Valve has been marketing the Steam Deck as a handheld gaming PC. But that doesn’t mean owners should open it up like it’s a normal desktop machine.
On Wednesday, Valve released a video that offers a look inside the Steam Deck and also explains why it’s risky to modify the device's internal components. “In one way, this is a ‘how-to’ video. But in another way, it’s a 'why you really shouldn’t do this’ video,” Valve says in the clip. “Opening up and replacing parts might mess things up, like profoundly.”
The company acknowledges owners have every right to pry open the Steam Deck once the first units begin shipping in December. But if you tinker with PC gaming handheld, be aware of the risks. For example, opening up a Steam Deck can immediately weaken the device’s durability and drop resistance.
“There’s no way to avoid this,” the video says. “So just know that the structural integrity of your Deck will be lessened somewhat by doing any of this.” The company also warns damaging the battery could result in the whole system catching fire later.
Valve issued the video after telling IGN it’s best consumers not try replace the M.2 NVME SSD drive inside the Steam Deck, even though the storage module is technically removable. Valve’s video says installing an off-the-shelf NVME SSD in the Steam Deck can cause overheating and battery life problems due to the storage module potentially drawing too much power.
The SSD is also located close to the Steam Deck’s wireless module. The default SSD that comes with the gaming handheld was “specifically chosen and tested to not interfere with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth,” the video says. Hence, adding a third-party SSD drive could generate too much electromagnetic interference and muck things up. In addition, an off-the-shelf drive might “mechanically interfere” with the other components located on the motherboard.
The video also shows that the SSD inside a Steam Deck is different from typical 2280 M.2 NVME drive. Instead of a long rectangle, the drive is a square-shaped metal cartridge. That’s because the Steam Deck is only compatible with the smaller M.2 2230 drives.
Still, if you must modify or repair your Steam Deck, the video provides some useful tips on what to expect and what to avoid when opening up the product. It’s also inevitable that a Steam Deck may wear down over time. So the video says Valve plans on announcing a source for replacement parts, including thumb sticks and SSD memory, in the coming months. Whether the company will offer a repair service remains unclear.