Modder Boosts Steam Deck to a Bountiful 32GB RAM

News
By Mark Tyson
published

Some assembly is required

Steam Deck RAM upgrade to 32GB
(Image credit: Balázs Triszka)

Intrepid Steam Deck modder Balázs Triszka has shared news of an impressive feat of handheld device enhancement. In a recent Tweet/X by Triszka (h/t Overclock3D), we see that they managed to boost the Valve-made x86 PC gaming portable to 32 GB of RAM. That’s double the RAM quota this SteamOS handheld is factory configured with.

Upgrading the RAM on a Steam Deck is definitely not for everyone. Unlike your desktop, and many laptops, the RAM in these devices is soldered directly to the system PCB, like on a graphics card. These RAM chips will be attached with a plethora of tiny solder balls (ball grid array, BGA) to the mainboard of the Steam Deck. You'll need a one of the best hot air rework stations to make this possible.

(Image credit: Balázs Triszka)

Sometimes memory module replacement, for repair or expansion, is hindered by glue under the BGA chip. However, Triszka confirmed that Valve hasn’t done this. To double the memory quota of the Steam Deck, the modder simply switched the existing RAM chips for similar ones with double the capacity / density.

Triszka shows the flux-strewn aftermath of his de/soldering of the system’s RAM chips. A bath of isopropyl alcohol will soon have this mod looking factory fresh. This high-temperature molten metal surgery was just the beginning of the demonstrably effective mod. Very often hardware needs a firmware modification to enable this kind of upgrade, and this is true of the Steam Deck memory doubling mod. However, the satisfying conclusion is that this mod works, and you can see evidence of the system reporting an available 32 GB of RAM, below.

(Image credit: Balázs Triszka)

The Steam Deck is one of the most popular of the new wave of PC gaming handhelds, which is understandable given that it invigorated the segment with a uniquely compelling software / hardware combo in 2022. One of the good things about a leading and popular device is that it attracts the most developer attention.

We have already documented the arrival of a multitude of upgrades and mods like: an enhanced screen replacement, liquid cooling, a transparent shell, and we have tested lots of SSD upgrades. But be warned, RAM upgrades like Triszka are far from trivial, with soldering equipment and skills required in abundance. Modders also need a strong disposition and steady hands.

Mark Tyson
Mark Tyson
Freelance News Writer

Mark Tyson is a Freelance News Writer at Tom's Hardware US. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ezst036
    More RAM is surely welcome and probably will have an impact on gaming performance, however it is worth recognizing that the Linux-based SteamOS will or at least should consume far less memory than a competing Windows device.

    Windows is simply friggin heavy when an OS upgrade is tantamount to a RAM size upgrade.
    Reply
  • Vanderlindemedia
    ezst036 said:
    More RAM is surely welcome and probably will have an impact on gaming performance, however it is worth recognizing that the Linux-based SteamOS will or at least should consume far less memory than a competing Windows device.

    Windows is simply friggin heavy when an OS upgrade is tantamount to a RAM size upgrade.

    You have no idea how memory management works in both OS'es. Linux on default will cache as much as possible just as Windows. What's the point of having 32GB of RAM into your computer if your not going to use it? Exactly. So you use it and release it when you actually need it.

    Linux is very good in caching as much as possible - once you need the memory for for examples ongoing programs or games it will automatic be released. I have 15 servers based on Linux, in 99.9% of the time all the ram is consumed, as it should. It's all caching resources which makes the box obviously faster.

    As for gaming performance, unless the modder managed to crank up the frequency's, there's no point in doing this for performance. I doubt it - these where likely replaced with double the capacity.
    Reply
  • Mr.Vegas
    Lack of 32gb option and "Smart Microwave" type of SOC is the main reason why i sold my SD after playing around for a week.
    2nd reason is the tiny 7inch screen.
    3rd, lack of 2280 NVMe, but more is the 2230 DRAMLess NVMe that is fitting for a toy.
    4th, lack of USB ports
    5th, lack of Thunderbolt/USB4 or Oculink ports

    But there are other handhelds that have all these options and 8, even 8.4inch screens.
    If rog ally had 32gb of ram, i could "swallow" everything else, even the fact it has single USB port and its just old 10gbps and not even 20gbps one.
    Reply