Exciting times may be ahead for gamers, as recent leaks suggest that the next generation of the Steam Deck might feature AMD’s new Aerith Plus SoC. Valve had previously hinted at a significant performance upgrade for the successor to their popular handheld gaming console, and this latest news aligns with those ambitions.
Unveiled in a shipping manifest, the Aerith Plus SoC is expected to power the Steam Deck 2, boasting a Zen 5-based architecture. This chip promises higher clock speeds and an improved thermal design power (TDP), which enthusiasts will likely appreciate. The new SoC is reported to reach up to a 3.8 GHz boost clock, marking a noteworthy improvement from the original Aerith’s 3.5 GHz.
The power efficiency that made the first Steam Deck stand out seems to carry over, but with increased capabilities. While the predecessor operated within a 4-15W TDP, the Aerith Plus could push this boundary to a 20W maximum. Alongside, its GPU appears to have received a boost, with clock speeds potentially reaching 1.8 GHz—up from the earlier 1.6 GHz.
One of the more substantial upgrades might come in the form of memory. The anticipated shift to Samsung’s 8533 MT/s LPDDR5X memory signifies another leap in performance over the existing model’s 6400 MT/s LPDDR5. This change, when combined with the enhanced APU, not only points to beefier processing power but also paves the way for smoother and more responsive gaming experiences.
The expected integration of RDNA 3.5 architecture could significantly elevate the graphical performance, going beyond the current 8 Compute Units seen in the RDNA 2 setup. While specifics are still under wraps, the potential inclusion of up to 12 Compute Units could dramatically enhance visuals.
Though much of this is yet to be officially confirmed, and details remain sparse, excitement is building among gamers eager for the next iteration. With the Steam Deck’s reputation for compact power, the forthcoming model might bring a new benchmark in handheld gaming. The wait for an official announcement continues, but the prospect of a release next year adds an enticing element to the anticipation. Keep an eye out for updates, as they could shake up the gaming landscape once more.
