All models of the Steam Deck have an M2 SSD Slot (“not intended for end-user replacement”)

CommodoreKong · Jul 16, 2021

It makes sense they wouldn't have more than 1 motherboard for the Steam Deck so they can build the versions they need with the same motherboards. I'm guessing it's not designed to be easily user replaceable like how many laptops have a slot you can open up to add RAM and an M2 drive.

Green · Jul 16, 2021

Is the 64GB emmc using the m.2 slot? Really want to know this

jroc74 · Jul 16, 2021

Ok, whoever gets one, first thing to do is open it up and see if its easy to replace....

Bowl0l · Jul 16, 2021

News sound great. I have no issue to buy my own SSD.

Deleted member 36708 · Jul 16, 2021

They really making the handheld people wanted.

bytesized · Jul 16, 2021

I don't understand, all the examples given here are 200 bucks so how much are you really saving of you go for the 64GB option? If it's just 50 bucks i then think it's not that big of a deal right?

aisback · Jul 16, 2021

I'm still going for the top end version just so I don't have to mess with it.

MMC doesn't have great write endurance

Shinobido Heart · Jul 16, 2021

I'm confused, I thought internal storage couldn't be removed or am I confusing it with something else?

chrominance · Jul 16, 2021

Kraken3dfx said:
Wonder if Gabe confused the m.2 SSD w/ the SD slot. He's a busy man I'm sure, maybe thought he saw one question, and it was actually the other.

It wouldn't surprise me either way tho, from a production it's easier to just make matching boards for all 3 systems and then just not put in a drive on the low end model.

Gabe is also the source for the form factor of the M.2 slot (the reason this person sent their email is because Gabe responded to a previous email asking about the NVMe SSD), so I highly doubt he's confusing it with the SD card slot.

White Glint · Jul 16, 2021

Kraken3dfx said:
Wonder if Gabe confused the m.2 SSD w/ the SD slot. He's a busy man I'm sure, maybe thought he saw one question, and it was actually the other.

It wouldn't surprise me either way tho, from a production it's easier to just make matching boards for all 3 systems and then just not put in a drive on the low end model.

He wouldn't specify 2230 if he was confused.

HardRojo · Jul 16, 2021

512GB version might be the way to go. Hopefully there'll be stock when I go to the US next year.

ShinobiOfTheWind · Jul 16, 2021

This is a bit confusing. Their staff said that the internal storage can't be upgraded nor did they mention anywhere than there's an M.2 slot, let alone a 2230 form factor. Expandable storage is only via micro SD, according to them, which was kinda suspicious since the I/O for modern (and upcoming) games would suffer a lot in that instance.

If this source is true (Gabe does respond to a lot of fan mails) and we end up getting the top end SKU with 512GB of storage, does that mean it will come with an on board 64GB eMMC + the 512GB NVME or just the 512GB of NVME, with the M.2 slot taken?

Kharnete · Jul 16, 2021

In the comments of that same Reddit thread there's another interesting bit related to this:

Apparently, Plagman is the bald guy in some of the Deck videos.

LilScooby77 · Jul 16, 2021

I hope this thing takes off.

Falchion · Jul 16, 2021

Such a great move!

Tobor · Jul 16, 2021

That's cool that Gabe can answer emails while his company can't send me an email to say my order went through. Cool.

Mifec · Jul 16, 2021

Tobor said:
That's cool that Gabe can answer emails while his company can't send me an email to say my order went through. Cool.

Is this a real post?

Tobor · Jul 16, 2021

Mifec said:
Is this a real post?

I'm pissed off and venting.

Mifec · Jul 16, 2021

Tobor said:
I'm pissed off and venting.

That's ok, I hope you get confirmation for your order soon.

Gr8one · Jul 16, 2021

Kharnete said:
In the comments of that same Reddit thread there's another interesting bit related to this:

Apparently, Plagman is the bald guy in some of the Deck videos.

This is what I was thinking when they said it "was not user replaceable". I kinda assumed they meant the NVMe drive is not soldered to the PCB but it's going to void the warranty when you open it up and if you don't know what you are doing, and you fuck up you are SOL. I am looking forward to the tear downs to see how much of a pain in the ass it's going to be to get at.

This is good news for people that like to tinker and want to upgrade or replace the drive in the future.

Deleted member 3010 · Jul 16, 2021

Kharnete said:
In the comments of that same Reddit thread there's another interesting bit related to this:

Apparently, Plagman is the bald guy in some of the Deck videos.

Easy then, buy the cheapest version, boot it up and check if everything's good and nice, no dead pixels and whatnot, then crack it open lol. At least that's what I'll do.

elLOaSTy · Jul 16, 2021

Green said:
For reference. Gabe's saying it has a 2230 slot, so same size as the Series S/X

They only exist right now in 512GB max sizes at the moment (off the shelf). For like $300 or something.

Interesting because the Xbox is 1TB for $200, so Im assuming its different then? Edit: Missed the off the shelf part right.

eonden · Jul 16, 2021

Seik said:
Easy then, buy the cheapest version, boot it up and check if everything's good and nice, no dead pixels and whatnot, then crack it open lol. At least that's what I'll do.

Opening up something and removing the thermal shielding and emi, and then putting it back together without fucking anything up is not the easiest of things If you have the technical know how? sure do it, but i wouldnt recommend it b

Still, I would wait until tech Jesus does his tear away of the handheld to see if it is really possible.

Koeta · Jul 16, 2021

eonden said:
Opening up something and removing the thermal shielding and emi, and then putting it back together without fucking anything up is not the easiest of things If you have the technical know how? sure do it, but i wouldnt recommend it b

Still, I would wait until tech Jesus does his tear away of the handheld to see if it is really possible.

what is the EMI and thermal Shielding? never had to mess with that myself as far as I know lol, is it like the switch teardown?

Netherscourge · Jul 16, 2021

NVMe or SATA?

eonden · Jul 16, 2021

Koeta said:
what is the EMI and thermal Shielding? never had to mess with that myself as far as I know lol, is it like the switch teardown?

EMI is a kind of electromagnetic insultaion to avoid noise from other parts of the components affecting others. Thermal Shielding is a way to move heat from hot parts to the fan / act as a heat sink.
You have to think that this will likely run hotter than Switch (as it uses much more wattage).

Netherscourge said:
NVMe or SATA?

NVME

kurahador · Jul 16, 2021

Not sure if this is real from reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/olp163/was_wondering_if_the_steam_deck_will_have_a/

Is there even a consumer 2230 M.2 size being sold?

fulltimepanda · Jul 16, 2021

Koeta said:
what is the EMI and thermal Shielding? never had to mess with that myself as far as I know lol, is it like the switch teardown?

It's usually all the tape you see plastered everywhere on electronics

I'd imagine the disassembly would be very similar to something like the GPD Win 3 or the aya neo

Unscrew everything, stuff around with the clips holding the shell in place, damage the shell in the process and hopefully the M2 slot would be on the back of the board.

JaseC64 · Jul 16, 2021

$399 + $300 off the shelf 512gb card.

If this is true, the 64GB base model is good if you plan to upgrade your memory after 1+ year donw the line and want to keep the initial price down. Else if you want to fully utilize the full storage, make sense to get the Pro model.

Still is good news since it means there is always an option available.

Winnie · Jul 16, 2021

Confirmed they have update the Steam Docker specs web and have added "All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)"

Steam Deck :: Tech Specs

Available now.

www.steamdeck.com

Sei · Jul 16, 2021

Means that you probably have to take some internal parts out before being able to replace, but I'm glad is confirmed.

brain_stew · Jul 16, 2021

molnizzle said:
I'll be pretty mad if this is the case and they didn't tell us before opening pre-orders.

Yeah this is giving me some buyers remorse over ordering the 256GB model. I couldn't risk not having the option of NVME storage but the real play is the base model + 1tb NVME upgrade which I would have been fully prepared to do.

brain_stew · Jul 16, 2021

Green said:
Is the 64GB emmc using the m.2 slot? Really want to know this

eMMC is usually soldered to the motherboard, I would expect the m2 slot to just be empty.

cw_sasuke · Jul 16, 2021

Not cool to drop this kinda news after the initial preorders. Would have gone with the 64gb version.

Fire Bocchi · Jul 16, 2021

brain_stew said:
Yeah this is giving me some buyers remorse over ordering the 256GB model. I couldn't risk not having the option of NVME storage but the real play is the base model + 1tb NVME upgrade which I would have been fully prepared to do.

yeah, the thread title is a bit misleading, it has the slot, but it is 100% not designed to be something that can be installed by the end user,

Fire Bocchi · Jul 16, 2021

cw_sasuke said:
Not cool to drop this kinda news after the initial preorders. Would have gone with the 64gb version.

it has the slot but you're not gonna be able to just pop in a m2 drive like its a sd card, you will have to take the entire thing apart to do so from an earlier post, and who knows if you can actually do that without damaging something

Defuser · Jul 16, 2021

It's best to wait till somebody gets their hand on the 64gb version and disassemble it to find out. It's not wise to buy based on somebody words even if it's Gabe.

cw_sasuke · Jul 16, 2021

FireWarrior said:
it has the slot but you're not gonna be able to just pop in a m2 drive like its a sd card, you will have to take the entire thing apart to do so from an earlier post, and who knows if you can actually do that without damaging something

True but in the end it's a portable PC and they should just be upfront if it's possible or not even if takes some extra work and might not be feasible for more casual users.

Just don't like having diffrent answers for the same questions prior to the orders opening up.

Zyae · Jul 16, 2021

Kharnete said:
In the comments of that same Reddit thread there's another interesting bit related to this:

Apparently, Plagman is the bald guy in some of the Deck videos.

so effectively it doesnt for most people, this should be updated in the title.

Dreamwriter · Jul 17, 2021

The M.2 slot in the cheap device could be SATA, so still not necessarily a great choice for people who want to upgrade later.

The Turbanator · Jul 17, 2021

Dreamwriter said:
The M.2 slot in the cheap device could be SATA, so still not necessarily a great choice for people who want to upgrade later.

Almost guaranteed the PCBs of the three models are exactly 1:1 the same as one another.

HebrewHammer · Jul 17, 2021

With a PS5, Switch, GamePass through Series X and soon, Valve Deck - my TV is going to have an infinity gauntlet of games.

Arex · Jul 17, 2021

That's pretty cool. Next they'll say the RAM is upgradable too? XD

Hopefully it's not that hard to access tho!

MaulerX · Jul 17, 2021

Is the Series X expandable storage SSD from Seagate also an M2 form factor when teared apart? Or is that just the Series X|S internal drive?

Deleted member 3010 · Jul 17, 2021

eonden said:
Opening up something and removing the thermal shielding and emi, and then putting it back together without fucking anything up is not the easiest of things If you have the technical know how? sure do it, but i wouldnt recommend it b

Still, I would wait until tech Jesus does his tear away of the handheld to see if it is really possible.

You're right, even though I'm used to this stuff I'll still be waiting to see a teardown first. Not going into this blind.

Candescence · Jul 17, 2021

Yeah, I really wouldn't consider buying the cheapest model just to add an SSD later on unless you're confident that you can do the disassembly and reassembly without breaking something.

Ganondolf · Jul 17, 2021

im going to wait for a teardown. if there is a m.2 slot then i will get the lowest model and upgrade. I assume if you remove the ssd you would lose the OS etc which would mean you would need the OS image (or windows OS) on a sd card like if you build a new PC.

Issen · Jul 17, 2021

bytesized said:
I don't understand, all the examples given here are 200 bucks so how much are you really saving of you go for the 64GB option? If it's just 50 bucks i then think it's not that big of a deal right?

You can buy a Western Digital SN530 1TB for about 180 from ebay/aliexpress. By the time we start receiving these, it might be even cheaper. Given the cheapest model is 420 euros, you'd be saving at least 80 euros for double the storage, not accounting for the anti-glare coating. It is very significant.

aisback · Jul 17, 2021

Surely it makes sense as it's probably cheaper to make one board rather than 3 of them.

strudelkuchen · Jul 17, 2021

Issen said:
You can buy a Western Digital SN530 1TB for about 180 from ebay/aliexpress. By the time we start receiving these, it might be even cheaper. Given the cheapest model is 420 euros, you'd be saving at least 80 euros for double the storage, not accounting for the anti-glare coating. It is very significant.

Then you also void your warranty and potentially break something, doesn't seem worth the risk.

All models of the Steam Deck have an M2 SSD Slot (“not intended for end-user replacement”)

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