SteamOS 3.5.1: New update promises many improvements and bug fixes - and possibly longer runtimes thanks to undervolting

The Steam Deck is quite a successful handheld. Part of the success may well be the specially adapted - and Linux-based - SteamOS operating system. Valve has been busy here and has recently released a new software update (to version 3.5.1). This is an update in beta stage and is available to all users if they switch to the Steam Deck Preview channel as described in the changelog. Users should be aware of the limitations of beta software, which is not necessarily bug-free.

The biggest change is undoubtedly the possibility of undervolting, which means that the APU is supplied with less voltage than actually specified. The chances of success of such attempts depend not least on chance - the specified voltage can be considered a minimum. Due to manufacturing tolerances, some computing chips can get by with less voltage than others. Stable operation at lower voltage ensures less waste heat and can thus also counteract throttling. In addition - particularly relevant for a handheld - the power consumption is also reduced, which benefits battery life.

Furthermore, several errors have been fixed and larger or smaller new functions have been integrated. Several changes concern the use of an external display, including the HDR function. HDR output was previously not possible in 32-bit programs. There was also a lingering bug that always left the internal display active, which has now been amended. Morover, problems with the desktop mode have been fixed, such as errors in the color display that resulted from switching to the plasma desktop. SteamOS 3.5.1 also fixes a bug with memory cards that could occur with faulty file systems.

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