| + | [title|Steam Deck Fan Noise] |
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| + | |
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| + | == First Steps == |
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| + | |
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| + | Before undertaking any of the more time consuming solutions below, these are a few fundamentals to get you started. |
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| + | |
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| + | * Restart the device. Especially if you have not done so recently. This can clear our any minor hiccups, or bugs resulting from long uptime. |
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| + | ** To do this within the Operating System, press Steam, then navigate to ''Power > Restart.'' |
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| + | ** Alternatively you can do a restart by pressing and holding the power button for three seconds. A force shutdown can be accomplished by continuing to hold for ten full seconds if necessary. |
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| + | * Check for updates |
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| + | ** Press the Steam button |
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| + | ** Click System in the sidebar. |
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| + | ** Select Check for Updates. Available updates will prompt to install once found. |
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| + | * Perform a visual inspection of the vent grill along the top edge. This is where air from the fan is blown out. |
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| + | ** Make certain airflow is good (can you feel air coming out?). |
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| + | ** If it looks dusty from the outside or you can hear the fan, but feel no airflow, skip ahead to the Dusty Internals section. |
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| + | |
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| + | == Running Old Software == |
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| + | |
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| + | Although this was mentioned already, it bears repeating. Due in part to early complaints about fan noise, several patches were issued specifically to address these concerns. Beyond tweaks to the operating system, the ability to adjust the fan curve on your Steam Deck was introduced via update. |
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| + | |
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| + | * This Setting is located within the System menu at the bottom. It has the original fan curve, a new stock fan curve, and the ability to set a custom one. |
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| + | |
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| + | == Under Heavy Load == |
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| + | |
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| + | It’s nearly inevitable that you will want to play a game that is more graphically demanding than a Steam Deck can handle at the settings you indicated. Or you might just like to test the limits. When you make a computer do heavy work, high fan speeds are the devices way of compensating for the additional heat this work generates. |
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| + | * Try running something more lightweight and see if the fan noise lessens. |
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| + | * Lower the graphics settings of the game you’re playing. It might not look as pretty, but it could improve the performance of your Steam Deck, and decrease the need for such heavy fan spin. |
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| + | |
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| + | == Dusty Internals == |
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| + | |
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| + | Just like your desktop computer, a Steam Deck can become laden with dust. This could choke off systems trying to exhaust hot air. Higher internal temperatures lead to higher fan speeds. This is the system attempting to compensate for higher than normal temperatures. |
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| + | * [guide|148893|Pop off the back|new_window=true] and give the internals a good cleaning with some compressed air. |
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| + | ** You may want to [guide|148903|remove the fan|new_window=true] to get at the fins on the heat sink. Anything larger than a few specks of dust might get caught here as the hot air carrying it slips through. |
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| + | == Type of Fan In Use == |
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| + | There was some controversy shortly after launch regarding both the noise level of the fan, and also the quality of noise the fan was generating. It became a common gripe–the fan was too loud, and had an unpleasant tone. It came to light that fans from two different manufacturers had been used during Steam Deck production. |
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| + | |
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| + | # A fan from Huaying was used in some production runs. Early units sent out for review also contained the Huaying fan. |
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| + | # A fan from Delta was introduced at some point due to availability and appears in other units. |
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| + | You can check the type of fan and any other part in your Steam Deck within ''Settings > System > Model/Serial Numbers.'' This is a [link|https://www.ifixit.com/News/67542/steam-deck-has-a-parts-inventory-now|list of all the components in your specific device|new_window=true] as it was manufactured, and serial numbers for any it can source. |
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