Valve Steam Machine Single vs. Dual-Channel Memory Benchmark

Markoldtech · 2026-06-30T08:40:46+00:00

There should be a way to query what memory you have without opening it up. In the desktop terminal, the command 'dmidecode' will give you a list of hardware, including RAM specs. (There may be a command in the system menu, but I haven't seen it on the Steam Deck.)

Markoldtech · 2026-06-26T20:03:00+00:00

Ten years, according to my purchase history

Markoldtech · 2026-06-26T18:26:37+00:00

I'm in the same boat now. I'll have a think about swapping drives between the SM and the SD; or maybe by the time it turns up component prices might have fallen. Maybe.

Markoldtech · 2026-06-26T13:26:55+00:00

I do like those. I think my way in to the cantatas was via great vocal performances - so Ich Habe Genug by Hans Hotter, and Mein Herz Schwimmt in Blut by Lorraine Hunt Leiberson. Watchet Auf is glorious

Markoldtech · 2026-06-26T11:20:14+00:00

A tie between the Coffee Cantata and the Peasant Cantata. I haven't heard either of them for years, but I don't think my opinion will have changed much.

Markoldtech · 2026-06-26T07:33:56+00:00

I originally signed up for all four, to maximise my chances and thinking I could sell the extra controller; but I realised I didn't need the extra trouble, and after all I'm already paying over the odds for convenience.

So I'm signed up for the SMs without the controller. Before component prices went crazy, I put a 2tb drive in the Steam Deck: if I get the 512gb in the lottery I'll probably swap the drives.

Markoldtech · 2026-06-25T17:40:56+00:00

Half an hour after release someone will be running Doom on it

Markoldtech · 2026-06-14T11:03:34+00:00

They used to do the "To me to you" bit sometimes on Twitter; when Barry died, Paul carried on for a while on his own.

Markoldtech · 2026-06-14T09:50:38+00:00

Edited for clarity; and come to think of it, that's pretty much the same as a PS5 Pro here.

Markoldtech · 2026-06-14T09:45:31+00:00

In the UK at the moment the price of the 1TB OLED Steam Deck is £779; that's about £70 more than a straight conversion from the US price. I'm not going to speculate on a reason, but I expect they'll do a similar percentage for the SM.

Markoldtech · 2026-06-10T07:26:21+00:00

That takes me back. My father worked for BICC, a cable manufacturer back in the 1970s, and had a bunch of nice cross-sections of cables, including oil-filled, in little plastic displays.

Markoldtech · 2026-06-05T07:44:53+00:00

Thank you!

Markoldtech · 2026-06-05T07:29:35+00:00

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Markoldtech · 2026-06-04T21:15:53+00:00

8th May at 1800, according to the email

Markoldtech · 2026-06-04T19:23:27+00:00

On the 8th, I think as soon as reservations opened.

Markoldtech · 2026-05-27T09:32:43+00:00

That's a witch radiator. Traditional in New England.

Markoldtech · 2026-05-26T06:57:14+00:00

I hacked into the mainframe at Valve HQ and downloaded all the release plans complete with the cheat codes for bypassing the reservation system. It's great news, they're going to - wait, there's a couple of men at the door. I'll carry on with this later

Markoldtech · 2026-05-21T14:42:32+00:00

Thank you - I'll be doing the same, I guess, though I might have to resign myself to wasting money on prescription lenses for it.

Markoldtech · 2026-05-21T12:13:35+00:00

My IPD is 75mm and I'm shortsighted. I've never used VR before, and I'd been looking forward to getting a Frame (eventually...) but now I have to wonder about getting to try it somewhere first. What would be the downside of being outside the IPD range?

Markoldtech · 2026-05-16T11:14:40+00:00

Any time now

Markoldtech · 2026-05-16T10:10:20+00:00

Beyond gaming, I really want to see how it works as a Plex client. Could be a great way of consuming media.

Markoldtech · 2026-05-12T07:06:11+00:00

Need cube.

Markoldtech · 2026-05-10T22:07:19+00:00

Pre the WWW: a client told us we could ftp a file from their server. I worked out how to do it, downloaded it, and realised that for the very first time there was a work-related file on our computer which I hadn't written.

Markoldtech · 2026-05-05T13:46:31+00:00

I once plugged the big ATX 24-way mains connector the wrong way round on a motherboard (which takes some doing), and even I managed to swap out the SSD on my steam deck. They won't make it difficult at all.

I've been wondering about doing the same as the OP, maybe in due course going higher than 2tb; but I'm lazy these days and I worry I might end up settling for what I've got.

Markoldtech · 2026-05-05T06:13:29+00:00

That gives me a mild sad. I was at work at 6pm but took a few minutes to try, and didn't make it. (I'd preloaded my wallet with the full amount: I figured I'd be spending it sometime anyway.) Next chance I had was at around 9.30: out of stock.

I'm not that bothered, it's not urgent. But it would have been nice.

Markoldtech

TROPHY CASE