Engineering samples of widely anticipated consoles or accessories typically command hefty prices when they surface on the open market. That’s precisely what happened with a Steam Deck prototype, recently spotted on eBay by a savvy user from the r/SteamDeck subreddit.
Imagine the excitement when this prototype, closely resembling the images Valve has teased in the past, hit the auction block. This specific unit boasted an AMD APU with Picasso silicon dating back to 2019. While it initially carried a $3,000 price tag, it ultimately changed hands for a cool $2,000.
Dubbed “Engineering Sample 34,” this Steam Deck prototype distinguishes itself from the standard model with its unique blue accents, a more pronounced curved design, circular trackpads, and what seems to be some kind of sensor affixed to the right joystick.
The back cover brazenly displays a “Not for resale” sticker—clearly, that didn’t deter the seller one bit.
Valve churned out various engineering samples during the developmental phase for internal evaluations, making it tricky to determine this model’s exact vintage. Its older APU suggests it was crafted to evaluate mechanical features before finalizing the retail specifications, hinting at a creation period around 2019 or 2020.
One intriguing tidbit from the seller: the prototype lacks an operating system, notably SteamOS. Notable details in the listing, captured by Notebookcheck, reveal some intriguing specs. Valve apparently experimented with older prototypes using an unnamed AMD Picasso (Ryzen 3000 mobile) chip, sporting up to four Zen+ cores and a GCN 5.0 (Vega) based integrated GPU. These architectural differences equate to significant performance disparities compared to what the retail models boast today.
Additionally, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, it seems anemic compared to the current models offering 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, except perhaps when compared to the budget-friendly 64GB eMMC version. In comparison, AMD’s Aerith and Sephiroth APUs are miles ahead in performance.
Now, all eyes are on the mysterious buyer. If it’s a hardware reviewer or analyst, there’s a possibility we’ll see an intricate breakdown of this custom Picasso chip and insight into the evolution of the Steam Deck’s design. However, it’s equally plausible that a collector might keep their prized find under wraps.
Valve has given a heads-up to fans eager for a Steam Deck successor: patience is a virtue. A new version won’t appear until more advanced processors are ready to hit the market.
