While all Steam Deck 256GB and 512GB models originally came with PCI express 3.0 x4 SSDs, some are now changing to PCI express 3.0 x2 SSDs. The Wayback Machine confirmed that Valve quietly tweaked the tech specs listed on the official Steam Deck website at the end of May to account for the changes, first revealed by Hardware Luxx (PC Gamer).
While Valve claims their tests haven’t found any impact on gaming performance with the x2 SSD, they haven’t mentioned any impact on load times or responsiveness.
The current storage section of the Steam Deck tech spec sheet is:
- 64GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2×1)
- 256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen3 x2*)
- 512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4or PCIe Gen 3 x2*)
- All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules(not intended for end-user replacement)
- All models include high-speed microSD card slot
- *Some 256GB and 512GB models ship with a PCIe Gen 3 x2 SSD. In our testing, we did not see any impact on gaming performance between x2 and x4.
Steam Deck’s February launch was delayed by two months due to material shortages, and Valve is currently struggling to fill its backlog. Officials said on Monday that they plan to significantly increase Steam Deck shipments starting this week.
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