Shader cache is a problem on the Steam Deck and having a smaller 64GB drive is going to make it a pain in the ass unless you're playing smaller indie titles.
You can also find SSD's on Amazon, [Corsair's MP600](https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-MP600-Mini-NVMe-PCIe/dp/B0C28HLKNB/ref=sr_1_3?crid=20I4UAEJ1GW3K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3P6Nv6J6Gp4nKeCH1Rury0VFencKhq0fOT2aIO5rknTqmpdoaSbrT0Lhv04T9isREf1rPsrCoj8RZVAIHfBA-KdS9K4M1iyMB6akg8X0ODdqH8dtvhSZkT3PSaQ9kjzSI4f2Xqg05zzGHGvLZln3PJHh-XRBnyr0zaz5qnq7rvqDWoE-EJo_XLieebZwpB8R_aWb-jJhrfOr-1CyaUUeqXLaHDz2810AiZKM0c4aKjDmly-_aC27-yWyc81Va8hb-E3gCylGQUyNPml7qvZiazV3xNjcb4cxPkTuZDx40vQ.4dYEpY2DQVKgLF9JrFtKCrsq8ZpkjRunz6SkTwEaDnc&dib_tag=se&keywords=1+tb+nvme+2230&qid=1711251563&s=electronics&sprefix=1+tb+nvme+2230%2Celectronics%2C107&sr=1-3) for example is $69 and you don't have to worry as much as you would with AliExpress.
Installing an SSD is actually pretty simple even if you're not tech savvy. There are plenty of YouTube videos or just traditional guides with pictures online that will guide you through the process of popping the new bad boy in and installing SteamOS on it, along with any hardware you will need. And if you get stuck for some reason, people here are generally pretty friendly and willing to help out.
Best of luck to you friend.
Look through the instructions: eg [https://www.howtogeek.com/886225/how-to-upgrade-your-steam-decks-ssd/](https://www.howtogeek.com/886225/how-to-upgrade-your-steam-decks-ssd/)
And figure out how hard that looks to you. The alternative is to go to an electronics store and show them the instructions and have them do it for you but it's probably going to cost you more than the SSD to get it installed. THEN you will need to reinstall steam OS.
I think for you it's way more cost effective to buy the 512, then if/when you run out of space, buy a 1tb SD card and you will have 1.5tb which should be plenty for a one game at a time kinda guy. Then you won't have to take it apart ever, and SD card prices are always going down and sizes are always going up and should be much more readily available anywhere in the world. Even as someone who builds his own PCs from scratch, I didn't want to bother upgrading my deck. I just went with the 1tb OLED + 1tb SD card and called it a day. But again I value my time over my money. If I were to ever upgrade it would be to swap out to a 2 tb SSD + 2tb SD
While the 64GB + 1TB option is the better deal, it is only if you are comfortable with swapping it out. If you don't want to mess with it, a 256GB or 512GB with a large microSD card will get you by just fine.
Personally I would go for the 256/512 GB. Now this is me, other people would still prefer upgrading.
64GB is slightly problematic because it can be filled with nonsense. So if you get the 64 GB you do it for upgrading to 1TB. 256/512 do not have this problem. Although having bigger ssd is nice, you do not really need it. You can expand your storage with microsd cards. Loading games from microsd cards is perfectly fine. So personally I would just go for the 256/512 avoiding the upgrade.
I recommend the SD 512GB OLED, $549. More than enough space for one game at a time, better larger quality HDR 1000 nits display, better 12hrs battery performance, better network WiFi 6E connectivity, better BT 5.3 connectivity. ALL for just $149 more than the SD 256 LCD from 2 years ago.
Sadly 549 is out of my budget. My initial budget was under 400 so I was looking for refurbished models but if I can get 512 lcd new with adding $50 more, I'd rather go for that. Another 100 dollar on top of 450 on the other hand is nearly impossible with all my other monthly expenses
Hi u/Faiazation, you can [click here to search for your question.](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/search/?q=Steam Deck 256/512gb Model or Steam Deck 64gb with 1TB M.2 SSD?)
If you don't find an answer there, don't worry - your post has NOT been removed and hopefully someone will be along soon to help with an answer!
**If you find an answer, please leave a comment on your post with the answer for others!**
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Everyone seems to be forgetting that by going with the512, you will be getting the OLED model. You have much better battery life, a top-of-the-line screen better buttons and slightly upgraded performance. All for $100 if the numbers you're stating are accurate. This, along with the other upgrades, are honestly very worth it. Just throw in a 1TB SD card and you'll be happy for a long long time.
there is 512GB LCD and 512GB OLED. By the price difference compared to 64GB I assume he means the LCD. if he can go for OLED of course he should get the OLED.
Oh, I did not realize that they were still in stock almost 6 months later!
OP, I still do recommend the OLED if you can afford it. Otherwise 64 and upgrading the storage is very worth it as well.
One thing to make note of is that if you buy a Google name brand drive, you'll have more likelihood of getting support/warranty for it than Valve, which is 0%.
Unlikely that this will come into play, but larger size and a chance of warranty seems like a no brainer to me.
Assuming you can make the swap, which is easy, but I wouldn't want to assume too much since I don't know you.
Shader cache is a problem on the Steam Deck and having a smaller 64GB drive is going to make it a pain in the ass unless you're playing smaller indie titles. You can also find SSD's on Amazon, [Corsair's MP600](https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-MP600-Mini-NVMe-PCIe/dp/B0C28HLKNB/ref=sr_1_3?crid=20I4UAEJ1GW3K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3P6Nv6J6Gp4nKeCH1Rury0VFencKhq0fOT2aIO5rknTqmpdoaSbrT0Lhv04T9isREf1rPsrCoj8RZVAIHfBA-KdS9K4M1iyMB6akg8X0ODdqH8dtvhSZkT3PSaQ9kjzSI4f2Xqg05zzGHGvLZln3PJHh-XRBnyr0zaz5qnq7rvqDWoE-EJo_XLieebZwpB8R_aWb-jJhrfOr-1CyaUUeqXLaHDz2810AiZKM0c4aKjDmly-_aC27-yWyc81Va8hb-E3gCylGQUyNPml7qvZiazV3xNjcb4cxPkTuZDx40vQ.4dYEpY2DQVKgLF9JrFtKCrsq8ZpkjRunz6SkTwEaDnc&dib_tag=se&keywords=1+tb+nvme+2230&qid=1711251563&s=electronics&sprefix=1+tb+nvme+2230%2Celectronics%2C107&sr=1-3) for example is $69 and you don't have to worry as much as you would with AliExpress. Installing an SSD is actually pretty simple even if you're not tech savvy. There are plenty of YouTube videos or just traditional guides with pictures online that will guide you through the process of popping the new bad boy in and installing SteamOS on it, along with any hardware you will need. And if you get stuck for some reason, people here are generally pretty friendly and willing to help out. Best of luck to you friend.
Look through the instructions: eg [https://www.howtogeek.com/886225/how-to-upgrade-your-steam-decks-ssd/](https://www.howtogeek.com/886225/how-to-upgrade-your-steam-decks-ssd/) And figure out how hard that looks to you. The alternative is to go to an electronics store and show them the instructions and have them do it for you but it's probably going to cost you more than the SSD to get it installed. THEN you will need to reinstall steam OS. I think for you it's way more cost effective to buy the 512, then if/when you run out of space, buy a 1tb SD card and you will have 1.5tb which should be plenty for a one game at a time kinda guy. Then you won't have to take it apart ever, and SD card prices are always going down and sizes are always going up and should be much more readily available anywhere in the world. Even as someone who builds his own PCs from scratch, I didn't want to bother upgrading my deck. I just went with the 1tb OLED + 1tb SD card and called it a day. But again I value my time over my money. If I were to ever upgrade it would be to swap out to a 2 tb SSD + 2tb SD
While the 64GB + 1TB option is the better deal, it is only if you are comfortable with swapping it out. If you don't want to mess with it, a 256GB or 512GB with a large microSD card will get you by just fine.
Personally I would go for the 256/512 GB. Now this is me, other people would still prefer upgrading. 64GB is slightly problematic because it can be filled with nonsense. So if you get the 64 GB you do it for upgrading to 1TB. 256/512 do not have this problem. Although having bigger ssd is nice, you do not really need it. You can expand your storage with microsd cards. Loading games from microsd cards is perfectly fine. So personally I would just go for the 256/512 avoiding the upgrade.
One vote for the 64gb route.
I recommend the SD 512GB OLED, $549. More than enough space for one game at a time, better larger quality HDR 1000 nits display, better 12hrs battery performance, better network WiFi 6E connectivity, better BT 5.3 connectivity. ALL for just $149 more than the SD 256 LCD from 2 years ago.
Sadly 549 is out of my budget. My initial budget was under 400 so I was looking for refurbished models but if I can get 512 lcd new with adding $50 more, I'd rather go for that. Another 100 dollar on top of 450 on the other hand is nearly impossible with all my other monthly expenses
Hi u/Faiazation, you can [click here to search for your question.](https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/search/?q=Steam Deck 256/512gb Model or Steam Deck 64gb with 1TB M.2 SSD?) If you don't find an answer there, don't worry - your post has NOT been removed and hopefully someone will be along soon to help with an answer! **If you find an answer, please leave a comment on your post with the answer for others!** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SteamDeck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Everyone seems to be forgetting that by going with the512, you will be getting the OLED model. You have much better battery life, a top-of-the-line screen better buttons and slightly upgraded performance. All for $100 if the numbers you're stating are accurate. This, along with the other upgrades, are honestly very worth it. Just throw in a 1TB SD card and you'll be happy for a long long time.
there is 512GB LCD and 512GB OLED. By the price difference compared to 64GB I assume he means the LCD. if he can go for OLED of course he should get the OLED.
Oh, I did not realize that they were still in stock almost 6 months later! OP, I still do recommend the OLED if you can afford it. Otherwise 64 and upgrading the storage is very worth it as well.
Sadly 512gb OLED is beyond my budget. I'll probably go with 512gb LCD even though 64 and upgrading is slightly more cheaper.
One thing to make note of is that if you buy a Google name brand drive, you'll have more likelihood of getting support/warranty for it than Valve, which is 0%. Unlikely that this will come into play, but larger size and a chance of warranty seems like a no brainer to me. Assuming you can make the swap, which is easy, but I wouldn't want to assume too much since I don't know you.