Steam Deck Problems
Discussion
Looks like I may have a developing problem .... Deck has been faultless for the few weeks I've had it until a few days ago when games started crashing in game and in menu.
It was a very similar crash.
Game would freeze then screen would go black then come back on for a second then go black again but you could often still hear the sound OR the game would just bomb straight back to steam.
I had been messing around with emulators and other stuff so thought OK I've screwed something here so downloaded the image and did a nice clean wipe and only installed approved working games.
Nothing changed.
Tried different versions of Proton - Same.
Tried running only from Nvme drive - Same.
Moved over from Stable to Beta - Same
Then I found this thread :
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions...
I tried all the fixes on there - Same
So i'm pretty gutted but dont want to send the device back because i'm using it all the time !
Today I managed 3 solid hours with 4 crashes. 2 Immediately when launching the game. One in game after an hour or so and another maybe an hour later. I can live with that for the moment but .....
Even though I really, really dont want it to be a hardware problem it's looking like it maybe which is a double pain as I have put a screen protector on that went on very well for a change !
Deck runs flawlessly for a few weeks then starts playing up there had been no OS / Firmware updates.
So my plan of action is to give it plenty of use and if continues move over to Preview from Beta. If it continues move back to Stable and hopefully not too bad until the next proper Stable update is released,
If it continues after that or gets so bad I cant stand it then i'll have to RMA
It was a very similar crash.
Game would freeze then screen would go black then come back on for a second then go black again but you could often still hear the sound OR the game would just bomb straight back to steam.
I had been messing around with emulators and other stuff so thought OK I've screwed something here so downloaded the image and did a nice clean wipe and only installed approved working games.
Nothing changed.
Tried different versions of Proton - Same.
Tried running only from Nvme drive - Same.
Moved over from Stable to Beta - Same
Then I found this thread :
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions...
I tried all the fixes on there - Same
So i'm pretty gutted but dont want to send the device back because i'm using it all the time !
Today I managed 3 solid hours with 4 crashes. 2 Immediately when launching the game. One in game after an hour or so and another maybe an hour later. I can live with that for the moment but .....
Even though I really, really dont want it to be a hardware problem it's looking like it maybe which is a double pain as I have put a screen protector on that went on very well for a change !
Deck runs flawlessly for a few weeks then starts playing up there had been no OS / Firmware updates.
So my plan of action is to give it plenty of use and if continues move over to Preview from Beta. If it continues move back to Stable and hopefully not too bad until the next proper Stable update is released,
If it continues after that or gets so bad I cant stand it then i'll have to RMA
That's disappointing. Mine is hopefully going to arrive this week.
Have you browsed the subreddit? Quite a few posts you can search like this one.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/wzfp3i...
What are your temps like? I've heard some people getting significantly better performance from redoing the factory thermal paste.
Have you browsed the subreddit? Quite a few posts you can search like this one.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/wzfp3i...
What are your temps like? I've heard some people getting significantly better performance from redoing the factory thermal paste.
I’ll have a look at that thread tomoz. Temps ok.
Mrs taken to hospital tonight with low oxy stats and trouble breathing so maybe a few days before I can update.
It such an amazing device I wouldn’t worry about yours it looks like they have a good replacement system going if needed.
My only concern is how I’ll cope without it !
Mrs taken to hospital tonight with low oxy stats and trouble breathing so maybe a few days before I can update.
It such an amazing device I wouldn’t worry about yours it looks like they have a good replacement system going if needed.
My only concern is how I’ll cope without it !
Done some testing today ....
It's so odd ...
Usual crashes ... Moved onto Preview - Crashes stopped...
Interesting it did install an update saying stopped a crash caused by Bluetooth. I'm using Sony Headphones....
Played all afternoon a good 3 hours ... Perfect...
Turned on after 45 min break.... 3 Identical crashes within 20 seconds of launching game.
4th Launch played OK for 30 mins then had to leave....
It's so odd ...
Usual crashes ... Moved onto Preview - Crashes stopped...
Interesting it did install an update saying stopped a crash caused by Bluetooth. I'm using Sony Headphones....
Played all afternoon a good 3 hours ... Perfect...
Turned on after 45 min break.... 3 Identical crashes within 20 seconds of launching game.
4th Launch played OK for 30 mins then had to leave....
This is a troubleshooting summery a poster on the Steam thread created. I've tried everything on here now and I'm getting the ring gfx_0.0.0 timeout in the logs.
I've still not given up yet but it's starting to look like an RMA :-(
Since there has been a lot of confusion about different problems, I wanted to create an overview to the problem:
The issue we are talking about looks like this: https://imgur.com/a/ajplNv1
Basically the frame stops, after a 1-3 seconds the screen turns black, and the frame returns. The audio keeps playing, but you need to exit the game via Steam menu. This problem can happen to all games, irrespective of the "Steam Deck verified" status.
Things to try:
1. Reset the steamdeck by doing the volumedown + quick access + turn on
2. Factory reset the unit
3. Try different proton versions (including experimental (including bleeding edge))
4. (Optional) Try different proton launch options
5. Try block the light sensor (which regulates brightness) or turn off auto brightness
6. Verifying game files
7. Check whether your microSD is faulty (try playing without the microSD card)
8. Put the steam deck into storage/battery mode ((a) Power the Steam Deck down normally (choose Shut Down from the Power menu).(b) Hold down the Volume+ button and press the power button. The Steam Deck should boot into the BIOS menu. (c) Using the D-Pad and A to select, navigate to "Setup Utility". (d) Navigate to the Power Menu. (e) Choose Battery storage mode, and confirm. (f) You should see the Steam Deck power off, and the power LED will blink three times to confirm battery storage mode. Wait a few minutes, then plug the Steam Deck in to the provided power supply and turn on the Steam Deck.)
9. Re-image the steam deck (https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1B71-EDF2-EB6D-2BB3)
10. (Optional) This happened to temporarily work for me: set the GPU clock to max. Everything working fine now, but every other clock produces the same error? GPU at fault.
11. If you fully want to verify that the GPU is at fault, go to desktop mode, launch the console, use journalctl and look for amdgpu erros. The problem should be ring gfx_0.0.0 timeout.
If you tried everything above, and nothing has improved (and you get conclusive evidence from 10 and 11), then I would recommend to start the RMA process. I would not start the RMA process before doing the steps above (and the support will ask you to do some of the steps mentioned above).
The RMA process can take 10 more business days. This means you might not have the deck for up to three weeks.
My new unit works flawlessly.
Hope this helps other (old and new) people in this thread.
I've still not given up yet but it's starting to look like an RMA :-(
Since there has been a lot of confusion about different problems, I wanted to create an overview to the problem:
The issue we are talking about looks like this: https://imgur.com/a/ajplNv1
Basically the frame stops, after a 1-3 seconds the screen turns black, and the frame returns. The audio keeps playing, but you need to exit the game via Steam menu. This problem can happen to all games, irrespective of the "Steam Deck verified" status.
Things to try:
1. Reset the steamdeck by doing the volumedown + quick access + turn on
2. Factory reset the unit
3. Try different proton versions (including experimental (including bleeding edge))
4. (Optional) Try different proton launch options
5. Try block the light sensor (which regulates brightness) or turn off auto brightness
6. Verifying game files
7. Check whether your microSD is faulty (try playing without the microSD card)
8. Put the steam deck into storage/battery mode ((a) Power the Steam Deck down normally (choose Shut Down from the Power menu).(b) Hold down the Volume+ button and press the power button. The Steam Deck should boot into the BIOS menu. (c) Using the D-Pad and A to select, navigate to "Setup Utility". (d) Navigate to the Power Menu. (e) Choose Battery storage mode, and confirm. (f) You should see the Steam Deck power off, and the power LED will blink three times to confirm battery storage mode. Wait a few minutes, then plug the Steam Deck in to the provided power supply and turn on the Steam Deck.)
9. Re-image the steam deck (https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1B71-EDF2-EB6D-2BB3)
10. (Optional) This happened to temporarily work for me: set the GPU clock to max. Everything working fine now, but every other clock produces the same error? GPU at fault.
11. If you fully want to verify that the GPU is at fault, go to desktop mode, launch the console, use journalctl and look for amdgpu erros. The problem should be ring gfx_0.0.0 timeout.
If you tried everything above, and nothing has improved (and you get conclusive evidence from 10 and 11), then I would recommend to start the RMA process. I would not start the RMA process before doing the steps above (and the support will ask you to do some of the steps mentioned above).
The RMA process can take 10 more business days. This means you might not have the deck for up to three weeks.
My new unit works flawlessly.
Hope this helps other (old and new) people in this thread.
Update
3 hours last night and one crash I'm beginning to wonder if it's just certain games. I'm having fun testing stuff ! The crash was as usual : Freeze, black screen with sound, screen flashes back up.
A decent number of YouTube videos with exactly the same thing.
But damn I love this device !! It's totally re-kindled my love of gaming....
3 hours last night and one crash I'm beginning to wonder if it's just certain games. I'm having fun testing stuff ! The crash was as usual : Freeze, black screen with sound, screen flashes back up.
A decent number of YouTube videos with exactly the same thing.
But damn I love this device !! It's totally re-kindled my love of gaming....
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