Can't decide between PS5 or Steam Deck

[Xzi]

I'm actually going to completely disagree with @Xzi above and say that you should get a Steam Deck as you have nothing else to play PC games on; there's already a gigantic library of PC games you can enjoy right away, whereas the PS5 is lacking that right now, but a few years down the line you will be able to get a PS5 much cheaper and there will be a large library of games you can enjoy then. Being an early adopter of new consoles rarely pays off.

That being said I would still recommend building a gaming PC from used parts over a Steam Deck unless the portability is essential, since you don't already have a gaming PC, because you'll be able to build something much more powerful that will also be upgradeable down the road when needed. Although if you do go that route, GPUs are a bit overpriced still but demand seems to be cooling down, so might be best to go with something with an integrated GPU at first and upgrade it with a dedicated GPU in a few months time.

With PS5 he'd have access to the entire PS4 library at 60 FPS, and all the biggest hits/exclusives are really cheap by now, particularly as physical discs. He'd be starting fresh with the game library either way.

Since he's asking about the 64GB Steam Deck vs PS5, we can assume his budget is $400 to $500, which is nowhere near enough to build a complete custom PC. That'll barely buy a GPU on par with PS5's performance in TFLOPs.

The only other consideration to make here is how much he intends to pirate games, if at all, because of course that's something you can do with Steam Deck but not with PS5.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

With PS5 he'd have access to the entire PS4 library at 60 FPS, and all the biggest hits/exclusives are really cheap by now, particular as physical discs. He'd be starting fresh with the game library either way.

Since he's asking about the 64GB Steam Deck vs PS5, we can assume his budget is $400 to $500, which is nowhere near enough to build a complete custom PC. That'll barely buy a GPU on par with PS5's performance in TFLOPs.

The only other consideration to make here is how much he intends to pirate games, if at all, because of course that's something you can do with Steam Deck but not with PS5.

That is true I suppose, still the PC library is much greater and the sales are great too.

Which is why I suggested used parts and going with an integrated GPU at first until GPU prices go down. It's not ideal, but it's the best you can do in the current market, the other option would be just saving the money for a while and buying all the parts (again used) once prices are normalized again.

I'm just assuming he would pirate because it's GBAtemp after all.

 

[SG854]

With Steam Deck you can run Sony PS1 and PS2 games. Run Nintendo games spaning many consoles. Sega consoles. Plus vast steam games library. if you go the pirates life route which temp does not endorse the amount saved will then make up the cost for the steam deck it will turn out cheaper in the longer run. And is more versitle then PS5 with portability.

PS5 is for better graphics and the exclusives.

make your choice kupo

 

[tech3475]

Recently a bunch of people got access to Steam Deck and were able to try some games e.g. LinusTechTips, so you can look at that.

I'd suggest two things:
1) Write down a list of pros and cons between each system
2) Look at the games and what you would do with it

For example, if you want emulators, get a Steam Deck but if you want 4K@30FPS/60FPS you may struggle on AAA. If you want a UHD BD Player the PS5 has one but you have to pay for online (depending on the game).

Personally, I'm getting a Steam Deck because I already have a library of PC games and want an ultra portable PC.

Supposedly all Steam Decks will come with an internal m.2 2230 header, and allow for internal storage expansion that way, but you'd likely have to open it up proper and void manufacturer warranty, in addition to having to reformat it and everything. They haven't shared any details beyond that, though.

In addition, it’s unknown how easy it will be. You could open it up and it’s right there or you have to remove a heat sink, etc.

The only things said is “All models use socketed 2230 m.2 modules (not intended for end-user replacement)”

 

[subcon959]

I would get a PS5 and a cheap used 3DS or Switch Lite.

 

[Reploid]

I see no value in PS5, beside a couple of exclusives (personally disinterested), while SEX got better services and hardware.
But steam deck won't run AAA new titles for all that long prolly, not after crossgen are come and gone.
So this choice is hard, because it's not really comparable in may aspects. Maybe wait and see how steamdeck gonna stick to the wall?

 

[k0walski]

My 50 cents/oil into fire... Examining the info about the Steam Deck - it's basically a Linux machine (based on Arch Linux distribution) + Proton emulator (which is a modified version of Wine emulator for, again, Linux machines)... Which means that it will be possible to run games suitable for SteamOS/Linux only. In order to run non-SteamOS/Linux games one needs to install different OS (likely to be possible). Well, if I buy the thing which costs $300+ I would like my favorite games work out of the box, without jumping around it trying to re-flash different firmware... Except some cases, of course.
So my choice is PS5 (and not just because I have PS4.... but yes, maybe that's also why ).

 

[Deleted member 503820]

Okay I decided.

If I don't get a PS5 locally until Q3 2022 (New Steam Deck Pre - Orders), i will buy the Steam Deck
Can get either one later anyway

Thank you for participating everyone !

 

[RAHelllord]

My 50 cents/oil into fire... Examining the info about the Steam Deck - it's basically a Linux machine (based on Arch Linux distribution) + Proton emulator (which is a modified version of Wine emulator for, again, Linux machines)... Which means that it will be possible to run games suitable for SteamOS/Linux only. In order to run non-SteamOS/Linux games one needs to install different OS (likely to be possible). Well, if I buy the thing which costs $300+ I would like my favorite games work out of the box, without jumping around it trying to re-flash different firmware... Except some cases, of course.
So my choice is PS5 (and not just because I have PS4.... but yes, maybe that's also why ).

Wine is not an emulator, and neither is proton. Both have very little performance degradation across the board and particularly since the advent of Vulkan it's just gotten better.

 

[k0walski]

Wine is not an emulator, and neither is proton. Both have very little performance degradation across the board and particularly since the advent of Vulkan it's just gotten better.

Well, yes (based on its acronym ). In general it provides some sort of abstraction to allow executing non-native (from Linux point of view) application in Linux environment almost flawlessly (almost is because some games do require specific versions of Wine/dll-s etc). But anyway - Proton is just a tool which (based on what Valve says on GitHub) -

Proton is a tool for use with the Steam client which allows games which are exclusive to Windows to run on the Linux operating system. It uses Wine to facilitate this.

.
So again, Steam Deck is still a Linux machine.

UPD: I really hope they'll do some magic to allow to run native Windows games on it. If so - I'll definitely buy it. I don't think that sticking to one specific platform is a solution. I'd love to play Halo series... but in this case I won't buy Xbox because all other games I love do exist on PS4...

 

[spotanjo3]

I prefer DISCS as tradition and PS5 Standard Edition allows you to install PS4 games from PS4 DISCS and runs it easily. They might released some PS4 digital games but not all of them. If you have EVERY PS4 DISCS then PS5 Standard Edition is highly recommended!

If you dont have PS4 console and PS4 discs at all.. Then Standard Edition is still highly recommended because if you see many used PS4 games.. Some could be five dollars on third party games. Awesome. Then you can installed it on Standard Edition. And digital version, you cannot do that.

 

[hippy dave]

With Steam Deck you can run Sony PS1 and PS2 games.

And some PS3 games too, tho apparently only those toward the less demanding end of the spectrum are likely to run full speed.

 

[duwen]

It's a tough choice as to which is the bigger waste of money... if I was forced to waste that kind of money on one of the two options though I'd go with the Steam Deck, just because I already have a PS4 and the only stuff currently worth playing on PS5 is on PS4 anyway.

 

[Xzi]

UPD: I really hope they'll do some magic to allow to run native Windows games on it. If so - I'll definitely buy it. I don't think that sticking to one specific platform is a solution. I'd love to play Halo series... but in this case I won't buy Xbox because all other games I love do exist on PS4...

Halo Master Chief Collection is on Steam, it should run fine through Proton. Alternatively, you could just install Win10 on Steam Deck, or even dual boot.

 

[RAHelllord]

Well, yes (based on its acronym ). In general it provides some sort of abstraction to allow executing non-native (from Linux point of view) application in Linux environment almost flawlessly (almost is because some games do require specific versions of Wine/dll-s etc). But anyway - Proton is just a tool which (based on what Valve says on GitHub) -

Proton is a tool for use with the Steam client which allows games which are exclusive to Windows to run on the Linux operating system. It uses Wine to facilitate this.

.
So again, Steam Deck is still a Linux machine.

UPD: I really hope they'll do some magic to allow to run native Windows games on it. If so - I'll definitely buy it. I don't think that sticking to one specific platform is a solution. I'd love to play Halo series... but in this case I won't buy Xbox because all other games I love do exist on PS4...

You're correct, but I meant emulation in the strict definition where a foreign set of instructions is run on the host system, unlike WINE's approach of just yeeting the foreign instructions from the code and replacing it with native instructions, then running that. But that's definitely veering very close to semantics only.

Halo Master Chief Collection is on Steam, it should run fine through Proton. Alternatively, you could just install Win10 on Steam Deck, or even dual boot.

Valve and AMD are working on making the Deck fully Windows 11 ready, so, and maybe they'll even create a free and easy installer / way to dual boot for it, too. Considering they use decently speedy storage booting it up in either should at least be pretty quick and painless.

 

[Xzi]

Valve and AMD are working on making the Deck fully Windows 11 ready, so, and maybe they'll even create a free and easy installer / way to dual boot for it, too.

Yeah I know, but Windows 11...ick.

Considering they use decently speedy storage booting it up in either should at least be pretty quick and painless.

I think people are gonna be surprised by how fast it boots applications/OSes even from mSD. DDR5 quad-channel memory that's also shared as VRAM helps a lot in that regard.

 

[RAHelllord]

Yeah I know, but Windows 11...ick.

I know but it might be worth it for the Direct Memory Access that will come to Windows 11, and if they make it Windows 11 ready it should be able to run 10 without potential driver issues, too.

I think people are gonna be surprised by how fast it boots applications/OSes even from mSD. DDR5 quad-channel memory that's also shared as VRAM helps a lot in that regard.

Eh, mSD are bad for rIOPS unless the Deck itself supports A2, which I'm actually not sure whether it does or not. A1 is okay for applications on phones which are generally smaller but nothing to write home about for larger games and applications like you have on Windows. It's not going to be bad and things like Stardew Valley will work just as well but you'll most likely want to avoid it for larger AAA titles, particularly open world with random data streaming constantly.

 

[MohammedQ8]

you already have pc so go with ps5.

 

[SG854]

It's like comparing apples to oranges.

I'd pick the Steam Deck purely because I prefer gaming wherever. That's really my only reason. Maybe that, and I mostly game on Steam so I'd have a ton of games from the get go.

If you only have money for 1 then the apples and oranges comparison doesn't matter. It's whatever you think you'll enjoy more in the long run. Would you enjoy apples more or would you enjoy lemons more? I only have money for 1 type of fruit.

You play on Steam more? What happned with that thread about you prefering the console PS5 over PC? I can only assume it's cause PS5 has no gamez right now.

 

[City17]

Most of the games on Steam that would be a good choice to play portably are also on the Switch, so the amount of (recent) exclusives you're missing out on that would benefit from the Steam Deck's form factor are rather small. The Steam Deck will technically have a much larger library available to it than the PS5 ever will, but many of those games are dated and you will notice they're dated, too.

I'd recommend you go through the PS4 released games and PS5 upcoming games and see how many games you'd like to play, then compare that to PC games you might have heard of and try and figure out whether they'd benefit from the portability or not. While the the Steam Deck can be played docked and thus perform as a "real" PC with KB+M the matter of the fact is you can get a much stronger regular PC or laptop for the same price.

Personally if I were in your shoes I'd buy a regular desktop PC first purely on the grounds that the Windows games library covers far more titles in the genres I care about than PS4 and PS5 do, and in my opinion that's really the only thing that matters: how many games you like can you get for the system you're buying.

Are you silly ? I restrain myself.
You can play Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which is the very Last in the franchise, at Maximum settings at a stable frame rate, what horse shit do you eat when you say that on steam deck would be more dated games and maybe more ugly games, cause that you meant, which is more than BS.

I m in the same dilemma with him, having a PS4 Pro, but kinda wanting a silent system, cause this is very noisy. Steam Deck would be interesting. I m curious what GENIUS can build himself right f now a Complete (HA!) gaming rig with just 399 dollars. You are just trolling, at least do not spread this nonsense keep your bs for yourself, and laptops and esports gaming pc.

You do not have exclusives anymore on Playstation, every game on Playstation will come on PC.
So, if you do not have really good friends on PS, if you feel tired or lazy to plug your gaming system to a monitor (if you have a free monitor there in your house) I kinda want Steam Deck more, its a more open and futureproof experience, what if I move out or go somewhere, its more than hard to carry a big console and a big tv and all stuff with me, With Steam Deck you are Free to connect to a monitor IF you want. But its just a more free and comfortable option, offers you a larger horizon.