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Amongst the various types of gaming computers, the steam deck computer stands out because of its compact size and ability to be played on the go. Moreover, it can be connected to a monitor in the same manner as the Nintendo Switch.
Whether you’re in the market for a Steam Deck computer game or simply want to check the compatibility of a game you’re interested in buying, there are a few ways you can do so. You can either search through the library to see if a game has been tested or you can find out whether a game is compatible by going to the Steam Deck Compatibility website.
To start, you’ll want to log into your Steam account. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a special webpage where you can sign up. If you’re a developer, you can go through the compatibility checklist and publish a new build. You can also ask for a re-review.
As for a list of games that work on the Steam Deck, the good news is that you can look up a wide range of titles. Valve’s compatibility checklist includes four main criteria: performance, onscreen keyboard, controller support, and native resolution. If a game has all of the required features, it will be listed as a Verified title.
Besides a Verified status, Steam Deck is also capable of handling games that haven’t been reviewed by Valve. These games are known as Unsupported titles. These titles are not currently playable on the Deck, but may be supported in the future. These games might have low performance, unacceptable control schemes, or software incompatibility.
You can check a game’s compatibility by hovering over the thumbnail of a game. You’ll see a symbol in the top right corner of the thumbnail that indicates the compatibility of the game. If the symbol is a green checkmark, it means the game is compatible. If the symbol is a question mark in a dotted circle, it means the game is unsupported.
The best way to determine whether a game is compatible with the Deck is to use the Deck tool. It’s an automatic program that will add new games as they get reviewed. To install the Deck tool, you’ll need to log into your Steam account. You’ll then be given a guide.
If a game passes a Steam Deck compatibility test, it will automatically have a blue ‘i’ in a yellow circle. You can also go to the Steam Deck Compatibility page to see what’s involved in the review process.
Storage configurations
Unlike a standard computer, Steam Deck does not have the ability to upgrade its internal storage. However, the unit does support expandable storage, allowing you to add a micro SD card or an external SSD to provide additional storage.
The unit comes with 64GB of eMMC NAND storage and an optional 512GB of NVMe SSD. All models support the use of microSD cards. You can also install games to the internal SSD. You can also use an external USB drive to add more storage. Using an external drive requires you to switch into desktop mode and mount the drive before you can use it.
The 256GB model is best if you plan on playing AAA games. If you are playing puzzle or visual novels, you may not need as much storage. This version is a good value.
You can purchase an external drive that has a USB Type C port. You will need to set it up every time you connect it. You will need to format it as NTFS, and you will need to mount it with a Linux terminal. You will need an administrator password to use this feature.
You can also buy an external SSD that uses Deck’s preferred ext4 file system. You will need to format the external drive with an administrator password before you can use it.
Games YouSteam Deck supports SFTP and FTP connections. You can use these connections to transfer files from your PC to the device. This allows you to play games from your computer’s library to your console.
You can also connect an external hard drive to the USB-C port on the back of the unit. You will need to format the drive as NTFS. The drive will not automatically show up as available storage in SteamOS. You will need to return to gaming mode to use it.
The best way to increase the storage capacity of your Steam Deck is by adding an external SSD. The unit’s microSD card slot is high-speed, enabling you to read a 100MB/s transfer rate. Depending on your game’s requirements, you can choose from a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB external card.
Gaming performance
Using the Steam Deck, gamers can experience a console-like experience on the go. The device is powered by a powerful AMD Aerith APU, which includes four Ryzen Zen 2 CPU cores. This processor is paired with a Radeon RDNA 2 graphics chip with eight compute units. This chip is also equipped with spatial upscaling technology that sacrifices visual quality.
The deck is also equipped with two square haptic touchpads. These touchpads mimic the touchpads on a Linux desktop.
The Deck uses the Linux-based SteamOS, which has been designed to fit its hardware. This operating system gives users quick access to settings, including the ability to switch between primary and secondary displays. In addition, the OS supports the entire Steam library.
In terms of battery life, the Deck performs well, with a three-hour battery life at 100%. During gameplay, the battery timing dropped to 46%. However, it can be improved with a few simple settings.
When you play games on the Deck, you can limit your display’s TDP to conserve battery life. This feature is especially beneficial in memory-limited games.
To get started with adjusting performance options, click the Quick Access button. This will open a menu with several options. The icons indicate which sections of the menu are available. This menu will help you set your preferred display configuration, as well as connect your peripherals.
Another feature of the Quick Access menu is the ability to create game-specific performance profiles. In this way, you can optimize the performance of individual games. For example, you may want to limit the TDP in Horizon Zero Dawn, which is a game that takes up 73GB of space. It’s a good idea to do this to preserve battery life and maintain stable frames.
