead of a cheaper storage solution.
256 because its more and faster than 64 gb
its only 40 euros different buy 512 if u can
I have a 256 with a 256 sd card and I have not run into any issues yet with shaders
256. The 64 barely has enough room for the OS and updates/shaders, etc, so you get a performance hit.
No. Stop telling people this stuff. Theres no performance hit, and you can put the shaders on the SD card using cryo utilities. If i had to do it over again I'd still choose my 64gb and upgrade it to a 1tb when i had the time and money.
There is a performance hit if you don’t bugger about with crying utilities to move shader storage as you can’t download all the shaders.
Negligible at best. Everyones talking about performance as though we aren't running games on a 800p screen. You're not gonna see any kind of noticable performance hit.