Steam Deck users have been able to take their storage capacity to the next level with the help of a high-capacity Solidigm SSD, according to reports.
Storage assessment was able to equip Valve’s popular portable gaming device with a Solidigm P5336 61.44TB enterprise SSD, allowing for much larger storage capacity.
Although very popular since its release, Steam Deck users have lamented the rather lackluster storage space. The portable device comes in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB sizes, which may seem nominal at first glance but can be consumed quite quickly given the ever-increasing storage requirements of more modern titles.
Next level
However, using the Solidigm P5336, StorageReview was able to ‘erase’ current storage limitations and open up a world of possibilities for users.
However, there are notable problems here. Not least the fact that the P5336 uses an enterprise U.2 form factor.
Steam Deck uses an M.2 slot, meaning any user considering this approach will be forced to purchase an external adapter that can bridge this required gap.
The portable nature of the Steam Deck also prompted the decision to purchase an enclosure device to house the drive, which made it far from convenient.
Power requirements were also an important consideration in this experiment. StorageReview said an ATX power supply was necessary due to the fact that the NVMe drive “far exceeds the power requirements” that the M.2 slot could provide.
“To get this to work properly, the power pin on the ATX connector was shorted so it was constantly on, ensuring a consistent and sufficient power source for the massive (now external) SSD,” the release said.
Seamless integration
Limitations aside, the integration of the P5336 appears to have been a streamlined process. The design and interoperability of the Steam Deck made combining the SSD simple and straightforward.
“Using a standard Re-Image USB drive and an adapter to connect it to the Deck, he recognized and leveraged the SSD’s formidable storage capacity, 55.7TB formatted, demonstrating its versatility and adaptability in embracing the expanded storage infrastructure,” StorageReview noted.
All said and done, the performance improvements were significant. Users can expect a sequential read capacity of approximately 3,600 MB/s, compared to an average of 2,300 MB/s with the Steam Deck’s standard internal drive.
However, this performance improvement is not unique. Other – more modest – SSDs also offer this option, albeit without the gigantic storage capacity that the P5336 offers.
However, the Steam Deck is still limited in terms of performance. The Gen3 interface means that users cannot fully utilize the benefits of the Solidigm SSD due to the system’s inherent limitations.
However, the experiment does demonstrate the versatility of the Steam Deck and provides a use case for customers who really want to increase their storage capacity on the device.