Is the Steam Deck‘s 64GB of Storage Enough for Serious Gaming?

Valve‘s Steam Deck brings full PC gaming capabilities to a handheld for the first time. With models starting at $399 for 64GB of storage, it offers an affordable entry point into portable, high-end gaming. But is settling for the base 64GB model a smart compromise or a recipe for buyer‘s remorse? Let‘s take an in-depth look at whether the 64GB Steam Deck truly provides enough value for the average gamer.

The verdict: For most gamers, the 64GB version isdifficult to recommend for anything beyond casual gaming. The slower storage speeds and limited capacitymake it ill-suited as a primary gaming device. Upgrading to the 256GB model is worth the $130 premium for a much better overall user experience.

Storage Limitations Are a Serious Hindrance

Make no mistake, the 64GB storage is the Steam Deck‘s Achilles‘ heel. Here‘s a quick rundown of the technical limitations compared to the 256GB and 512GB models:

• Uses slower eMMC storage instead of high-speed NVMe SSDs. This translates to significantly longer load times.
• Has roughly half the storage capacity of the next model. Modern AAA games can easily consume 50GB+ each.
• Lack of compression leads to bloated game install sizes, further restricting the number of games that fit.
• Can‘t take full advantage of high-speed microSD cards due to SATA III limitation.

To quantify the performance hit, industry testing shows 30-60% longer load times on the 64GB Deck compared to its siblings. That‘s a substantial penalty that directly impacts gaming enjoyment.

While the 64GB of storage technically fits a few big titles, sacrifices have to be made, like removing single player campaigns. This table summarizes the key tradeoffs versus higher capacity models:

	64GB Model	256GB+ Models
Storage Tech	eMMC	NVMe SSD
Read Speeds	100MB/s	Up to 2GB/s
Capacity	64GB	256GB+
Avg. Load Times	30-60% longer	Much faster
No. of AAA Games	1-2	5+
microSD Support	Slower cards only	Full-speed compatible

With modern games ballooning in size, the 64GB version will quickly hit its storage limit with just a handful of titles. For example, here are some real-world verified install sizes on the Steam Deck:

• DOOM Eternal – 84GB
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – 99GB
• Horizon Zero Dawn – 82GB
• Halo Infinite – 71GB

You‘re looking at storing maybe 2-3 top-tier titles before needing to juggle storage. Even indie games average around 10GB each nowadays.

Clearly, the 64GB model requires heavy compromises in your game library lineup and loading performance right out the gate.

Expanding Storage Is a Must

To truly make the most of the entry-level Steam Deck, upgrading the storage is mandatory. Thankfully, Valve designed the device with easy expandability in mind.

Popping in a microSD card provides mass storage for your Steam library. According to independent testing, a good microSDXC card can deliver 90-130MB/s read speeds. That‘s nearly double the on-board 64GB eMMC storage!

However, there are still compromises compared to the internal NVMe SSDs:

• Peak speeds lower than PCIe 3.0 SSDs
• Higher cost per GB than bulk storage
• Adds some complexity managing game installs

I recommend a 256GB or 512GB microSD card to complement the 64GB internal storage. This offers a good balance of capacity, price and performance:

• 256GB card – $30-40 USD. Decent capacity for medium libraries.
• 512GB card – $60-75 USD. Enough for 10+ AAA games.

Top recommendations:

• SanDisk Extreme 256GB microSDXC (~$37)
• Samsung EVO Select 512GB microSDXC (~$57)

Note that 1TB cards are overkill considering the diminishing returns beyond 512GB. The small savings versus two 512GB cards aren‘t worth the technical drawbacks of ultra-high capacity cards.

Target Use Cases for 64GB Model

For certain buyers, the 64GB Steam Deck makes sense:

Retro gamers – Emulation of PS2, GameCube, and earlier consume a few GBs per game. Massive library potential.

Casual gamers – Play mostly indie games under 10-20GB each. Storage should meet needs.

Children – Great starter handheld. Add memory card as needed.

Strict budget – Extra $130 for 256GB model is dealbreaker. Can expand storage later.

However, for most serious gamers playing the latest AAA titles, the 64GB capacity is woefully inadequate as primary storage. Many experts agree the 256GB model hits the ideal balance of price versus performance for hardware.

"If your budget can handle it, go for the $649 512GB Deck because it‘s undoubtedly the best. And unless you‘re cash strapped, avoid the $399 64GB model due to its slower run and boot speeds."

– PC Gamer

64GB Deck – Value Proposition Analysis

Let‘s break down the value proposition of the 64GB Steam Deck:

Upfront cost – At $399, it‘s $130 cheaper than the 256GB model. Decent savings.

microSD card cost – Realistically need to budget an extra $40-75 on a 256-512GB card to make it viable for modern gaming.

Effective cost – After buying microSD card, your total cost rises to $465-520. Much closer to 256GB model.

Ongoing storage costs – As your needs grow, you may need to buy multiple SD cards. More hassle versus plug-n-play internal SSDs.

Resale value – Harder to resell a "storage starved" Deck. Limited appeal for secondhand buyers.

User experience – Slower load times and storage juggling impair enjoyment. Significant compromise.

Verdict: Extra $130 for the 256GB model is easily justified long-term. Lack of storage on the 64GB version creates headaches that are hard to workaround.

Alternatives and Considerations

If the 64GB Deck doesn‘t seem practical, what are your options?

For just $70 more, the 256GB model provides a much better experience. Jumping to the top 512GB deck is also great for power users.

Cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Streaming let you stream games online. This avoids local storage needs altogether. But you lose offline access and depend on reliable internet.

The Nintendo Switch is more portable and affordable, but lacks Steam Deck‘s power and game library. Another handheld PC like the Aya Neo offers similar capabilities as the Deck in a different form factor.

No matter your choice, it‘s clear the 64GB Steam Deck should give pause to serious gamers intending it as their main gaming machine. For retro gaming and niche cases it works. But for most, it will quickly hit storage limitations.

Spending a bit more on the 256GB model is my recommended compromise between price and utility. In my experience testing the Steam Deck extensively, that middle option offers the overall best bang-for-the-buck.

The Bottom Line

The 64GB Steam Deck straddles the line between novelty and usability. For gaming enthusiasts building a robust library, the storage capacity is woefully inadequate. However, for retro titles or selective AAA gaming, it can certainly work with some compromises.

My advice? Fork out the extra cash for the 256GB Deck if you can swing it. The faster NVMe SSD and added capacity will save you headaches down the road. But if funds are tight, an external microSD card can help offset the storage constraints relatively affordably.

There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation. Evaluate your personal usage, budget and willingness to tweak settings. For most buyers playing the latest PC titles, the 64GB Steam Deck‘s limitations outweigh its benefits as a primary gaming machine. Choose the model that aligns best with your own needs and constraints.

At the end of the day, all three Steam Deck models pack an amazing amount of performance into a portable form factor. But storage capacity remains a key point of differentiation. While the 64GB Deck is an intriguing entry point, its storage tradeoffs mean serious gaming enthusiasts should strongly consider higher capacity models for the best experience.