Recently, a user named cheater00 shared their experience of installing an aluminum alloy back plate on their LCD Steam Deck. They clarified that the test was conducted without making any other changes to the device, such as reapplying thermal paste, updating the BIOS, or altering settings. The user ran the game The Outer Worlds for three hours without any input on the Steam Deck. The initial test used the plastic back plate, while the second test involved the aluminum plate. Here’s how both performed in comparison:
Performance Comparison
The findings seem to favor the aluminum back plate, but there are some issues to consider. The user noted that the plate did not fit well on the back of the Steam Deck, causing the L1 and R1 triggers to stick. To fix this, the user had to loosen the screws that were near the inputs. Furthermore, some comments on the post raised concerns that the extra ventilation holes in the aluminum panel could hinder the Steam Deck’s ability to effectively use forced airflow for cooling internal components, like the charging IC.
Pricing and Availability
Additionally, the cost of the aluminum back plate is on the higher side for Steam Deck modifications. It is primarily sold by vendors on Aliexpress, with prices starting at over $120 and some listings going as high as $227, excluding shipping fees. Given this steep price, it might take some time before more Steam Deck users decide to try out this modification.
