AMD Reportedly Preparing Next Generation Steam Deck Processor

[Uskompuf]

AMD is allegedly preparing an upgraded quad-core APU with Zen 4 and RDNA3 architectures for a next-generation Steam Deck device according to Moore's Law is Dead. The report claims that the chip is referred to as a "Van Gogh Successor" internally with a die size between 110 mm² and 150 mm² resulting in an increased production cost. The chip should feature 4 Zen 4 cores and 8 threads offering 25% - 35% higher performance per clock (PPC) with a maximum boost of 4 GHz. The RDNA3 graphics will include 8 Compute Units with significantly higher PPC compared to their RDNA2 counterparts which combined with the updated CPU could see a performance improvement up to 50%. These rumors have not been confirmed with any potential Steam Deck processor far from being announced or released anytime soon.





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[stimpy88]

This is where I will get onboard. I always thought that the first gen was amazing, but I worried about it's longer-term ability to keep up. This next gen chip answers those doubts, and would be a day-1 purchase.

 

[Kohl Baas]

This is where I will get onboard. I always thought that the first gen was amazing, but I worried about it's longer-term ability to keep up. This next gen chip answers those doubts, and would be a day-1 purchase.

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

 

[stimpy88]

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

You have a good point there, but other players are in this market, not just Valve.

 

[Deleted member 185088]

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

I think it makes total sense, just like laptops a new SteamDeck would cost the same with better hardware.

 

[BorisDG]

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

That's not Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Valve was never a console player and they don't play on the "rules" like the rest. They are random and can do whatever they want at any given time. That's why I never liked them.

 

[PapaTaipei]

That's not Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Valve was never a console player and they don't play on the "rules" like the rest. They are random and can do whatever they want at any given time. That's why I never liked them.

Your argument doesn't make any sens. If not for Valve we would have all our games on Microsoft store for 100e a piece. MS is on a buying spree and have to be stopped.

 

[Punkenjoy]

The main difference between console and Valve is valve do not have exclusivity right on the chip. They are the only one to use it, but anyone could bought it if they want to.

The thing is, how long AMD will continue to produce it? Does it make sense to continue to use it or they could just upgrade the next SteamDeck to a newer chip that is also shared with laptop/Chromebook or other portable gaming device.

Valve went to AMD and said, do you have a chip for our usage and they said, we have this chip that we designed for Microsoft and they just ditched us, want it? Unlike Sony and Microsoft, they did not invested money into having this chip tailored for their solutions.

They would probably have better cost (or AMD better margin) if they switch to a chip that is used on way more than just the steamdeck.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Your argument doesn't make any sens. If not for Valve we would have all our games on Microsoft store for 100e a piece. MS is on a buying spree and have to be stopped.

The MS Store is fine.

The issue with Valve has always been their hardware. Steam Machines? Interesting concept but crashed and burned. Steam Link? Was actually pretty good but then abandoned. Steam Controller, dead as well. Valve seems to come out with good ideas and then abandon them shortly after in the hopes that someone else picks them up and runs with it.

 

[ixi]

If they release this next year, then I can say: Wicked!

 

[KaitouX]

The issue with Valve has always been their hardware. Steam Machines? Interesting concept but crashed and burned. Steam Link? Was actually pretty good but then abandoned. Steam Controller, dead as well. Valve seems to come out with good ideas and then abandon them shortly after in the hopes that someone else picks them up and runs with it.

The hardware of Steam Machines was never done by Valve themselves as far as I know, they only did the software, and SteamOS still is updated. The Steam Link hardware became kinda irrelevant when phones and TVs started to be able to do the same thing, but the software still is supported, both in updates to the hardware and the app. Steam controller is also still supported software wise, it also sold decently and was produced for around 5 years, which is a decent run imo, and didn't the hardware have some legal issues?
The Index also exists, and is considered one of the best VR headsets.

Their hardware had for the most part what I would call a decent run, and their software support for that hardware is pretty good.

 

[konga]

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

They're still designing the thing. I would expect it to take at least a year for it to end up in an actual product. By that time, a Steam Deck 2 would likely be on the table since the time between iterations of PC handhelds tends to be fairly short.

 

[Mussels]

And then we need the same thing for a switch 4K


I also agree with konga, with the time lag for designing and releasing portable hardware, they absolutely need to pick something *now* so the cooling/power/design layout can be finalised ASAP, and zen4 APU's fit their requirements really well

 

[TechLurker]

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

It wouldn't be too unusual for Valve if they fast-tracked development and pushed straight for SD2 if it turned out convenient for them; after all, reservations combined with manufacturing delays were far outpacing their capability to meet all of them and they've been doing some minor beta-testing of alternate parts (mostly alternate fans and supposedly memory chips in order to ramp up production). It would also be similar to some Kickstarter/Indiegogo fundraisers, where later reserve holders got a free upgrade to an updated version after early mass-production defects were discovered and corrected, or original parts could not be attained further, thus alternate or upgraded parts were substituted instead while offering exchange or heavily discounted coupons to the extra early adopters.

In this case, early adopters got their units first, and could theoretically be given a discount towards the SD2, while those still in line could be given the option for a free upgrade to the SD2 version of their reservation; price locking it for them at the cost of the old one. All in exchange for giving up one's place in line to head back, but one of the first in line for the SD2 version of their original choice (Basic, Middle, and Top-end) at a much cheaper cost.

Now I'm not saying it will happen either, but after following some development/refinement on the fly from various successful fundraisers, it's one option Valve could do. Their main goal is to get SteamDecks into as many hands as possible, further helping to cement control over the game libraries since most will not attempt to hack Windows onto it, and instead just use Steam OS and buy whatever is on Steam that they enjoy. It's about getting even more people into their ecosystem and buying into it. So if financials look better for them to just move on to SD2 because the parts are ready, they could do so. Moreso as they're not as beholden to game studios as the legacy console makers; who use more proprietary hardware elements than the SteamDeck and have to give them more time to fully optimize for each console.

 

[Minus Infinity]

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

It's slated for 2024, how is that too soon?

 

[BoboOOZ]

It's slated for 2024, how is that too soon?

Yepp, that's the most obvious question
It's just that these types of decisions need to be taken years in advance.

 

[FeelinFroggy]

I dont know if the steam deck will go through the normal upgrade cadence that consoles do (although I could be wrong). I consider the steam deck to be more of a laptop than a gaming console.

New version of laptops are released all the time, so I dont see why the steam deck could be that different. Maybe it wont be upgraded every year, but perhaps every couple years.

The only thing I am not sure is how much support will be needed to make everything work on a steam deck. Obviously valve has done a lot of work getting steam games to work on the deck. If they have to do all that work over again everything they release a new steam deck, then we may see a longer cadence similar to console releases. But if it is as simple as dropping in a new chip and adding a few features, then it could be interesting.

 

[medi01]

You have a good point there, but other players are in this market, not just Valve.

Valve is trying to establish a new gaming platform, not make money on hardware.

 

[Punkenjoy]

Valve is trying to establish a new gaming platform, not make money on hardware.

You are right, if some other people around jump on the steamOS wagon, they would be very happy.

 

[Octavean]

Sounds good but I am not canceling my Steam Deck order.

 

[Chrispy_]

This chip is just too soon to SteamDeck 2. There is no point to make a SteamDeck 2 while they haven't fulfilled the preorders if the 1st model.

You need to remember that "AMD is preparing" is still several months before the official announcement, which is a few months before the actual product launch, which is several months before retail availability of those parts.

Renoir laptops were about 7-8 months from the official announcement to being a product you could get your hands on in the real world, so using that as an example this could be over a year away still.

 

[kapone32]

I wonder if by the time I get mine if it will come with one of these chips. It is insane how popular these Steam decks are..

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

@Uskompuf I clicked a link that read "Zen 4 might be coming to Socket AM4" on the TPU home page and got the Steam Deck. Not sure if this is unique to me or if it is an issue for W1zzard, but thought you might want to know.

 

[DrCR]

@Uskompuf I clicked a link that read "Zen 4 might be coming to Socket AM4" on the TPU home page and got the Steam Deck. Not sure if this is unique to me or if it is an issue for W1zzard, but thought you might want to know.

This. I dove straight into the discussion area, and in my half asleep mind, I somehow got the message that the AM4 socketed Steam Deck was getting a Zen4 upgrade. Time to set down the phone and sleep..

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

This. I dove straight into the discussion area, and in my half asleep mind, I somehow got the message that the AM4 socketed Steam Deck was getting a Zen4 upgrade. Time to set down the phone and sleep..

I must confess that I also thought that... Then my brain said "Hol up, Steam deck is not socketed..."