What is Steam Deck GPU equivalent to?

As an avid gamer and hardware enthusiast, I‘ve tested and benchmarked the Steam Deck‘s graphics capabilties across a variety of games. Based on my analysis, the Steam Deck performs similar to a Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti desktop GPU first released in 2016.

While the Steam Deck utilizes a custom APU from AMD combining Zen 2 CPU + RDNA 2 graphics rather than a discrete GPU, it delivers performance on par with the GTX 1050 Ti in most gaming scenarios:

So while the Steam Deck can match the GTX 1050 Ti, a 5 year old 1080p gaming GPU, it falls well short of modern 2022 GPUs like the RTX 3060 that offer significantly higher performance and features like ray tracing.

Steam Deck Van Gogh APU

Designed in collaboration between AMD and Valve just for the Steam Deck, the custom APU code named Van Gogh contains:

• 4 core, 8 thread Zen 2 CPU @ up to 3.5GHz
• 8 RDNA 2 Compute Units @ up to 1600 MHz (2 teraflops FP32)
• Unified system memory – 16GB LPDDR5 @ 5500 MHz

This tight integration of CPU, GPU and memory into one chip saves space and power consumption (typically max 15W TDP) resulting in a secure and performant design ideal for handheld gaming.

Benchmarks have shown the Van Gogh APU performing similar to Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G (Zen 2 + Vega 7 iGPU) system indicating its graphical capabilities match its 2016-era discrete equivalent – the GTX 1050 Ti.

Steam Deck GPU Gaming Performance

I tested real-world graphical performance across these popular titles on the Steam Deck:

From Esports titles like CS:GO to the latest AAA games, the Steam Deck showed solid framerates at 30 FPS to 60 FPS depending on the optimisation and graphical settings used.

While it cannot match desktop performance, getting playable FPS at 720p-800p resolution is impressive considering the compact form factor and integrated chip limitations. This allows enjoyment of PC gaming on-the-go.

How Does The Steam Deck GPU Compare

Compared to other handheld gaming PCs, the Steam Deck showcases stronger graphical capabilities thanks to its custom Van Gogh chip:

Compared to the Switch, Steam Deck‘s more powerful AMD APU architecture and specs give it over twice the graphics processing muscle allowing modern AAA gaming instead of being limited to simpler Nintendo titles.

The Future – Ray Tracing, Upscaling, 8K Output

While the Steam Deck‘s GPU matches 5 year old discrete graphics today, further performance and capability improvements could be unlocked:

• Ray Traced Effects – Van Gogh supports ray accelerators for basic ray tracing, utilizing intelligent upscaling this could viably run simpler implementations in future games
• Upscaling (FSR 2.0, XeSS) – Advanced GPU upscaling techniques like FidelityFX Super Resolution open possibilities to enjoy higher graphical quality by rendering at lower internal resolutions.
• External Display Support – Theoretically the Deck can push 8K 60Hz output to external monitors allowing enjoyment of latest display capabilities when docked.

While integrated graphics face limitations especially thermally in such a compact device, I‘m excited by the Steam Deck‘s graphic possibilities leveraging AMD and Valve‘s specialized expertise in this space.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions regarding the Steam Deck‘s gaming performance or graphical capabilities compared to other handheld PCs!