Tag Archives: Deck

Gaming, News

Valve Reduces Price of Steam Deck in Celebration of Steam’s 20th Anniversary

As of now, Valve’s online store shows that the estimated delivery time for Steam Deck orders is between seven and fourteen days. Shipping is already included in the purchase price, and for customers in the United States and Canada, Federal Express will handle the deliveries from a warehouse in Carol Stream, Illinois. Customers in the United Kingdom and European Union will have their orders shipped by either DHL or GLS from a warehouse in Waalwijk, the Netherlands.

In terms of specifications, the Steam Deck is equipped with an AMD APU that consists of a Zen 2 CPU, featuring four cores and eight threads. The CPU operates at a frequency range of 2.4GHz to 3.5GHz, delivering up to 448 GFlops FP32. Additionally, it includes a Van Gogh GPU running at 1.0GHz to 1.6GHz. The system also offers 16GB of RAM, which is shared between the GPU and the system itself. The storage capacity varies depending on the model, with the 64GB model having PCIe Gen 2 x1 storage, while the other models come with either PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 3 x2 storage.

Technology

What Happens When Planes Land on the Wrong Aircraft Carrier

The image above shows a fighter plane parked on the USS Wasp’s deck in 1952, adorned with humorous tags by the crew. These tags include jokes about the Air Force and a remark about landing on any carrier.

While the graffiti may be embarrassing and funny, it’s not surprising that planes occasionally end up on the wrong aircraft carrier. This was especially common in the 1950s and 1960s when navigation technology was less advanced than it is today. Pilots were more prone to making mistakes without tools like GPS and radar. Additionally, the decrease in major conflicts during that time meant fewer carrier strike groups with multiple carriers in the same area, making it easier for confusion to occur. However, it is still rare for US Navy planes to land on the wrong carrier. In the rare instances that it does happen, the planes are still graffitied as a lighthearted tradition.

Gaming, News, Technology

Valve Now Offers Affordable Certified Refurbished Steam Decks

One of the major criticisms of the Steam Deck is its limited battery capacity. Many reviewers and gamers have reported that the console can only last for around 90 minutes of gameplay (varies based on the game). With batteries being one of the first components to show aging, concerns arise about the battery life of a refurbished Steam Deck.

However, Valve assures that each device undergoes rigorous testing before being certified and put up for sale. This testing includes assessing battery health to ensure proper functionality and longevity. In addition, every refurbished device goes through a total factory reset and receives the latest operating system update.

Valve claims that each Steam Deck is subjected to over 100 tests at their facilities. These tests cover various aspects such as the screen, audio system, controller inputs, and other internal hardware. The company even states that refurbished units meet or exceed the performance standards of new retail units. Essentially, the only difference between a refurbished Steam Deck and a new one may be some light cosmetic wear-and-tear. Refurbished Steam Decks will also come with a carrying case and Quick Start guide.

Technology

10 Things The ASUS RoG Ally Can Do Better Than The Steam Deck

The ASUS RoG Ally has several advantages over the Steam Deck, starting with its favorable form factor. It is lighter, weighing only 1.34 pounds compared to the Steam Deck’s 1.47 pounds. The RoG Ally is also less cumbersome, with a thickness that is less than half of the Steam Deck’s.

Furthermore, the RoG Ally has a more comfortable design. Unlike the Steam Deck, it doesn’t have trackpads, which allows for a better layout of the analog sticks, d-pad, and buttons. This results in a controller-like feel that console gamers are familiar with, resembling an Xbox One Controller. The Steam Deck, on the other hand, had to compromise the d-pad and buttons’ size to accommodate the trackpads.

Overall, the RoG Ally’s form factor makes it not only more portable but also the preferred choice for console gamers in terms of comfort.

Gaming

Is It Safe to Leave Your Steam Deck Plugged In Overnight?

Valve, the company behind Steam Deck, has not provided any clear guidelines on whether it is safe to leave the device plugged in overnight. However, users on the Steam Deck forums generally advise against making it a habit.

Similar to other portable electronic devices, the Steam Deck’s battery charging process involves reaching 100% charge and then internally disconnecting the power cable. The connection remains disabled until the battery percentage drops to 90%, after which the charging process restarts. Keeping the Steam Deck plugged in like this for prolonged periods, such as overnight, leads to repeated charging and discharging cycles. This can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the battery, reducing its overall lifespan.

The battery usage will vary based on your activities with the Steam Deck. If you are actively using it while plugged in, the console will draw power from the outlet, and the battery will not be affected. However, if you plan to leave the console unused for several days, it is recommended to unplug it and completely power it down. If you intend to use your Steam Deck continuously for multiple days, it is advisable to leave it in sleep mode overnight. Although it may lose some charge, you can easily recharge it while using it.