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Steam Deck is already one of the most versatile handheld consoles, but one modder has decided to take it a step further. His project, called SteamBoy, turns Valve's device into a much smaller console inspired by the classic Game Boy. Most of the original Steam Deck components are still inside, but they have been arranged in a completely new layout. The biggest challenge proved to be fitting a suitable display and designing an efficient cooling system in a much smaller case. The project is not finished yet, but it already shows how far you can go when modifying the popular handheld.
SteamBoy blends the Steam Deck with a classic Game Boy
A modder known on Reddit as PhyFawkes decided to build a device that combines the capabilities of the Steam Deck with a compact form reminiscent of classic Nintendo handhelds. That’s how SteamBoy was born, using a Steam Deck LCD motherboard, additional control boards, controllers and the original battery. All these components were arranged in a special, vertical, sandwich-like layout, which made it possible to significantly reduce the overall size of the build. The modder also retained the standard ABXY buttons familiar from the Steam Deck, but the design has only one trackpad and one analogue stick. That solution produced a much more compact form, though it required many compromises. One of the biggest problems was the screen, because the standard Steam Deck panel did not fit the new case. For that reason the project author decided to use a 1200 × 1080-pixel AMOLED panel that was originally designed for VR headsets. The display itself is still a work in progress and the build is not yet ready for regular use. Interestingly, SteamBoy currently only works when connected to an external screen, because the specially made controller for the new panel is not finished yet. That means there’s still a lot of work ahead for the modder, but the core parts of the project are already functioning. If the screen can be brought to full working order, SteamBoy could become a genuinely unusual alternative to the standard Steam Deck.
The miniature design forced changes to the cooling system
Reducing the Steam Deck to dimensions much closer to a classic handheld also meant a complete rethinking of the cooling system. The original Valve console has considerably more room for the fan and the components responsible for heat dissipation, which could not be preserved in such a small build. The modder therefore used a 30 mm fan, bought on AliExpress, and then designed a custom mount for it made using 3D printing. The next part is a small copper heatsink, which also had to be adapted to the very limited space inside the SteamBoy. Such small cooling, however, comes at a price, because heat dissipation capabilities are much lower than in a standard Steam Deck. To maintain appropriate temperatures and performance, the modder must use a 50 mV undervolt on the CPU and GPU. This means lowering the supply voltage to the components, which can reduce power draw and the amount of heat generated. That is particularly important in such a small chassis, where an extra few degrees Celsius can matter a lot. The whole build therefore required not only the mechanical relocation of components, but also the creation of many custom electronic and mechanical parts. The modder still needs to finish, among other things, a control board for the display before the SteamBoy can operate as a standalone console. If the project is brought to completion, it will be one of the more interesting examples of how far you can change a device's form factor without abandoning its original electronics.
SteamBoy is one of those projects that show the Steam Deck can be a much more flexible platform than it might appear. The modder kept the most important components of the original console but completely changed their arrangement and the device’s form. Inspired by the Game Boy, the result is a handheld with a very unusual look that is considerably smaller than a standard Steam Deck. The biggest challenges at present are the screen, cooling and proper control of the new AMOLED panel. The project is not finished yet, but its current state shows that the idea is entirely feasible. If the modder refines all the elements, SteamBoy could become a truly exceptional device for handheld fans.
Source: TechPowerUp
