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  Steam Deck Handheld PC Gaming proves to be Ultra Energy Efficient

realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-04-15 12:31:00(137Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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What with energy prices set to keep increasing, i looked into a number of pc`s and laptops for gaming and the Steam Deck seems to use the least amount of electricity!!
Essentially it is a small PC running Linux that can play alot of Steam games ( not all, tho the catalogue is getting bigger) Its a beefed-up version of Proton - a collection of technologies including WINE and DXVK that re-interpret Windows code to run on Linux. Dont let the jargon worry you, once u sign in with steam your games automatically show up ready for install (if steam deck ready)
Fortnite the popular online game reportly doesnt play on this, tho Rocket league does and GTA V does. So thats some stuff to consider. Steam website has a list of games that are steam deck ready to play if interested.

AMD APU
CPU: Zen 2, 4core/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32)
RAM
16 GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels)
Dispay 720p Max
40WHr battery
wifi, bluetooth

Docking station is to be released later  which will turn it into a proper PC includes LAN, 3x usb 3.1 ports, HDMI output, displayport 1.4

Some sites report the wattage used whilst gaming:
Control drew 12 watts at 30fps,
Max Payne 2 drew 10W at 60fps
Nidhogg drew only 6W.
Resident Evil 2 drew over 20W at 30fps, and many games crossed the 24W mark at 60fps
Elden Ring Drew over past 25W (tho the report was vague so maybe upto 30W?)

A typical modern gaming laptop is going to draw100-300+ watts whereas a gaming desktop PC would be a heck alot more. Whilst the battery on the Steam Deck is probably going to suck likely to be 2-3 hours, i`d have no problem playing this with the power lead connected. Windows can be installed on this if u choose, but not recommended as it tuned to linux for the gaming aspects.

What are your thoughts on the Steam Deck?

Last edited by realityshow on 2022-04-15 12:45:13


 
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tg4ever:_trusted_user::_sitelover::_junkie:Posted at 2022-04-15 14:42:10(137Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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I do have a ps4 pro and it uses 165 watts in games, not sure what my 3060 notebook uses that i got cheap but its probably more, especially with the 27" monitor i mainly use.
 
But its still just a few cent per hour if even that. I think like 1-2 cent maybe, of course depends on your electricity prices.
 
Steam Deck seems great tho indeed, also its a great solution if you go offgrid and just have solar power, because even a $6k+ solar system would usually not supply enough for tv+ps4 (you would have a few hours a day in full sun), however with just a cheap solar system from like $1500 you could surely use steamdeck all day.

 
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realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-04-15 19:46:50(137Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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Sadly in Europe the average Joe is being gouged by huge energy price increases. For Electricity Netherlands saw 20% rise,  England  54% rise, Germany saw 68%, Spain 107.8%, Italy  94%. Would love a solar setup but here where i live i`m on the ground floor, tiny garden, sun only comes in summer not very hot most of the time.
What really irks me is the buried technology. i remember watching a TED talk online maybe 8 years ago and sounded pretty good it was about a new type of window for houses that would soak up infra red from the sun generating alot more electric than solar, i tried following it but that company sold out to some dutch company and the tech got buried.:_:(:_facepalm

I`ve got a xbox one but it been sitting in the cupboard for years, at the time energy prices werent the concern; it was having to pay subscription to just play online. PS3 had the right idea being free to play online, but now they copying xbox.

I still would prefer a desktop pc but looking to get different devices for specific tasks. i.e torrenting i seen some mini pc`s using 3 to 15 watts but doesnt do gaming, so looking at gaming my main games i play seem to be on steam and i guess for other games and intense CPU tasks i go back to desktop PC:_:P

Last edited by realityshow on 2022-04-15 19:47:53


 
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realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-04-18 03:02:40(137Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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As i`m considering getting one i did a bit more research and found that theres a number of settings within the steam deck to get even less power draw resulting in more battery playtime.

The picture below show someone playing Fallout new vegas at 30 frames per second  setting the Thermal power limit to 3 watts tho does jump to 8.4watts on his statistics column
Image error

 
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B0NE:_trusted_uploader::_sitefriend::_sitelover::_junkie::_kitty::_sun::_turtle:Posted at 2022-04-26 03:42:44(136Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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its just a shame can only buy them from idiots on ebay for 3x the price

 
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realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-04-26 09:05:17(136Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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B0NE wrote:

its just a shame can only buy them from idiots on ebay for 3x the price
Yeh sadly the Steam Deck is not readily available to buy instantly other than 2nd hand. Like the graphics card crisis of this past year people think they can charge a small fortune for them, and seems some will pay ridiculous prices for the prestige.
I went ahead & reserved a Steam Deck offically thu Steam just this last week so my expected wait time says october 2022 or after which could mean 2023. There no way i would over pay thru a scalper. I patient enought to wait lol

On another note further research about the steam deck features reveals it runs a variant of Linux arch, so you can goto desktop and use it like a regular PC, Or you can dual boot it and run windows if u so wished to install it yourself; which would be useful to play other non steam games and run windows apps. There is no windows sounds driver yet but it`s coming.  The Graphics should be similar to a Nvidia gtx 1060 which is fine to run at the Steam Deck`s native 720p or 1080p in low settings output thru hdmi to a tv or monitor. Various community apps and improvements in the works. Whats kinda cool is that more people will be exposed to Linux as currently only 3% of the worlds computer owners run Linux (so i heard.) We may see some interesting innovations thru these new users.:_pirate:_B):_:O

 
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tg4ever:_trusted_user::_sitelover::_junkie:Posted at 2022-04-26 14:42:54(136Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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Why buy a Steamdeck tho if you can get AMD notebook with integrated graphics much better for like $300?

Similar low power consumption...
 
Also I doubt the GPU crisis is real I got 3060 and 1650 notebooks really cheap last year on peak of the "crisis".

What is real is that electric car makers have started buying up 1000s of new washing machines to harvest the chips in them. But thats another story.

 
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realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-04-26 21:40:48(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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tg4ever wrote:

Why buy a Steamdeck tho if you can get AMD notebook with integrated graphics much better for like $300?
Similar low power consumption...
i been looking closely at similar laptops for sometime what i`ve discovered is the intergrated graphics on the older AMD laptops of the last couple of years still were using the old style vega gpu, The RDNA 2 APU archictecture has only hit the AMD 6000 series this year. To be fair yeh u can pick up a AMD 4000 series pretty cheap and the prices of the 5000 series are dropping so it is an option.The steam deck however with the implementation of RDNA 2 APU performs around 22% better in terms of graphics compared to their last vega which doesnt sound like much but it is.. For me personally i hope to use the Steam Deck as a stop gap unitil i get a good desktop PC and by then we will see RDNA 3 and RDNA 4 graphics cards which will give lower power consumption and outperform Nvidias RTX 3000 series; but of course Nvida will probably have something else to release by then, yeh theres always lots of options what to buy, when to upgrade. It never ends! haha

tg4ever wrote:

I got 3060 and 1650 notebooks really cheap last year on peak of the "crisis"
Nice!, here in europe it been tuffer. Sounds like a good find.

tg4ever wrote:

What is real is that electric car makers have started buying up 1000s of new washing machines to harvest the chips in them. But thats another story.
Interesting didnt know just looked that story up wow silicone shortages. I would have thought there is enough dead appliances to harvest from recycling plants.. crazy times we living in,:_:P

 
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tg4ever:_trusted_user::_sitelover::_junkie:Posted at 2022-04-27 16:21:19(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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I am in EUROPE too but they had a 3060 Notebook here at a chain of videogame stores for 800€ with 16gb,i5-10 which I thought was pretty good, we are a special tax zone tho so its a bit cheaper than rest of europe.
 
I do feel a Notebook with 1650 does a pretty excellent job already. But yeah when you use the GPU on battery, it wont last very long i think the GPU alone draws like 40 watts if not more.

 
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NatalieNY:_blocked:Posted at 2022-04-27 16:42:32(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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tg4ever wrote:

I am in EUROPE too but they had a 3060 Notebook here at a chain of videogame stores for 800€ with 16gb,i5-10 which I thought was pretty good, we are a special tax zone tho so its a bit cheaper than rest of europe.
 
I do feel a Notebook with 1650 does a pretty excellent job already. But yeah when you use the GPU on battery, it wont last very long i think the GPU alone draws like 40 watts if not more.
Hey, what do you think about the new Nintendo that was introduced like 3 or 4 years ago>? I just remember reading about it. The last i know they had Zelda and SuperMario.

 
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tg4ever:_trusted_user::_sitelover::_junkie:Posted at 2022-04-27 16:46:10(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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The switch isnt bad, theres also one with OLED screen. There also is some good switch emulators for PC that run Zelda, Mario and so on. I think fitgirl and others have made some packs. You can also pirate switch still i think, maybe need older one with old firmware not sure.

 
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realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-04-27 21:07:37(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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tg4ever wrote:

I am in EUROPE too but they had a 3060 Notebook here at a chain of videogame stores for 800€ with 16gb,i5-10 which I thought was pretty good, we are a special tax zone tho so its a bit cheaper than rest of europe.
I am in England, i voted to stay in Europe but our stupid people here wanted to leave without understanding the consequences :_facepalm, i used to order items from europe regulary it was great, now i am subjected to customs, excise duty and taxes so it not worth it. When we left Europe we got hit hard with some items difficult to get. Its eased off now but still hate that we left.
 

tg4ever wrote:

I do feel a Notebook with 1650 does a pretty excellent job already. But yeah when you use the GPU on battery, it wont last very long i think the GPU alone draws like 40 watts if not more.
Thxs i looked up the laptop graphics gtx1650 it draws 50 watts which is pretty good.
It only cost £4 to reserve a steam deck i can cancel at anytime and get my £4 back, i`ll see what happens first tho as i`ve already convinced myself i want a Steam Deck, part of me is thinking wait 2 more years then there will be a Steam deck 2 with better graphics and efficiency, it very hard to decide. I think the steam deck will be a nice toy. I still want it!

 

NatalieNY wrote:

Hey, what do you think about the new Nintendo that was introduced like 3 or 4 years ago>?
This is also a very efficient beast using just 8 to 11 watts, i`d love to get one. My friend has one his wife and kids love it, That Mario Oddysey is supposedly one of the best games every made. Also subscription to the internet play service is just £20 a year (should u need it) which is very affordable!

Last edited by realityshow on 2022-04-29 00:30:37


 
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tg4ever:_trusted_user::_sitelover::_junkie:Posted at 2022-04-28 04:07:37(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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It looks like even if you pre-order a Steamdeck now you wont get it before November if at all.

With current actual inflation its probably 20% more expensive by then.

There will probably be some pretty awesome open source things, like pre-configurations for emus, non-steam games and so on

 
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1stGD:_blocked:Posted at 2022-04-28 04:40:26(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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Looks good, probably good - but why not take a (mid range) gfx-card, smack on a cpu, beside the gpu, on it, plenty of ventilation.. and a BT-keyboard or BT dockingstation. + a hotswap slot for a ssd/hdd? ...and add your own RAM as you wish...:_pacman

 
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realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-04-28 09:06:22(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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1stGD wrote:

Looks good, probably good - but why not take a (mid range) gfx-card, smack on a cpu, beside the gpu, on it, plenty of ventilation.. and a BT-keyboard or BT dockingstation. + a hotswap slot for a ssd/hdd? ...and add your own RAM as you wish...:_pacman
You talking about a desktop PC? ideally i would; but desktop pc`s seem to use up more energy than laptops.
The desktop GPU of lets say GTX 1650 uses 100+watts VS a Laptop GPU GTX 1650 uses around 50watts for gaming.
I also I looked another time to see if there was a Laptop graphics card to Desktop Graphics convertor adapter, whilst they do exist they ridiculously expensive.
Then you would need a CPU i had a look around just now on search and found a core i5 8400Twhich seems to use 25-35watts.:_pacman

This guy managed to use a desktop gpu with steamdeck tho not very practical tho an interesting watch.


tg4ever wrote:

It looks like even if you pre-order a Steamdeck now you wont get it before November if at all.

With current actual inflation its probably 20% more expensive by then.

There will probably be some pretty awesome open source things, like pre-configurations for emus, non-steam games and so on
Yeh will be expensive, i could always become an ebay idiot like Bone said earlier and sell it on ebay  in time for Christmas for huge markup then get something else:_pirate

Last edited by realityshow on 2022-04-29 00:29:37


 
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tg4ever:_trusted_user::_sitelover::_junkie:Posted at 2022-04-29 00:31:42(135Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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I looked at some more data, like playing on a PS4 (100 watts) would cost you $0.05 an hour even with risen electricity prices (assuming they are 250% higher)

If you play 2 hours every day that would be $3 a month.

If play 12 hours a day it would be $18.

Its not that expensive to be glued to a screen - at least not financially. Theres probably a conspiracy here.

Average gaming notebook with i5-10 and 1650 seems to use slightly over 100 watt in in total, when under full load.

 
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realityshow:_trusted_user::_sitefriend::_male::_sitelover:Posted at 2022-09-29 08:49:06(113Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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Received my steam deck a couple of weeks ago, now i`m saving a ton of electric for gaming compared to my desktop rig. Was happy to run GTA5 online with no issues. Ordered a 3rd party dock for it (usb 3 ports, HDMI out + LAN). Hope to connect to my large 1080p TV and have use of my xbox one controller. Ideally i wish to dual boot with win10 it as it cant run fortnite even with the Proton GE. (i not a big fan of fortnite but my brother forces me to play)

Last edited by realityshow on 2022-09-29 08:49:36


 
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Mafketel:_super_admin::_male:Posted at 2022-10-03 07:21:02(113Wks ago) Report Permalink URL 
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tg4ever wrote:

I looked at some more data, like playing on a PS4 (100 watts) would cost you $0.05 an hour even with risen electricity prices (assuming they are 250% higher)

If you play 2 hours every day that would be $3 a month.

If play 12 hours a day it would be $18.

Its not that expensive to be glued to a screen - at least not financially. Theres probably a conspiracy here.

Average gaming notebook with i5-10 and 1650 seems to use slightly over 100 watt in in total, when under full load.
But that's only playtime...
Most people leave it in rest mode so that they can play without having to worry about updating first.
I leave my ps5 in rest mode even tho I know I shouldn't..
I should get smart powerplugs and more smart lamps...
That way I can really save money... With all them chargers And consoles around the house....

 
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