Hey friend! As an investment analyst who crunches data to find good value, I get this question a lot. Let‘s take an in-depth look at whether the 64GB Steam Deck is worth it for your needs.
The Short Answer
For most gamers, I don‘t recommend the 64GB model. The small storage size and slower speeds will leave you frustrated. Spend a little more for the 256GB version with faster SSD storage for a much better experience.
But if you only play small indie games, the 64GB Deck could work when paired with a MicroSD card. Keep reading for the full analysis!
Steam Deck Storage Options
Valve‘s Steam Deck comes in three versions:
- 64GB eMMC – $399 base model
- 256GB NVMe SSD – $529 model
- 512GB high speed NVMe SSD – $649 premium model
The lowest priced 64GB model uses slower eMMC flash storage. The 256GB and 512GB models use faster PCIe Gen 3 NVMe SSDs. This affects game load times.
64GB vs 256GB vs 512GB Comparison
Here‘s how the models stack up against each other:
Storage Space
- 64GB – Holds 2-3 AAA games max
- 256GB – Fits around 10 average sized games
- 512GB – Holds 15+ large games easily
For large libraries, 64GB is very limiting. Even the Nintendo Switch has 32GB more usable storage.
Speed
- 64GB eMMC: 100 MB/s read & write speeds
- 256GB NVMe SSD: Up to 2100 MB/s read, 1400 MB/s writes
- 512GB NVMe SSD: Blazing fast 5000 MB/s reads, 4700 MB/s writes
The 64GB storage is considerably slower than the NVMe SSD models. Expect longer load times.
Price
- 64GB – $399
- 256GB – $529
- 512GB – $649
You save $130 going with 64GB over 256GB. Not much cost difference percentage wise.
MicroSD Card Support
All models allow adding more game storage via MicroSD cards. But cards max out around 90-100MB/s, slower than internal SSDs.
Value
Based on storage speed, capacity, and price, the 256GB model gives you the most bang for your buck.
Real-World Steam Deck Usage
Let‘s get into some real-world estimates:
How many AAA games fit on 64GB?
After SteamOS, you only have around 10GB usable storage on the 64GB Deck. Enough for:
- 2-3 modern AAA games
- Or 5-6 smaller indie games
Game Sizes
- AAA titles range from 10GB (God of War) up to 150GB (Red Dead Redemption 2)
- Indie games are often under 1-2GB
Adding MicroSD Storage
I‘d recommend a 256GB MicroSD card minimum, costing around $30. This expands the 64GB to hold 8-10 average sized games.
But MicroSD cards are 5x+ slower than NVMe SSDs. Expect longer load times.
How Many Games on 256GB or 512GB?
- 256GB model holds around 30 AAA games or 50+ indie games.
- 512GB model stores 50+ AAA games easily.
When the 64GB Model is Viable
The 64GB Deck can work well if you:
- Play mostly retro or indie games under 2GB
- Don‘t mind slower load times
- Have a MicroSD card for extra storage
- Want to save money upfront
For modern AAA gaming, I‘d strongly recommend the 256GB or 512GB models instead.
64GB Steam Deck: Pros vs Cons
Pros:
- $399 price point
- Portable handheld gaming
- MicroSD card can expand storage
- Great for indie/retro gaming
Cons:
- Only fits 2-3 AAA games without MicroSD
- eMMC storage is 5x slower than SSD models
- MicroSD cards have very slow transfer speeds
- Not ideal for modern AAA gaming
Is the 64GB Worth It? The Conclusion
Let‘s summarize the key points:
- The 64GB Deck is best suited for retro, indie, and smaller game libraries.
- Lack of storage and slower speeds limit AAA gaming appeal.
- A MicroSD card is required to make 64GB viable.
- NVMe SSD storage in 256GB/512GB models load games much faster.
- I recommend most gamers spend a little more for the 256GB version.
- But if your gaming needs are minimal, 64GB can work when budget is critical.
Hope this helped shed light on whether the 64GB Steam Deck configuration makes sense for the type of games you want to play! Let me know if you have any other questions.
