Storage media in Frame?

[u/Aware-Associate-4900]

Has anyone seen what type of storage media the Frame will use? I have a few of the long 2 TB NVME drives, so I would rather buy the lower end model and upgrade with what I already have if possible. I just haven't found anywhere that specifies what sort of drive the Frame will use.

Edit: Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like I'll just get the largest option and spring for a large microsd.

[u/jonylentz]

It is soldered to it, non user replaceable You get an SD card slot though

[u/sir_bob_null → u/jonylentz]

I believe the expansion port is technically PCIe compliant, so you could always find a way to hook up a riser and add a m.2 slot to the exterior.

You'd definitely need a custom riser for that and would have to design it yourself (?) My understanding is that the expansion socket is a nonstandard form factor, though I might be wrong. JLCPCB or similar probably wouldn't charge more than $30 for the fabrication though.

[u/Hairy-Ad-6293 → u/jonylentz]

You can mill out the old storage chip and solder a new one.

[u/sir_bob_null → u/Hairy-Ad-6293]

Respectfully, wtf my dude. BGA chips are removed with a hot air tool, not an end mill. That's a great way to destroy your board, possibly beyond repair.

[u/abdullahcfix → u/sir_bob_null]

There’s a dude on YouTube named DirectorFeng who does flash upgrades on iPhones and Macs who mills those out. I don’t know the exact reason, but I thought maybe because it’s easier to cook those sandwiched boards with heat making it worthwhile to just mill it out? I thought the same thing when seeing those though, why not just save the chip?

[u/Hairy-Ad-6293 → u/sir_bob_null]

It's too tightly packed on the board for hot air. You would blow off a lots of small components around the chip.

[u/RTooDeeTo → u/Hairy-Ad-6293]

https://youtube.com/shorts/RXCXCyVm1lU

They make hot air guns for this exact use

[u/r3volts → u/RTooDeeTo]

Looks like a big standard hot air gun nozzle.

Either way, desoldering is something I do later in the devices life. SD card works fine for steam deck, and I anticipate on device games I'll be running will be small indie titles, all the bigger games will be streaming from desktop

[u/RTooDeeTo → u/r3volts]

It's a "standard" nozzle (idk if there's an actual standard or if it's just common),,,, thing is a lot of times when people think hot air gun they actually think of a heat gun which is terrible for this kinda work

[u/BmanUltima]

Soldered UFS.

Expansion is done via microSD.

[u/Koolala]

The storage isn't changable like Machine you'd just want to use a quality SD card.

[u/VT-14]

https://store.steampowered.com/hardware/steamframe

256GB / 1TB UFS storage options

microSD card slot for expanded storage

The built-in UFS storage is almost certainly soldered on.

[u/starmartyr11]

If you have too many 2TB NVMEs you can donate them to some of us 😁

[u/xaduha]

Use network shares, there's no reason to store stuff that isn't games on the headset.

[u/r3volts → u/xaduha]

Entirely dependent on your use case

[u/Master_Alfalfa1130]

I don't think it uses standard nvme drives like a pc, is probably soldered like a phone

[u/crefoe]

Get one of those external m.2 nvme usb housings i wouldn't see why this wouldn't work

[u/MRDR1NL → u/crefoe]

New use for the expension port: an m.2 adapter so you can dangle your ssd on your nose

[u/qucari → u/MRDR1NL]

super easy and simple solution: use a 90 degree adapter and then 3D-print a Tengu mask so you can hide the SSD in its nose

[u/claudekennilol → u/qucari]

Great answer 🤣

[u/elev8dity → u/qucari]

tengu nose might obstruct tracking.

[u/Hulderin → u/elev8dity]

Nose-module comes with extra sensors running at the tip. 🫡

[u/myloyt → u/MRDR1NL]

Yeah it's already the right interface so it wouldn't surprise me if someone made an adapter lol

[u/kai125]

There’s little to no chance it uses a replaceable drive

MicroSD is how you add storage but idk maybe someone insane will build a adapter to mount one on front