r/SteamDeckModded • u/PhyFawkes • Aug 08 '26
Hardware Mod The SteamBoy (WIP)
A few months ago I had the idea: "The steam deck motherboard seems pretty small. I wonder if you could make a steam deck the size of a gameboy?"
Well, it's not done yet, but the SteamBoy is coming along great! It has a fully functional LCD steam deck motherboard, battery, speakers, and all the face buttons you see here. No custom PCBs needed (so far), and all within the dimensions of a Gameboy.
The only thing left to get working is the screen, but this is a much harder task than any of the other parts. The screen I'm using is a 1200x1080, 90hz AMOLED panel, originally intended for VR. To make it work, I need to make a custom adapter PCB between the steam deck ribbon cable and the display. I also need to mod the bios the same way that DeckHD and Deck Sight do.
For cooling, I got a small 30x7mm fan and heatsink from AliExpress and 3D printed a custom mount for them. It actually works surprisingly well! After undervolting by -50mV on the cpu and gpu, it could keep temps in the 70s for Tunic, and temps in the 80s for Clair Obscur. Not bad for such a tiny fan!
I'll probably make a follow-up post as well went I have new progress to report. Let me know what you think!
EDIT: Check out my follow-up posts!
SteamBoy demo video: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeckModded/s/wy7Ufqaxat
SteamBoy teardown: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeckModded/s/MxIi5vXqRc
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u/nekomichi Aug 08 '26
Every time I think I've seen the end-game of Steam Deck mods, someone comes along and is like "hold my beer". This is incredible.
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u/OverDeMoon Aug 09 '26
Waiting for the alternative of the Steam Machine.
The Steam Station and Steam Box
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u/Silevence Aug 10 '26
steamboard, entire device inside of a keyboard.
tbh you could do this with the steam deck id imagine.
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u/javireddit1988 Aug 08 '26
That is fucking amazing dude, keep updating please
Its not fresh, its ULTRA FRESH!
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u/syberphunk Aug 09 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
The interface board is probably the most awkward part, the pinout is in a proprietary datasheet. The decksight makers might help you, they made a converter board.
Getting the screen to work requires modding some embedded controller firmware code in the bios, then you'll need to use a chip programmer every time the bios updates to restore it to a working state, unless you mod the bios version to be a version higher than steamos will ever update it to. I might be able to help with a signed BIOS once you've done the modifications.
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u/PhyFawkes Aug 09 '26
I already have the pinouts. Check my recent posts; someone posted them in this sub.
For the bios mod, check out this tool: https://github.com/djanice1980/SD-APCB-Tool
It's on paper for changing RAM configurations, but it also has options for other screens like DeckHD and Deck Sight. It seems pretty straightforward what modifications this tool does for screens, so I can use that as a guide for what to do to make my screen work (in theory).
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u/Greedy-Vegetable1055 Aug 08 '26
With a screen this size, makes me wonder if the deck could be the size of a Vita, it would need smaller buttons and joysticks. But it would work size wise.
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u/Impossible-Poetry848 Aug 09 '26
When it really shows how the screen is a major reason it’s the size it is heh
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u/BananaBreadBangs Aug 08 '26
This shit just makes my brain so confused in the best way about how people pull this shit off haha. So awesome dude. Can’t wait to hear more about it
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u/Kanjo19 Hardware modder Aug 09 '26
Now you need to print in Nintendo Gray with red SteamBoy logo on front
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u/cheater00 Aug 08 '26
if you make the case out of alu the cooling will be much much easier. just cover it in a layer of plastic where you're holding it so it's not uncomfortable.
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u/CLONE0AZUL69 Aug 08 '26
I got an idea similar to this but using a sega game gear case. The thing is that it might need a lot of fundings and right now im unemployed so had to stop my dumb projects. How is temperature going with the size? Also, how much trimming did you had to do for the motherboard and how did you manage to shrip that much the controller boards? Any chances of seeing the insides? Pd: Great work
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u/PhyFawkes Aug 08 '26
The motherboards and controller boards are fully intact. All I had to do was position stuff carefully and use longer ribbon cables in some areas. Like I said in another comment, it's really a miracle that everything can fit unaltered in this form factor.
I'll make a follow-up post soon showing the internals.
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u/AyezRed Aug 09 '26
Is that pla? Id use petg personally, if you drop it it might not shatter.
I think the project is super dope. Having that track pad on there is genius.
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u/PhyFawkes Aug 09 '26
Yes, it's petg. For the flexibility and the heat tolerance.
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u/PeelMyPotatoes Aug 08 '26
Honestly, I seriously thought about doing something similar a while back but getting the mipi port to work with a different display sounded awful. Since you have a working prototype, though, maybe reach out to those DeckHD dudes
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u/frosch_longleg Aug 08 '26
I mean both the steam deck and the screen surely are MIPI DSI so good luck in making them talk together. I have some (limited) knowledge about MIPI DSI and I would hate to do this.
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u/ApprehensiveTune731 Aug 09 '26
This would be such a good option for people who dont want the huge handheld, amazing work
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u/Blvckme Aug 09 '26
Do you have this document somewhere like YouTube? I wanna see the process, this is by far the coolest thing I’ve seen this week.
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u/AverageNuggetEnjoyer Aug 10 '26
This is genuinely one of the coolest things I've seen for ages and is also incredibly impressive. Goodluck with that screen!
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u/Duhhangryboyz Aug 13 '26
Being disabled the steam boy would be the only way I could play Steam games natively. I can run a few games on my phone with game native but with hardware running Steam OS that's vertical. Just take my money already.
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u/Ornery_Run2700 Aug 08 '26
Without reading anything OP wrote because I'm tired at work: making that tiny screen work would actually be so incredible 🤯.
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u/nissan_al-gaib Aug 08 '26
Impressive but bro the ergonomics look horrendous.
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u/PhyFawkes Aug 08 '26
Lol you're not wrong. But given my self-imposed constraints on the dimensions, there's not much I could do differently. Tbh, I feel like it actually came out pretty decent considering the layout is pretty much forced by the internal geometry.
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u/Correct-Prize7268 Aug 08 '26
This is one of the coolest projects I've ever seen i hope you succeed
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u/TunderMuffins Aug 08 '26
This is amazing! I can’t wait to see the final product! Very interested to build one myself!!!
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u/Weird0Celery Aug 08 '26
Super nice work my man! Hopefully someone does a SD mini in a GBA Formfactor one day including a trsckpad
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u/VirtualImpression330 Aug 08 '26
It’s awesome but to be devils
Advocate… what do games look like in 10:9?
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u/goodguyatheist Aug 08 '26
thats so cool! When I was in middle school, I used to mod 360s I had a store on an insanely popular modding site back then called xbox360iso I made so much fucking money for a 13-year-old. I was devastated when the one came out lol my business stopped overnight. I stopped doing tech stuff and got into drugs.... biggest regret of my life I didnt keep it up and learn how to do cool shit like this.
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u/SpeedsterJulzz Aug 08 '26
This concept is amazing ,is it just me that think the dpad and analog stick swapped would be more ideal?
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u/toneyhauk Aug 08 '26
Post this on the main sub and you'll get comments like "but why?" LOL
Jokes aside. This is absolutely incredible!
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u/RhythmMaid Aug 08 '26
I straight up giggled out loud as I looked through the photos. This is amazing! I am really excited to see it in action once you have finished it!
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u/Team-Royal Aug 08 '26
Unbelievable. As in I don't believe it's really what is claimed.
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u/Historynwrdess Aug 08 '26
This looks so cool. How many hours so far has it taken you to do all this work.
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u/MutherDuckingGridman Aug 09 '26
What are the odds this thing would fit in a R36 case? You could then get some shoulder buttons
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u/miata_and_chill Aug 09 '26
Hey, so can you not finish this project? It'd make me look irresponsible. And also my poor wallet.
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u/lowkenshin Aug 09 '26
I’d love to see a mod to the same form factor as a PS Vita with the power of a Steam Deck OLED.
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u/Nami_Luna Aug 09 '26
This… looks actually pretty playable… like, you can use the trackpad for right stick if needed lol. It’s amazing
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u/Plenty_Preference131 Aug 09 '26
I haven't seen anything greater than this
I think some guy made a Steam Deck Flip before on this subreddit, and this is also really cool
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u/KiteBrite Aug 09 '26
This is amazing and such a great use of an old LCD deck when it reaches end of life. I would love to do this with mine when it eventually gets replaced (hopefully by a Valve successor) so please keep sharing your work and progress!
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u/KVislost Aug 09 '26
What did you do regarding the shoulder buttons and the triggers?
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u/One-handed_Swordman Aug 09 '26
This is brilliant! Can't wait for the day I can bring Steam in my pocket.
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u/Xfifteen Aug 09 '26
Why not a small display that already has a hdmi board and then somehow use a usb c hub to connect?
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u/ProposalWest3152 Aug 09 '26
every day we stray closer to god.
game boy my beloved you will be reborn as a steam boy....where everyone will just emulate game boy games!
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u/license_to_chill Aug 09 '26
Awesome! Have you considered adding the triggers and bumpers on the back? Kind of like how they do it on those Chinese retro handhelds.
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u/_Mister_Anderson_ Aug 09 '26
Can you not ignore the eDP connector and get the video signal from the usb-c port instead? I know you'd sacrifice external display support but at least the firmware wouldn't need editing.
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u/Unlucky_Abroad7440 Aug 09 '26
I guess playing games that are a bit more demanding will not be possible because I of thermal throttling since the the fan is too small and I guess having two fans of the same size isn't possible.
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u/Leon_XIII Aug 09 '26
Ooooook this is actually really sick lol id have an sd card in there with just side scrolling beatemups and some mon catchers or something.
Oh and Tetris baby!!
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u/Milk_monkey69 Aug 09 '26
I’m no tech wizard but I wanted to ask if you instead used bazzite would you still have to mod the bios to use the display? 🤔
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u/PhyFawkes Aug 09 '26
Yes. The problem is not the OS, it's that the firmware on the motherboard tells the OS the wrong display info.
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u/Poromenos Aug 09 '26
Does it actually work, or is it just a box? Can you post a video, or some details of the considerations of the build?
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u/Hidden-Bear-Private Aug 09 '26
That looks great but that joystick looks like it would be impossible to hold properly.
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u/Aggressive-Spray1833 Aug 09 '26
how much would you charge to make one of these (not including cost of a steam deck)
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u/sendmeyourgundams Aug 09 '26
Man, I'd love to learn to do stuff like this but have no idea where I would even begin. Amazing project!
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u/drmiiseeks Aug 09 '26
I was wondering when ppl would actually make stuff like this for DIY projects for broken Decks. Lol I’ve been wanting to see someone make a shell with an I/O board and the Decks main board and turn it into a plug and play mini PC with a custom SoC block for better thermals.
I like this also. Looking to see other posts later. Lol I want to see how cooling and thermals are for that printed shell. It wasn’t PLA was it?
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u/AdTraditional8077 Aug 09 '26
This is hands down the coolest and most impressive thing I've seen this month.
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u/oscastellanos Aug 09 '26
This is amazing! I was just wondering if this would be possible. I love my steam deck but sometimes the ergonomics makes it too uncomfortable to play for periods longer than 20 minutes.
Any chance you would share how you made this possible or are you considering selling these?
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u/Roll4Me Aug 09 '26
Did you do this for a broken for defective Steam Deck? It seems such a shame to take apart a working unit just to shrink it, and lose the other stick and buttons as well.
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u/His_Turdness Aug 09 '26
Next step... Nintendo DS style Steam Deck! Now to think of it... could probably be done with the original Steam Deck LCD screen.
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u/TheSirOcelot Aug 10 '26
What if, for your next project, you take the internals and put them into a box with no screen? Its purpose is to stay connected to the TV at all times.
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u/Silevence Aug 10 '26
holy crap.
id buy one of these in a heartbeat.
any chance you can had the teeth button or steam button on so you can use the lizard mode binds?
(granted, im sure the keyboard wouldnt be usable anymore, but c'est la vi)
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u/sw1zby Aug 10 '26
It's just incredible, good luck with the development. I'd love to see this thing in action
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u/quinprobably Aug 10 '26
I'm curious how hot it would get, was there issues with thermal throttling or is running roughly the same as the normal steam deck?
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u/TheyCallMeDozer Aug 10 '26
Might need to start searching for broken steam decks now.... this is so cool
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u/xesf Aug 11 '26
Such an awesome project. I see myself playing all those 90 DOS and Win9x games in that 4:3 aspect ration 😍
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u/8mm_video Aug 11 '26
hey i made a shitty photoshop of this ages ago
neat to see someone actually make one
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u/Scared_Mix_9317 Aug 11 '26
It would be really cool if the touchpad had a retractile system which stands on top of the right joystick (to be added) when active and then you can hide the right touchpad, and use the right joystick
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u/Altruistic-Curve299 Aug 12 '26
It is cool indeed. However with Armada OS probably Will not be long until It lands in r36s devices like
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u/Chilidogs102 Aug 12 '26
I know its to late to say that but it could be really awseome if that was shap like a ps vita but This one is really Nice Anyways
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u/luc1906 Aug 12 '26
this would be perfect for my nightly slay the spire runs before bed
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u/Bob_SUS Aug 08 '26
this is the coolest thing - please add more details about how you got the whole thing working!