Steam Brick: Steam Deck Gets a Desktop Makeover
Those of us who love the Steam Deck, raise your hands, right? That glorious handheld gaming PC enables you to take any Steam library with you on the go, wherever you might need it. But let's be honest, it isn't really pocket-sized. Well, someone decided to take matters into his own hands-literally-to shrink the Steam Deck down to its bare essentials. The result? The wonderfully named Steam Brick.
Steam Brick Mod - Steam Deck converted to mini PC
Goodbye Screen, Hello Portability (of sorts)
This is no weekend project. This clever hardware enthusiast, who goes by "crastinator-pro," has basically performed a digital lobotomy on a perfectly good Steam Deck. He stripped away the screen, the controllers, basically everything that screams "handheld." What's left is an ultra-compact PC packing all the brains of a Steam Deck into a much smaller package. In other words, one could think about it as a Steam Deck unplugged from the body.
Now, before you run off disassembling your Steam Deck, a word of caution: this is most definitely in the "experts only, proceed at your own risk" category. There's no detailed guide yet, and tinkering like this could void your warranty-and quite possibly your Steam Deck entirely. But let's get real, if you wanted a mini PC for gaming, you could buy one right off the shelf. Where's the fun in that?
Why a Steam Brick? The (Slightly Crazy) Logic
Why does anyone do all this? To be cool, of course. But going beyond that, Steam Brick does have some interesting advantages, in fact:
- Smaller Footprint: It is much smaller and lighter compared to a regular Steam Deck-about 24% lighter, to be more specific. Easier to throw into your bag, isn't it?
- Durability Boost: No screen to break. Arguably, the Steam Deck sans display is just more rugged and will be more travel-friendly-in a weird, desktop-on-the-go kind of way.
- The Battery's Still In: Yep, the battery's still in there, which means you could theoretically game wirelessly with a controller and a portable display like VR glasses. Imagine truly mobile desktop gaming.
The Catch (There's Always a Catch)
Of course, the Steam Brick isn't without its quirks:
- No Built-in Display or Controls: Obvious, but worth stating. You'll need to plug in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse (or controllers) to actually use it.
- DIY Project: This isn't something you can buy. It's a hard-core mod for advanced tinkerers.
- Potential Risks: Disassembling electronics always carries risks. You could damage your Steam Deck beyond repair.
The Steam Brick is just one example of DIY ingenuity. It's just a sign that the Steam Deck is that versatile and creative a platform for the modding community to mess around with. For sure, it's probably not the best way to get a mini PC, but it's undeniably cool. Just remember, if you're thinking of trying this at home, you're entering uncharted territory. But for the rest of us, it's fun to admire from afar.
