Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming computer produced by Valve Corporation, designed to run the large library of games available on the Steam storefront client. It is a handheld portable gaming device that can also function as a game console, and desktop PC.
Review
There has never been a portable game device that is capable of so much and utilizing an efficient operating system on the back-end. The Steam Deck incorporates the most cutting edge innovation in operating system emulation allowing for the use of OS specific games to function without the nasty specific OS itself, rather, substituting an efficient and adaptable alternative that does not drive up the cost of the product.
When looking for a handheld gaming device that you can simply pick up, power on, and get to playing games, the Steam Deck will fulfill your needs as well as any competitor. Aside from that, the Steam Deck can use an adapter or external dock to expand it into a full gaming console, which is not necessarily unique, however, less common as some other handheld gaming units can't do this.
What really sets the Steam Deck apart, is that beyond being a handheld or console gaming device, it is also a full gaming PC allowing the user to play computer games that are not available for a console. Any PC computer game on Steam that signified by SteamOS will function on the Steam Deck, while many Windows only games are also playable. This sets the Steam Deck apart from using a Linux PC with SteamOS, in that the Steam Deck will allow more gaming options than the PC.
When adding a docking station you increase your gaming possibilities because those games that are not verified to work on the Steam Deck due to controller or interface issues, will work fine as the docking station expands input devices allowing you to attach a keyboard and mouse. The Dock Station can be an official Steam product or a 3rd party docking station such as the UGREEN station. There are also basic adapters that offer the same expansion capabilities.
Critics may include some polish work that needs to be done on the operating system as there are bugs. Also, there are still going to be Microsoft Windows only games that will not work on the Steam Deck, even with the latest Proton compatibility tool. In response to those criticisms it should be pointed out that all game devices have their share of bugs. The Sony Playstation, for example, an excellent game console and perhaps best on the market in that category, is still plagued by some bugs and will crash during game play.
Setting realistic market expectations for the technology and price, you will not beat the Valve Steam Deck as an all around gaming system offering an unbeatable level of flexibility. It is well built, the hardware is very serviceable, and Valve is known to offer full support with representatives that are both patient and willing to put in the effort to resolve your issue. The Steam Deck really does offer something for everyone.
Operating System
The Steam Deck Operating System, SteamOS for the Steam Deck, is an Arch-based distribution of Linux. The Steam deck, unlike other commercial game units, is completely unlocked and by design has full Linux driver compatibility, it can easily be used as an all-purpose handheld PC with Arch Linux.
An Article on the Arch Linux web site discusses replacing SteamOS/Arch with plain Arch Linux. The article indicates that while Steam Deck SteamOS is an Arch-based distribution, it has several packages that differ from the official repositories, and is not supported by the Arch Linux community.
Usage Tips
set a password for the default deck user
This is very important as you will need to know this password for troubleshooting problems that might arise in the future.
By default, there is no password for the "deck" user which means that sudo (root) is not available.
Control+Alt+5 while in big picture mode will give you a command shell.
username: deck password: (?)
Hold [...] button (the one with three dots on the front of the deck) and while holding it, press and hold POWER button, wait for the sound, release ONLY the POWER button until the menu appears and release [...] to boot into
Hold - (the volume down button) and press and hold POWER. The procedure follows the same as the firmware menu procedure.
Hold + (the volume up button) and press and hold POWER. The procedure follows the same as the firmware menu procedure.
install ssh server
It should be installed by default. If not you can install it:
sudo pacman -S openssh
Tell the steamdeck to enable the ssh server when it boots.
sudo systemctl enable sshd
You can manually start the ssh server with the following:
sudo systemctl start sshd
This is Debian Linux basics; applies to the Steam Deck. Linux.
OS Package Management
The command line package management tool for the Steam Deck is "pacman".
To see what packages are installed type:
sudo pacman -Q
Steam Deck BIOS
TPM aka Trust Platform Module
TPM has been added to Steam Deck BIOS. It is in the bios under:
Advanced -> Peripheral Configuration
Mentioned on Steam: Enable Secure Boot for games with kernel level Cheats on Windows like Fifa or Valorant
This feature is only needed if you want to try to put Windows 11 on your Steam Deck which is neither supported nor advisable. Leave the feature disabled.
IOMMU
The I/O memory management unit (IOMMU) is a type of memory management unit (MMU) that connects a Direct Memory Access (DMA) capable expansion bus to the main memory. IOMMU is a generic name for technologies such as VT-d by Intel, AMD-Vi by AMD, TCE by IBM and SMMU by ARM. To take advantage of it IOMMU has to be initiated by UEFI/BIOS and information about it has to be passed to the kernel.
To check on the Steam Deck go to the CLI and type
sudo dmesg | grep -i -e DMAR -e IOMMU
This is mostly useful for virtualization such as virtual machines, using software like virtualbox. You can disable it on your Steam Deck.
Troubleshooting
Steam Deck Black Screen After switching to desktop
aka: Steam deck blackscreen switching to desktop
USB Keyboard required. or try "Steam" button + X to bring up the virtual keyboard
- Go to the command shell (instructions on this page) and login.
- rm -rf ~/.local/share/kscreen/*
- CTL-ALT-F1 to go back to Big Picture Mode and then try to switch to desktop.
steam deck not recognizing external monitor
THIS IS AN OPEN ISSUE / UNRESOLVED PROBLEM - because a common factor, the HDMI communication protocol including CEC, is likely at the root of the issue and under different scenarios ( TV, Monitor, cable, adapter, dock ) it may require a different workaround.
One potential culprit might be related to HDMI-CEC on the Steam Deck.
- For all of the people on forums suggestion "Turn off CEC" they are not referring to a setting on the Steam Deck, rather it is in the TV, which is not helpful for people using LCD monitors that do not support CEC or CEC configuration options.
On an installation example which HDMI to a Steam Deck dock, the TV would not display, and Display Configuration on the Steam Deck would not show 2 monitors until the monitor MODE was toggled though all the inputs and back to HDMI. In this case the cable was HDMI on both ends.
On another example connecting a D-PORT monitor to a 3-rd party dock with an HDMI to D-PORT cable, the Monitor was not detected.
If you are using an HDMI to D-PORT or D-PORT to HDMI depending on your dock and display, you may experience problems as the adapter (the cable itself has an adapter built in) is not pasing CEC or some other necessary part of the protocol. In the example where the user has a 3rd party dock with HDMI and attempting to connect to a monitor with D-PORT, it simply would not work. The same monitor had an old VGA connection, and using an HDMI to VGA adapter cable did work.
Suggestion: If you have to use an HDMI to D-PORT adapter try to find one that blocks CEC. (not guaranteed to work)
In desktop mode you want to have your display properties open when you connect the external display. This way you have a clear visual indication of detection. The display properties will show either one or two monitors. If you only see the one display in the properties dialog then your external monitor is not being detected.
reset the graphics APU/driver
With the deck off (not sleep) press and hold the Volume down button (Vol-) & quick access button [...] then press power. When you hear it chirp let go of only the power button and wait till you see the Steam logo, then let go of the other two buttons. It will take some duration to boot so be patient. You will see the Steam logo for several minutes. This will reset the graphics APU/driver.
The application 'kded5' has requested to open the wallet
A dialog box appears:
The KDE Wallet System The application 'kded5' has requested to create a new wallet named 'kdewallet'. This is used to store sensitive data in a secure fashion. Please choose the new wallet's type below or click cancel to deny the application requet. [ ] classic blowfish encrypted file [*] Use GPG encryption, for better protection
Followed by:
Seems that your system has no keys suitable for encryption. Please set-up at least one encryption key, then try again.
It would be nice to remove annoyances like this however KDE Wallet is a core part of KDE, it's in the package kdebase-runtime.
Disable KDE Wallet System:
Drop to command shell (howto mentioned elsewhere on this page) and type the following:
sudo nano ~/.config/kwalletrc
Then enter the following
[Wallet] Enabled=false
Control-o to save the file (write out)
Control-x to exit
Then restart the system.
