Steam Deck 32GB RAM Upgrade Confirmed by Modder, Raising concerns for ROG Xbox Ally
In the world of gaming handhelds, an exciting development has emerged. The Steam Deck, Valve's popular portable gaming device, has received a significant upgrade thanks to a memory mod by modder SlickBuys Mods and Repairs. This upgrade could potentially help the Steam Deck hit similar performance levels to the base Asus ROG Xbox Ally, and even narrow the performance gap with its X model.
The mod involves swapping out the standard 16GB RAM chips with high-density 32GB alternatives. This process, while complex, requires sourcing the new memory chip, desoldering the existing module, surface mounting the replacement, desoldering the BIOS chip, and editing its data. The modder, Isaac, has been working on this project for two years due to requests, and is now accepting orders for the Steam Deck OLED 32GB RAM mod, although the pricing for the service is yet to be determined.
The cost for having a Steam Deck OLED upgraded to 32GB RAM by SlickBuys Mods and Repairs is estimated to be around $200. Given the delicate and technical nature of the mod, it's only offered by skilled technicians like those at SlickBuys Mods and Repairs in California.
Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A chipset, could potentially be affected by a memory bump in performance. The base model of the ROG Xbox Ally could potentially be outperformed by the upgraded Steam Deck, although the X model, with a more powerful AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, will still outperform the Steam Deck with 32GB RAM.
For those who prefer Valve's handheld, recommendations for the best Steam Deck accessories, docks, and retro consoles are available. Other gaming handheld options include the Lenovo Legion Go S, priced at $649.99 on Amazon, which uses an APU similar to the one used in the Asus ROG Ally. The MSI Claw, priced at $568.94 on Amazon, is another gaming handheld option.
A review of the Lenovo Legion Go S suggests that a memory bump could level the field and combat any current RAM-related bottlenecks. This upgrade could change the perception of the Windows 11 operating system through new optimizations, making it a more attractive choice for gamers.
In conclusion, the memory mod for the Steam Deck OLED could potentially help it achieve performance levels similar to the base ROG Xbox Ally, and even narrow the performance gap with its X model. For those interested in this upgrade, it's important to remember that it's a complex mod best left to skilled technicians like those at SlickBuys Mods and Repairs.
- The Steam Deck, a popular portable gaming device, has received an upgrade that could potentially boost its performance to levels comparable to the base Asus ROG Xbox Ally.
- The mod performed on the Steam Deck involves replacing its standard 16GB RAM chips with high-density 32GB alternatives.
- Given the technical complexity of the mod, it's only offered by skilled technicians like those at SlickBuys Mods and Repairs in California.
- The Asus ROG Xbox Ally, equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A chipset, could potentially be affected by a memory bump in performance.
- Meanwhile, other gaming handheld options include the Lenovo Legion Go S, which uses an APU similar to that in the Asus ROG Ally.
- A memory bump for the Lenovo Legion Go S could level the field and combat any current RAM-related bottlenecks, potentially making its Windows 11 operating system more appealing to gamers.
