If you are anything like me, you’re constantly looking to squeeze every last bit of performance out of your Steam Deck, or maybe you’re curious what Valve’s portable PC can really do. Getting the most out of the Deck’s performance is essential as new games increasingly push the system to it’s limits.
Whether you’re getting bogged down by sluggish games that shouldn’t technically be taxing the Deck, or just trying to get the smoothest experience possible on AAA titles, there are several ways to go about improving performance.
Let’s dive into the heart of Steam Deck performance tweaks. Don’t worry, it won’t get too technical (for the most part)—and if it does, well, grab a coffee and stick with me. You’ll thank yourself later.
Step 1: Start With The Basics—SteamOS 3.6 and the Updated Kernel
Now, before you go messing around with the deep stuff, make sure you’ve updated to SteamOS 3.6. This update is no joke. It’s more than just some “bug fixes and improvements” line that you gloss over in update logs. No, this bad boy brings an updated Linux kernel (which sadly still has its limitations), which basically translates to better hardware support, improved battery life, and—importantly—performance gains.
The kernel update might sound boring, but trust me, it’s like giving your Steam Deck a little shot of adrenaline. Better power management means the Deck can run more efficiently, especially when you’re playing those battery-sucking titles. Who doesn’t want better battery life? Exactly. You’d be surprised how much a kernel update can do. I’ve seen noticeable improvements in how the Deck handles everything from AAA games to indie gems.
Step 2: Dial in Your Graphics Settings
Right, let’s get to the meat of it. Graphics settings. Of course you want the best performance, but you don’t want your game to look like something from the early 2000s either (unless it’s an deliberate artistic choice) . It can be a difficult balance to strike, but the Steam Deck gives you the tools to get it just right if you know what you are doing.
Here’s a rule of thumb: don’t push it to 60 FPS on ultra settings unless you want your Deck to become a portable heater. Aim for 30 to 40 FPS on high or medium settings. Most games will still look fantastic on the Steam Deck’s screen—let’s be real, it’s not a 4K display, so ultra settings are often just overkill anyway.
What You Can Tweak
Resolution Scaling: If a game’s too choppy, drop the resolution scale down a notch. The Deck’s 1280×800 screen doesn’t need the full works.
Shadow Quality & Anti-Aliasing: Drop these first. They’re the biggest performance hogs for little visual benefit on a screen this size.
V-Sync Off (most of the time): Turn V-Sync off, especially if the game doesn’t quite hit 60 FPS. No point in forcing it to sync if it’s not getting there.
Step 3: Proton vs. Native—Which Is Better
Here’s where things can get a bit complicated. The Steam Deck, being a Linux-based system, uses a compatibility layer called Proton to run Windows games. But not all Proton versions are equal, and some games work better on one than the other. It’s a bit of trial and error, but switching Proton versions can boost performance and compatibility in most cases.
To check which version works best, you can:
- Right-click (or tap with a bit more intention—hello touchscreen) on the game.
- Go to Properties > Compatibility, and then select a Proton version. You might be surprised how much of a difference this makes for some titles.
Don’t sleep on community feedback either. If there’s one thing Steam Deck users love to do, it’s tinker and share their findings. Sites like ProtonDB are goldmines for finding the best settings for specific games.
Step 4: Power Management—Limit Those Watts
Let’s talk about TDP—thermal design power, or more simply, how much power your CPU and GPU are gobbling up. The Steam Deck lets you adjust this, and it’s one of the most underrated optimisation options. Limiting the power draw can prevent thermal throttling, which is when your Deck overheats and starts tanking performance to cool itself down.
To adjust your TDP:
Hold down the Steam Button to bring up the quick settings menu.
From there, you can tweak the performance settings like frame rate limit, refresh rate, and more importantly, power limits.
This is especially useful for less demanding games. You don’t need to let them gobble up more power than necessary. Lowering the wattage lets your Deck run cooler, quieter, and extends battery life without sacrificing too much performance. And in some cases, it even improves performance since the system won’t throttle due to overheating.
Step 5: Custom Fan Curves—Stay Cool
If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can mess around with custom fan curves. This isn’t something Valve shouts about, but it’s there for the taking. It’s hidden in the settings, but you can adjust how fast the fans spin depending on your Deck’s temperature.
Want a quieter experience when you’re playing lightweight games? Slow those fans down. Got a big boss fight coming up in Elden Ring and don’t mind a bit of noise? Let the fans rip to keep things cool. Just be cautious—you don’t want to fry your Deck by turning them down too much.
Step 6: External Monitors and Docking—Keeping Frame Rates Smooth
When you dock your Steam Deck and throw it up on a larger screen, you’re asking a lot more of the hardware. It’s a bit like asking your mate to carry all the shopping at once—it can do it, but it’s not going to like it.
Here’s the thing: docked mode on a bigger display is going to demand more from your Deck, but by tweaking the resolution and maybe even lowering some settings, you can still get a solid experience without it feeling like a potato.
Key Docking Tips
Lower the resolution to 720p if you’re noticing a drop in frame rates. The Deck isn’t designed to output 4K smoothly, especially for demanding titles.
Turn off V-Sync and lower post-processing effects. You’ll hardly notice them missing when you’re playing on a TV or monitor.
Advanced Users: Going Deeper with CryoUtilities and Other Tweaks
If you’ve already tried the basics and are craving more power, it’s time to step into advanced territory. We’re talking about CryoUtilities and other deep-level tweaks. But a word of caution—this isn’t for the faint of heart, and it can negatively impact performance in CPU-heavy or GPU-heavy games if you’re not careful.
CryoUtilities—Boosting VRAM and Storage Swap
CryoUtilities is a popular tool in the Steam Deck community that allows you to tweak the way your Deck allocates VRAM and handles storage swaps. By default, the Steam Deck allocates 1GB of VRAM to its GPU, but CryoUtilities lets you push this up to 4GB for games that are graphically demanding.
Pros:
Increased VRAM allocation can lead to better performance in GPU-heavy games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2.
It also optimises storage swapping, helping manage the internal SSD when it’s under heavy use.
Cons:
CPU-heavy games can suffer because the Deck has to divert resources to handling this increased load on VRAM. Essentially, your Deck might start bottlenecking if the CPU can’t keep up with the GPU’s demands.
It’s also worth noting that increasing VRAM eats into your available system RAM, which can be detrimental to titles that need more RAM headroom (strategy games or simulation titles, for example).
How to Get CryoUtilities: You can download it from the developer’s GitHub and follow the setup guide. Just be cautious—always make sure you back up your settings before tweaking anything. If you start seeing performance drops, revert to your previous configuration.
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution)—Tweak or Break?
FSR is a fantastic tool that can upscale lower resolutions to look crisper without taking a huge performance hit. But advanced users will know, FSR isn’t a magic bullet for everything. In some CPU-heavy games (Total War, for example), it can actually hurt performance if you push it too hard. Same goes for overly GPU-heavy games—sometimes the upscaling just isn’t enough to compensate for the load.
Best Practice: Enable FSR for games that need that extra graphical push but aren’t already maxing out your GPU. Keep an eye on your frame rates, though, because too much FSR can introduce stuttering if your GPU is already working overtime.
Undervolting—Proceed with Caution
Undervolting your Steam Deck can be a double-edged sword. It can improve battery life and reduce heat (both good things), but if you’re not careful, you could end up causing stability issues or even random crashes. It’s a balance between performance and efficiency.
What It Does: Undervolting reduces the power your CPU and GPU consume, which can lower temperatures and improve performance in some cases (especially with less demanding games). But pushing this too far can cause system instability—so if you’re going to tinker with this, make sure you have a solid understanding of what you’re doing.
Where to Undervolt: You can adjust the Steam Deck’s power settings through the BIOS menu, which gives you access to undervolting options. However, this isn’t something Valve has made widely accessible, so you’ll need to dig into some community guides or forums to learn how to safely implement undervolting on your Deck. Again, tread lightly here—small tweaks can make a big difference, but overdo it, and you could run into crashes or even hardware damage if not done correctly.
Final Thoughts: It’s All About Balance
At the end of the day, the Steam Deck is an impressive piece of kit, but like all hardware, it has its limits – particularly as we enter 2025. The trick to optimising performance isn’t to make every game run at maximum settings but to find that sweet spot where the game looks good and runs smoothly without turning your Deck into a hand warmer. With the 3.6 update and its fresh kernel boost, you’re already one step ahead in the optimisation game. On the OLED, a 45FPS/90hz lock is fantastic.
So, dive into those settings, tinker away, and remember, every game’s different. One might run flawlessly at 60 FPS, and the next might need a bit more compromise. That’s just the nature of gaming on a portable powerhouse like the Deck.
Now, go forth and game—but don’t blame me when you lose track of time tweaking settings instead of playing. We’ve all been there!
