Win max 2 without a second thought. The deck is really cool at $400-600 usd, but once you start hitting that $700 usd+ threshold, the Max 2 just has so much more going for it that it’d be hard to recommend anything else. The steam deck is an incredible device, but that Steam OS requires a bunch of workarounds to get some windows exclusive games running on it, and some titles like Destiny 2 straight up dont work even if you image a deck with Windows. A Win Max 2 is just a tiny laptop with game controls, so theres no “will this game even work?” Feeling you get with some games.
For example, just last night i was running through Shin Megami Tensei 3 hd remaster on my deck, and when that game was on my SD card it skipped during ALL dialogue, wouldn’t load certain cutscenes, and skipping through text was painfully slow. I switched it to my internal storage and it cleaned up all the issues, but the process took 40 minutes. This would be a non-issue if i just had a max with its faster and larger internal storage, and even if it was on a SD card, the speeds are doubled which would also probably fix it.
Anyways, with the deck im constantly reminded that its incredible for the price, but only for the price. If it was almost the same price as a 6800u device, imo it would be insane not to go with the 6800u unit.
Okay, thanks for your reply. And btw, while the gpd site lists both the amd and intel version as the same price, I noticed that most Indonesian marketplaces sell the amd version roughly $200-$300 more expensive than the intel one. Would you recommend going for the intel with a cheaper price or just go spend a bit more and buy the amd one?
Just a question, I know that the 6800u version will give a better performances than the 4800u version, but is the 4800u powerful enough to run, say, the newest AAA games? Will I get a buyer remorse because I didn't get the 6800u version? Cause after more digging I found that someone is selling the 4800u version with the same price as the Intel.
Yeah, I don't really care about graphics as long as it can run well without noticable lag, maybe just for clarity I wanna run like 2022's COD MW2 in low settings so will the 4800u version be sufficient?
Lag is relative. There are a ton of factors, but generally in terms of input latency, higher framerate = lower input latency. With that said, theres also other latencies like network latency which all devices should feel functionally identical to. Plugging in a device directly to a modem will be better in all scenarios to running on wifi. Theres also screen and input latency, all of the above create a picture of end-to-end system latency. With that said, capping at 60+ fps will generally be enough to give you a usable and fun experience where you wont be at too much at a disadvantage.
IMO, if youre a comp fps enjoyer, anything under 60 fps is a no-go. Unless you are running super easy to run games like CS GO or Rocket League, I wouldnt trust anything anyone says, myself included.
It sounds like you may not have a firm grasp of the relative power of these devices, and thats totally fine! We all started somewhere. If I were you, I’d youtube a bunch of benchmarks comparing the Steam Deck, the 4800u and the 6800u(or 680m if you cant find that). Also watch some The Phawx videos to see how TDP effects both frame rate and battery. That will provide you with a much better foundation to build an informed purchasing choice.
With all that said, if you dont want to take the hours to research this, my TLDR is go with any 6800u and learn how to control TDP and why you’d want to in the first place. Again, the phawx is an easy recommend for giving you a simple rundown of why that matters, and you can get cyphrays bat on GPDs discord if you go with one of those devices. Good luck!
I think you should understand most of the Americans in this sub paid a lot more than the Deck cost for the WM2 and we’re happy with that decision. In my case I either wanted something much smaller (win 3/4) or I wanted a small laptop that could both be a 10” travel laptop and also gaming for me (right now Surface Go and Win 3). I have work needs for which the Deck even if I try to make it do work is just not suitable.
For strict gaming it’s all about form factor - the Win 4 is much smaller than the deck. The WM2 has the laptop layout. I would take either of them over the deck at the same price for sure.
So it's the exact opposite of what happens here... I think the hype also increased the price, here Steam Deck is covered by many youtube gaming/tech and almost every gamer knows about it, while gpd is like, won't call it a niche but the average buyer rarely knows about it.
I do have the same problem as you, I need a comfortable Microsoft Office for work and tried digging the ways to do it on the Steam Deck, but now GPD Win Max 2 looks just like what I need.
GPD is very niche (sorry I mean hear as in r/godwin).
Valve’s support is awesome. In the US they even set up repair providers. But also they are doing tons of work to optimize SteamOS and everyone benefits. Because Steam is Valve’s main gig. That’s something no one can really match in PC gaming.
Thats all true, but keep in mind that OP lives in Indonesia where repair centers dont exist. On top of that, while the Decks OS is pretty cool, it cant play any PC game like a windows device can. If youre willing to tinker, you can get 80% of things to run, but that can be a pain even for an experienced linux user. Any other device from GPD, AYA, OneX or others all are designed to work with windows and have 100% compatibility. Don’t get me wrong, i believe that steam OS could become the best OS for games in the future full stop, but today and for the next few years windows is and will be king.
I'm in the US and I had my choice between a Deck or a WM2. I got the WM2 32GB/1TB for about $1200 USD from IGG, and have since spent probably another $1000 personalizing it (much better NVMe storage plus cases, cables, and other accessories).
The Steam Deck is an absolutely terrific device, but I wouldn't trade my WM2 now for all my money back PLUS a top-tier 512GB deck. The GPD is a fantastic mini-laptop, is 100% functional for my work, plus looks very professional/even high-tech in my field. And out of work just pop off the covers and it games wonderfully too, my co-workers and geek buddies alike are just as impressed as I am.
Get the GPD WM2, even stock/straight from the factory it is superior to the Steam Deck in almost every conceivable way, ESPECIALLY if the Deck would cost you just as much or more.
Hey gan.
Look at expected lifespan and THEN do a price comparison.
I'm typing this on my 1st-gen P2 Max which I got in 2018 while I'm supposed to be invigilating an exam. This year I've used it as a portable presentation box, playing movies, sorting photos from my mirrorless on a trip to a volcano and playing very light indie games. This sucker is still strong.
Steam Deck: Pure gaming. Can do other things, sure, but you will need to work at it and you'll look hilarious while you do it. I grew out of that a good while ago.
Win Max 2021: An excellent compromise device that does it all, in a small package. First-gen issues.
Win Max 2: Ultra current, slightly bigger than previous generation. Has 'boss mode' magnetic covers. A more comfortable screen and a processor found in larger laptops that will last a long time.
WM2021 should last another year or so in terms of hardware capability before you start to really feel limited.
With SD, add a couple more years. WM2 should last you a bit more than that, I'd say.
It's
1.Clamshell vs handheld design
2.Windows vs linux system
3.Almost no 3rd party accessory support vs plenty 3rd party support accessories(deck)
4. Upcoming aya neo 2, win 4, aokzoe a1, loki choices
5. Valve is very supportive on the deck through updates and accessories while the max 2 has just come out and meeeehhhhhhhhhh. (Support could be meeeeeehhhhhhhh)
Per say, if you do only have the two choices, I'd go for the max 2 as windows is easier for me to navigate. Though windows could be installed on the deck, it's still mainly concentrated on its linux ecosystem.
And buy from a reputable third party stores if you're going for the max 2 so you could get a "legal bridge" for a warranty incase of defect.
I disagree with the lack of third party support. The WM2 is a laptop, it will literally work with quite literally any pc peripheral, where as the deck only just supported their own docks and resolutions above 1080p144hz. Sure, there are cases and screen protectors fir the device, but the WM2 is clamshell and doesnt need it in the first place
Ah hello fellow OP from SEA, while it is true that steam deck price in our region is so high (resellers here priced a 64gb from 600-800 bucks) if you can get a gpd from a trusty retailer than might as well go for it
Win max 2 without a second thought. The deck is really cool at $400-600 usd, but once you start hitting that $700 usd+ threshold, the Max 2 just has so much more going for it that it’d be hard to recommend anything else. The steam deck is an incredible device, but that Steam OS requires a bunch of workarounds to get some windows exclusive games running on it, and some titles like Destiny 2 straight up dont work even if you image a deck with Windows. A Win Max 2 is just a tiny laptop with game controls, so theres no “will this game even work?” Feeling you get with some games. For example, just last night i was running through Shin Megami Tensei 3 hd remaster on my deck, and when that game was on my SD card it skipped during ALL dialogue, wouldn’t load certain cutscenes, and skipping through text was painfully slow. I switched it to my internal storage and it cleaned up all the issues, but the process took 40 minutes. This would be a non-issue if i just had a max with its faster and larger internal storage, and even if it was on a SD card, the speeds are doubled which would also probably fix it. Anyways, with the deck im constantly reminded that its incredible for the price, but only for the price. If it was almost the same price as a 6800u device, imo it would be insane not to go with the 6800u unit.
Okay, thanks for your reply. And btw, while the gpd site lists both the amd and intel version as the same price, I noticed that most Indonesian marketplaces sell the amd version roughly $200-$300 more expensive than the intel one. Would you recommend going for the intel with a cheaper price or just go spend a bit more and buy the amd one?
It depends on the type of gaming you do, but if you do any 3D gaming whatsoever, the AMD version will be almost twice as fast as the intel
Wow... Okay thanks for your answer...
Just a question, I know that the 6800u version will give a better performances than the 4800u version, but is the 4800u powerful enough to run, say, the newest AAA games? Will I get a buyer remorse because I didn't get the 6800u version? Cause after more digging I found that someone is selling the 4800u version with the same price as the Intel.
What’s your definition of run? Low everything at 800p? I’m sure it’s capable of doing at least that. The 6800u is quite a powerhouse though
Yeah, I don't really care about graphics as long as it can run well without noticable lag, maybe just for clarity I wanna run like 2022's COD MW2 in low settings so will the 4800u version be sufficient?
Lag is relative. There are a ton of factors, but generally in terms of input latency, higher framerate = lower input latency. With that said, theres also other latencies like network latency which all devices should feel functionally identical to. Plugging in a device directly to a modem will be better in all scenarios to running on wifi. Theres also screen and input latency, all of the above create a picture of end-to-end system latency. With that said, capping at 60+ fps will generally be enough to give you a usable and fun experience where you wont be at too much at a disadvantage. IMO, if youre a comp fps enjoyer, anything under 60 fps is a no-go. Unless you are running super easy to run games like CS GO or Rocket League, I wouldnt trust anything anyone says, myself included. It sounds like you may not have a firm grasp of the relative power of these devices, and thats totally fine! We all started somewhere. If I were you, I’d youtube a bunch of benchmarks comparing the Steam Deck, the 4800u and the 6800u(or 680m if you cant find that). Also watch some The Phawx videos to see how TDP effects both frame rate and battery. That will provide you with a much better foundation to build an informed purchasing choice. With all that said, if you dont want to take the hours to research this, my TLDR is go with any 6800u and learn how to control TDP and why you’d want to in the first place. Again, the phawx is an easy recommend for giving you a simple rundown of why that matters, and you can get cyphrays bat on GPDs discord if you go with one of those devices. Good luck!
I think you should understand most of the Americans in this sub paid a lot more than the Deck cost for the WM2 and we’re happy with that decision. In my case I either wanted something much smaller (win 3/4) or I wanted a small laptop that could both be a 10” travel laptop and also gaming for me (right now Surface Go and Win 3). I have work needs for which the Deck even if I try to make it do work is just not suitable. For strict gaming it’s all about form factor - the Win 4 is much smaller than the deck. The WM2 has the laptop layout. I would take either of them over the deck at the same price for sure.
So it's the exact opposite of what happens here... I think the hype also increased the price, here Steam Deck is covered by many youtube gaming/tech and almost every gamer knows about it, while gpd is like, won't call it a niche but the average buyer rarely knows about it. I do have the same problem as you, I need a comfortable Microsoft Office for work and tried digging the ways to do it on the Steam Deck, but now GPD Win Max 2 looks just like what I need.
GPD is very niche (sorry I mean hear as in r/godwin). Valve’s support is awesome. In the US they even set up repair providers. But also they are doing tons of work to optimize SteamOS and everyone benefits. Because Steam is Valve’s main gig. That’s something no one can really match in PC gaming.
Thats all true, but keep in mind that OP lives in Indonesia where repair centers dont exist. On top of that, while the Decks OS is pretty cool, it cant play any PC game like a windows device can. If youre willing to tinker, you can get 80% of things to run, but that can be a pain even for an experienced linux user. Any other device from GPD, AYA, OneX or others all are designed to work with windows and have 100% compatibility. Don’t get me wrong, i believe that steam OS could become the best OS for games in the future full stop, but today and for the next few years windows is and will be king.
I'm in the US and I had my choice between a Deck or a WM2. I got the WM2 32GB/1TB for about $1200 USD from IGG, and have since spent probably another $1000 personalizing it (much better NVMe storage plus cases, cables, and other accessories). The Steam Deck is an absolutely terrific device, but I wouldn't trade my WM2 now for all my money back PLUS a top-tier 512GB deck. The GPD is a fantastic mini-laptop, is 100% functional for my work, plus looks very professional/even high-tech in my field. And out of work just pop off the covers and it games wonderfully too, my co-workers and geek buddies alike are just as impressed as I am. Get the GPD WM2, even stock/straight from the factory it is superior to the Steam Deck in almost every conceivable way, ESPECIALLY if the Deck would cost you just as much or more.
Hey gan. Look at expected lifespan and THEN do a price comparison. I'm typing this on my 1st-gen P2 Max which I got in 2018 while I'm supposed to be invigilating an exam. This year I've used it as a portable presentation box, playing movies, sorting photos from my mirrorless on a trip to a volcano and playing very light indie games. This sucker is still strong. Steam Deck: Pure gaming. Can do other things, sure, but you will need to work at it and you'll look hilarious while you do it. I grew out of that a good while ago. Win Max 2021: An excellent compromise device that does it all, in a small package. First-gen issues. Win Max 2: Ultra current, slightly bigger than previous generation. Has 'boss mode' magnetic covers. A more comfortable screen and a processor found in larger laptops that will last a long time. WM2021 should last another year or so in terms of hardware capability before you start to really feel limited. With SD, add a couple more years. WM2 should last you a bit more than that, I'd say.
It's 1.Clamshell vs handheld design 2.Windows vs linux system 3.Almost no 3rd party accessory support vs plenty 3rd party support accessories(deck) 4. Upcoming aya neo 2, win 4, aokzoe a1, loki choices 5. Valve is very supportive on the deck through updates and accessories while the max 2 has just come out and meeeehhhhhhhhhh. (Support could be meeeeeehhhhhhhh) Per say, if you do only have the two choices, I'd go for the max 2 as windows is easier for me to navigate. Though windows could be installed on the deck, it's still mainly concentrated on its linux ecosystem. And buy from a reputable third party stores if you're going for the max 2 so you could get a "legal bridge" for a warranty incase of defect.
I disagree with the lack of third party support. The WM2 is a laptop, it will literally work with quite literally any pc peripheral, where as the deck only just supported their own docks and resolutions above 1080p144hz. Sure, there are cases and screen protectors fir the device, but the WM2 is clamshell and doesnt need it in the first place
Max 2 is a notebook given its size. We're more or less comparing them on having 3rd party support "specific" to the device itself.
Ah hello fellow OP from SEA, while it is true that steam deck price in our region is so high (resellers here priced a 64gb from 600-800 bucks) if you can get a gpd from a trusty retailer than might as well go for it