Valve Clarifies That Steam Deck Uses M.2 2230 SSD Slot, Opening Up Possibility for User Upgrades

[Tsing]

Image: Valve



Valve’s Steam Deck comes in three storage options—64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1), 256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4), and 512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4)—but owners of the portable, handheld PC who are willing to open the unit up and endanger its warranty might be able to increase its storage with larger SSDs. This is according to Steam Deck’s updated specifications page, which now clarifies that the device leverages M.2 2230 slots for its storage options. Valve has warned that the Steam Deck’s socketed 2230 M.2 modules are “not intended for end-user replacement,” but users have already discovered the location of the slot. Apparently, it’s accessible once the user gets past the Steam Deck’s EMI and thermal shielding.



as i suspected: pic.twitter.com/44AKOpMlSo— lashman (@RobotBrush)...

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[Zarathustra]

Two things.

1.) They claim it is socketed. Generally m.2 slots are slots Is this just a terminology issue, or does it mean they have done something custom with an actual socket?

2.) The 2230 m.2 isn't exactly the most common size. There are very few options in that size. Newegg doesn't even have it as an option in their filters.

I'm guessing this is not something you can access without doing some serious surgery and using custom adapters.

 

[MadMummy76]

1. What would be the point of modifying the interface? Assuming valve not trying to pull an apple making their system deliberately anti-repair / upgrade.

2. The Toshiba BG4 is 2230 size.

 

[Brian_B]

Two things.

1.) They claim it is socketed. Generally m.2 slots are slots Is this just a terminology issue, or does it mean they have done something custom with an actual socket?

2.) The 2230 m.2 isn't exactly the most common size. There are very few options in that size. Newegg doesn't even have it as an option in their filters.

I'm guessing this is not something you can access without doing some serious surgery and using custom adapters.

My best guess would be it doesn't have an easily accessable access point, so you have to disassemble nearly the entire unit to get at it.

Being m.2, that has the form factor baked into the standard. So I'd be surprised if they did anything that made it so it couldn't be removed once you got at it. I'm just betting the casing and such aren't exactly put together with a mind to be taken apart by a mere moral - lots of plastic snaps, hidden screws, and/or glue would be my bet

 

[Zarathustra]

My best guess would be it doesn't have an easily accessable access point, so you have to disassemble nearly the entire unit to get at it.

Being m.2, that has the form factor baked into the standard. So I'd be surprised if they did anything that made it so it couldn't be removed once you got at it. I'm just betting the casing and such aren't exactly put together with a mind to be taken apart by a mere moral - lots of plastic snaps, hidden screws, and/or glue would be my bet

 

[Zarathustra]

My best guess would be it doesn't have an easily accessable access point, so you have to disassemble nearly the entire unit to get at it.

Being m.2, that has the form factor baked into the standard. So I'd be surprised if they did anything that made it so it couldn't be removed once you got at it. I'm just betting the casing and such aren't exactly put together with a mind to be taken apart by a mere moral - lots of plastic snaps, hidden screws, and/or glue would be my bet

Yeah, certainly don't appear to be any doors on the back.

As to who difficult it is to remove the cover and access stuff? Who knows at this point.



I see at least 4 screw holes, but there are probably more. I'd imagine those rear buttons can make things complicated too.