# How powerful is the Steam Deck compared to PC? - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/how-powerful-is-the-steam-deck-compared-to-pc/ - Published: 2023-10-22 - Author: Nelson Ayers - Categories: [Business & Worth](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/worth/) --- The Steam Deck by Valve is an exciting new handheld gaming PC that promises full-fledged desktop gaming on the go. With its compact size and reasonable price point, it aims to deliver a compelling alternative to both gaming laptops and consoles. But how does the Steam Deck really stack up against a proper gaming desktop or laptop PC in terms of raw performance? Let‘s take a detailed look at the Steam Deck‘s specs and see how they compare. ## Steam Deck Hardware Overview Here are the key specs of the Steam Deck: - CPU: AMD Zen 2 with 4 cores/8 threads, 2.4-3.5GHz - GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6 GHz (1.6 TFLOPS) - RAM: 16GB LPDDR5 - Storage: 64GB eMMC (base model), 256GB/512GB NVMe SSD (upgraded models) - Display: 7-inch 1280×800 LCD, 60Hz refresh rate - Battery: 40Whr, 2 – 8 hours estimated The Steam Deck uses a custom APU from AMD pairing Zen 2 CPU cores with RDNA 2 graphics based on the Van Gogh architecture. This ensures good compute and graphics performance while meeting the tight power budget of a handheld device. Storage speeds are also respectable – while the 64GB eMMC storage is similar to a hard drive, the NVMe SSD options match what you‘d find in a modern gaming laptop. Overall, the Steam Deck isn‘t hugely powerful by desktop standards but packs a surprising punch for a handheld. Now let‘s see how it compares to some common PC configs. ## Steam Deck vs Entry-Level Gaming PC A budget entry-level gaming PC nowadays usually has specs like these: - CPU: Quad core Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 - GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650 or AMD RX 570 - RAM: 8GB DDR4 - Storage: 256GB SSD Such a system would offer considerably better CPU and GPU performance compared to the Steam Deck. The quad core i3 and Ryzen 3 match or exceed the Steam Deck‘s Zen 2 CPU. The GTX 1650 and RX 570 deliver around 2x the graphics processing power versus the Steam Deck‘s 1.6 TFLOP integrated GPU. More RAM and faster NVMe storage also give the entry level PC an advantage. **Verdict:** The entry level gaming PC wins on raw performance by a significant margin. The Steam Deck makes some tradeoffs to fit into a handheld form factor. ## Steam Deck vs Mid-Range Gaming PC A mid-range gaming PC has upgraded specs like these: - CPU: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 6-core - GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6600 XT - RAM: 16GB DDR4 - Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD Now the performance gap widens even further in favor of the PC. The 6-core i5/Ryzen 5 CPUs benchmark nearly 2x faster than the Steam Deck‘s processor. The RTX 3060 and RX 6600 XT deliver over 6x the graphics performance on paper, thanks to having twice the graphics cores clocked much higher along with 8-12GB of dedicated VRAM. More CPU power also helps push higher frame rates. **Verdict:** The mid-range gaming PC crushes the Steam Deck on all fronts. Much more powerful multi-core CPU and GPU that enable smooth 1440p or 4K gaming. ## Steam Deck vs High-End Gaming PC Here are sample specs of a high-end gaming PC build: - CPU: 8-core Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 - GPU: Nvidia RTX 3080 or AMD RX 6800 XT - RAM: 32GB DDR4 - Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD Top of the line PCs with the latest CPUs and GPUs are in a totally different performance league compared to the Steam Deck. The 8-core i7/Ryzen 7 chips are over 2x faster for multi-threaded workloads. The RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT deliver up to 10-15x better graphics performance. These flagship cards have monstrous amounts of cores and VRAM that can tear through 4K gaming with max settings. More RAM and NVMe storage provide additional advantage. **Verdict:** No contest here. The latest high-end desktop PC hardware massively outclasses the Steam Deck. Perfect for enthusiasts who demand cutting edge performance. ## Steam Deck vs Gaming Laptops Gaming laptops have to balance performance with portability. Here are some representative specs: **Budget gaming laptop ($800-$1200):** - CPU: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 - GPU: Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti or AMD RX 5600M - RAM: 8-16GB DDR4 - Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD **Mid-range gaming laptop ($1500-$2000):** - CPU: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 - GPU: Nvidia RTX 3070 or AMD RX 6700M - RAM: 16GB DDR4 - Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD **High-end gaming laptop ($2000+):** - CPU: 8-core Intel Core i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 - GPU: Nvidia RTX 3080/3080 Ti or AMD RX 6800M - RAM: 32GB DDR4 - Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD Here the comparison is more nuanced. Budget gaming laptops have similar CPU power as the Steam Deck but pack a more powerful GPU. Mid-range gaming laptops with RTX 3070/RX 6700M graphics outpace the Steam Deck by around 4-5x. High-end gaming laptops have desktop-class performance that crushes the Steam Deck. However, they are also a lot bigger and heavier compared to the super portable Steam Deck. **Verdict:** Gaming laptops win on raw performance but can‘t match the Steam Deck‘s lightweight and compact design. Depends on your priorities. ## Steam Deck vs Gaming Consoles Finally, how does the Steam Deck stack up against the latest consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X? **PlayStation 5:** - CPU: 8-core Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz - GPU: 10.3 TFLOP RDNA 2 - RAM: 16GB GDDR6 - Storage: Custom 825GB SSD **Xbox Series X:** - CPU: 8-core Zen 2 @ 3.8GHz - GPU: 12 TFLOP RDNA 2 - RAM: 16GB GDDR6 - Storage: 1TB Custom SSD Interestingly the consoles use pretty similar Zen 2 + RDNA 2 hardware as the Steam Deck, but in a higher power envelope. The PS5 and Xbox Series X feature more CPU cores clocked higher and GPUs with double the compute power. So the raw specs suggest around a 2x performance advantage for the latest consoles over the Steam Deck. However, the Steam Deck‘s ability to run PC titles and tweaking graphics settings helps close the gap. **Verdict:** Consoles edge out the Steam Deck in sheer hardware muscle but the Deck‘s graphics flexibility helps compensate. The portability is also a major plus. ## Summary – Steam Deck Performance To summarize the Steam Deck‘s performance: - Significantly faster than Nintendo Switch but lags behind PS5/Xbox Series X consoles - Falls well short of even budget gaming PCs in CPU and GPU power - Makes some clever optimization and thermal choices to maximize performance per watt - Lower native res helps boost frame rates despite hardware limitations - Ability to tweak graphics settings gives more flexibility vs consoles - Designed as a handheld first, raw power second While it can‘t compete with proper gaming PCs, the Steam Deck packs an impressive amount of performance into a compact chassis. The built-in controls, portability and flexible Steam ecosystem add to the appeal. For those looking for high fps PC gaming on the couch or on the go, the Steam Deck strikes an excellent balance. But desktop gamers who demand cutting-edge performance will find it lacking. At the end of the day, the Steam Deck carves out an intriguing middle ground between handhelds, consoles and gaming PCs. It may not excel in raw specs, but the overall experience it enables makes it greater than the sum of its parts. Thisalone should make it worth considering for PC gamers who value mobility. --- Source: [How powerful is the Steam Deck compared to PC?](https://33rdsquare.com/how-powerful-is-the-steam-deck-compared-to-pc/)