Valve’s new Steam Deck is extra than simply one other handheld gaming system, it is a palm-size PC that may do numerous what your desktop or laptop computer can. Kind of.
Out of the field, the Steam Deck is an fascinating however restricted handheld gaming platform. To reap the benefits of its generally hidden options, from a extremely useful Linux desktop mode to assist for a lot of non-Steam gaming platforms, including some equipment helps.
I’ve undoubtedly spent no less than half my time to this point with the Steam Deck utilizing the gadget on a stand, with a wi-fi keyboard and mouse. I’ve spent much less time linked to an exterior show, however I’ve additionally already ditched my first 256GB microSD card for a bigger 512GB model.
Read extra: Steam Deck Surprised Me, in Ways Both Good and Bad
These are a few of my present solutions for the very best Steam Deck equipment.
SanDisk
Buying the base-model 64GB Steam Deck is like shopping for the smallest-capacity iPhone. You know you are going to run out of area — and rapidly. Unlike an iPhone, nevertheless, it is easy so as to add a microSD card to the Steam Deck to make use of as secondary storage. The Steam Deck helps UHS-I (ultra-high pace) playing cards of the SD, SDXC and SDHC varieties, and including one is similar to doing the identical on a Nintendo Switch. My recommendation is, go for capability and value. The 512GB card above hit that candy spot for me, however preserve an eye fixed out for gross sales on different fashions.
Josh Goldman/CNET
Doing numerous digging round within the desktop mode of the Steam Deck, I knew instantly I’d want a keyboard. I went with this very compact gaming keyboard that felt like a superb match for the Steam Deck’s dimension. It connects through Bluetooth and expenses through USB-C; simply remember that it lacks a quantity pad, and a number of the format is a little bit scrunched as a result of it is so small. Read our hands-on with the Razer BlackWidow Mini Hyperspeed.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Acer
You can output the video sign from the Steam Deck through the system’s USB-C port (which can be its energy port, so preserve that in thoughts). I attached a 27-inch 4K Acer Predator X27 show, which seemed nice, however notice that you do not actually need the 4K decision or G-Sync, so a inexpensive show would work, too. With the system’s comparatively weak graphics optimized for 1,280×800-pixel decision, blowing issues as much as 4K and 27 inches is simply going to spotlight these limitations. But it additionally makes working within the desktop mode a lot simpler.
This precise mannequin is out of manufacturing now, so I’m linking to the most recent comparable mannequin under. Next I plan on making an attempt the Steam Deck on the brand new Alienware 34-inch OLED show we have simply reviewed.
The unofficial CNET DIY Steam Deck stand
Best low-cost stand
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Yes, Valve is making its personal stand for the Steam Deck that will even act as a docking station. But the date, value and even precise particulars on which might be all TBD. Not wanting to attend, I tweaked some pill stand designs and created each 3D printed and lasercut Steam Deck stands, completely sized to the gadget. You can obtain the designs right here, and this record of the very best 3D printers ought to get you began making certainly one of them.
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I’m nonetheless within the means of wanting into case suggestions for the Steam Deck, because the included case is not nice (my zipper obtained caught nearly instantly), in addition to headsets for audio, each wired and wi-fi.
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Steam Deck Mostly Nails Handheld PC Gaming
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