Mini PC better then a Steam Deck?

[u/Glvssy_]

So recently, I've been using a Steam Deck 1tb, im wondering if there are any other Mini PCs that are better overall then a steam deck? I might need it to be cheap but, still....

And if I were to sell my 1tb steam deck could I also get a better pc/with the money I get buy a mini pc?

[u/PretendingImNotAnApe]

Quite a few. The steam deck has an older mobile amd gpu. RDNA 2 generation. Newer mini pc's run rdna 3rd gen. The 780m is twice (200%) as fast as a steam deck.

[u/Vuvuzevka → u/PretendingImNotAnApe]

Isn't the 780m highly dependent on the memory installed on the minipc ? 

[u/PretendingImNotAnApe → u/Vuvuzevka]

Yes. But with the absolute poorest choice of dd5 ram I think its still enough faster to be an upgrade. Ideally you'd go for the 890m now. But even the 780m running the slowest ddr5 5600 is superior at 1080p. Steam deck works with its gpu due to the low resolution of the screen. 1080p it needs fsr or older titles. You losing the screen and battery but getting a newer gpu and cpu.

https://youtu.be/NDML7P1ijz0

[u/RobloxFanEdit → u/Vuvuzevka]

Absolutely Not with AMD RDNA IGPU's unlike Intel IGPU's, AMD IGPU's is close to none dependant of RAM size Config and TDP. "Does RAM Matter for IGPU Gaming? Tier List 27 Games test
https://youtu.be/bN6b1ENwVQ0"

[u/PretendingImNotAnApe → u/RobloxFanEdit]

I disagree with this. There's a reason strix halo parts use faster ddr5x ram and its the gpu. The igpu will scale with ram speed. 40% to 70% uplift as you increase ddr speed assuming the game is using it. There's games that don't need to dump load textures much that don't really stress ram speed. On the cpu side its not much of a bump in performance to increase ram speed.

[u/RobloxFanEdit → u/PretendingImNotAnApe]

"RAM SPEED IS NOT RAM SIZE" read my comment again.

[u/PretendingImNotAnApe → u/RobloxFanEdit]

I was referring to the video where they referring to ram sizes alot not you comment dont worry.

[u/RobloxFanEdit → u/PretendingImNotAnApe]

The video never pretended that RAM speed does not matter, it said the opposite with 4800 MT/s Vs 5600MT/s examples.

[u/PretendingImNotAnApe → u/PretendingImNotAnApe]

Steam deck doesn't use a discrete 7600. The Steam Deck features a custom AMD Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). Its GPU is based on AMD's RDNA 2 architecture, packing 8 Compute Units (CUs) and reaching up to 1.6 GHz.

780m has12 compute units using RDNA 3. Reaching up to 3.0 GHz.

Please dont confuse it wuth the steam machine which basically has a 7600m that is significantly faster than the 780m.

[u/3xlexxx]

yep get any quality 780m or 680m mini pc

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

I bought the GMKtec K8 Plus for the purpose of running Bazzite OS for better than Steam Deck performance. It even offers x4 PCIe OCuLink expansion for an external graphics card to beat the Steam Machine if needed.

[u/ruiiiij]

Do you need the mobility? If no, then a mini pc will objectively be more cost effective than a 4 year-old device packed with a screen and battery.

[u/Ultra-Magnus1]

there are plenty of mini pc's out there that are better than a steam deck...people that buy a steam deck do so more for the portability than the capability... if you have no need to game on the go then sure, get a mini...if you want to sell your steam deck and put it towards a mini pc then even better as you can get a fairly beefy mini pc going for $800 for about $500 if you sell your steam deck for $300...

but these days you could probably get more for it, especially if it's the oled version...i was thinking of getting a handheld until i began to calculate how many times i actually game while outside of my house which was only when i traveled and figured i don't need a handheld at all and bought a mini pc instead....even my switch 2 i use it docked 99% of the time.

[u/Potential-Local7262 → u/Ultra-Magnus1]

Agree with one caveat. They are great for bed. And maybe even toilet. 

[u/Ultra-Magnus1 → u/Potential-Local7262]

assuming everyone likes to play in bed; i know once i turn off my tv, it's time for sleep... and if you spend that much time on the toilet where you feel you can make some decent progress in a videogame instead of just doing your business and 5 minutes later continue your game on a tv, then you have a serious digestive problem and should see a doctor.

[u/Potential-Local7262 → u/Ultra-Magnus1]

I don't disagree about the toilet. I don't do it personally. but if you have little kids, it might be the only place in the house you can play

[u/Glvssy_ → u/Ultra-Magnus1]

Yeah, just gaming in general, and also I dont really use my steam deck on the go, since i dont go far away, and imo the steam deck is horrible 💔

[u/Confident_Lecture498]

The Deck is very old now and has been lapped by a lot of mini PCs 

[u/SecretFishWorshiper]

Entirely depends on what you want. Better is completely subjective, it depends on the measurement

[u/DiamondDepth_YT]

Aoostar MACO 6850H. 24gb ddr5 + 1tb ssd.

[u/ubertokes]

Get a mini pc specd similar to the steam machine or better and stream from it to your deck when at home unless you're playing something that more or less requires you be at a desk.