We have all heard the lamentations over the Steam Deck’s fan whine. However waking up this morning to information of individuals MacGyvering their Steam Decks with electrical tape is barely worrying me. Hey, go forward should you’re feeling courageous. It is simply that, maybe there are extra elegant options on the market—or not less than there may very well be quickly.
Do not get me improper, I am all for the right to repair. And OP appears fairly assured with their electrical tape trick. It includes putting a stack of 4 items of tape straight underneath the place the Valve emblem sits on the rear of the Deck with the consequence that it dramatically adjustments the whiny pitch of the system’s fan.
Apart from the aural enchancment, they report that it hasn’t negatively impacted their Steam Deck’s temps. They’ve reported they’re nonetheless getting round 54°C in No Man’s Sky, although it is value noting that is not essentially probably the most graphically intensive recreation round to check with.
And, as just a few folks kindly level out within the feedback part, not the entire Deck’s temperatures are at present identified or displayed. The reminiscence modules, for instance may very well be frying, whereas OP carries on topping out the load, unknowingly damaging their treasured moveable gaming machine.
What I am saying is that this: simply maintain hearth earlier than you begin jamming overseas our bodies into your Deck. A mantra to dwell by, for my part.
First off, iFixit is looking to start selling replacement fans for Q1 Decks, so there’s that choice to come back. For one thing extra speedy, although, different commenters counsel making a leap from the steady software program, and downloading the newest beta replace.
So we did just a little take a look at to see whether or not that may enhance the Steam Deck’s fan whine in any respect for us.
It is truthfully been like having our personal tinnitus simulation machine.
Simply so we’re on the identical web page right here, our Steam Deck isn’t super loud, per-se. However the pitch is one thing else. We have been getting frequencies within the area 1000Hz at full load—that is a very excessive C, and might actually grate after prolonged intervals. It is truthfully been like having our personal tinnitus simulation machine.
As soon as we would downloaded the latest beta replace, nevertheless, we seen a big discount within the pitch, with it now solely leaping as much as round 290Hz underneath excessive load in Euro Truck Sim 2.
That is a D4 for the music nerds amongst you.
Sadly that does appear to translate into barely larger temps, topping out at round 75°C.
What we’re avoiding right here, although, is a doubtlessly sticky state of affairs should you ever have to ship your Steam Deck again for RMA. With our Dave holding it because the best budget gaming PC you can buy, you may wager he did not let me stick any electrical tape up in there (No, I didn’t! -Ed).
And perhaps that is for the perfect.
