A modder has stripped the motherboard out of a Steam Deck and integrated the components into a custom, Game Boy-shaped shell to create a pocket-sized handheld dubbed the "SteamBoy."
Quick Facts
- Creator: Reddit user Good-District1252
- Components used: Functional LCD Steam Deck motherboard, battery, speakers, and face buttons
- Cooling solution: Custom 3D-printed mount housing a tiny 30x7mm fan and heatsink, paired with undervolted CPU and GPU settings
- Tested software: Maintained temperatures in the 70s while running Tunic and in the 80s while playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Hardware Modifications and Cooling
Slimming down Valve's portable hardware required a complete overhaul of the cooling architecture. The creator installed a compact 30x7mm fan paired with a custom heatsink inside a 3D-printed mount. To manage thermal output in the dramatically smaller form factor, both the CPU and GPU were undervolted.
According to the project documentation, this thermal setup kept operating temperatures in the 70-degree range while running Tunic, and reached the 80-degree range during sessions of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Remaining Display Challenges
While the internal hardware, battery, and face buttons are housed within the Nintendo-inspired shell, the built-in display remains disconnected. Current footage showing the device running relies on an external video source rather than the internal Steam Deck screen.
Establishing native display functionality requires building a custom adapter to bridge the motherboard and the screen, alongside modifications to the Steam Deck BIOS. The creator notes that completing this final integration phase remains a work in progress.