AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU vs AMD Steam Machine GPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark runs between the AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU and the AMD Steam Machine GPU. The head-to-head benchmark table is empty, and neither part lists an average benchmark score or any nearest rivals. As a result, the comparative analysis below draws entirely from the architectural and specification data recorded for each part.

The Steam Machine GPU holds a substantial advantage in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 performance is recorded at 17.56 TFLOPS, while the Steam Deck OLED GPU delivers 1.638 TFLOPS. This represents a 10.7 times difference in favor of the Steam Machine GPU. In FP16 workloads, the Steam Machine GPU again posts 17.56 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, whereas the Steam Deck OLED GPU reaches 3.277 TFLOPS via a 2:1 ratio, meaning the Steam Machine GPU still leads by a factor of 5.4 in this metric.

Pixel throughput tells a similar story. The Steam Machine GPU achieves 156.8 GPixel/s, compared to the Steam Deck OLED GPU’s 25.60 GPixel/s, a 6.1 times advantage. Texture rate favors the Steam Machine GPU even more decisively: 274.4 GTexel/s versus 51.20 GTexel/s, a 5.4 times lead.

Memory bandwidth also differs sharply. The Steam Machine GPU records 288.0 GB/s from its GDDR6 memory, while the Steam Deck OLED GPU provides 176.0 GB/s from LPDDR5. That is a 1.6 times gap. The Steam Machine GPU also runs its memory at an effective 18 Gbps versus 11 Gbps for the Steam Deck OLED GPU.

However, the Steam Deck OLED GPU is not without advantages in the recorded data. Its memory capacity is larger at 16 GB versus 8 GB for the Steam Machine GPU, a 2.0 times difference. Additionally, the Steam Deck OLED GPU carries a much lower TDP of 15 W versus 110 W for the Steam Machine GPU, an 7.3 times difference in favor of the handheld part. The Steam Deck OLED GPU also has a smaller physical footprint: its length is 298 mm (11.7 inches) versus 156 mm (6.1 inches) for the Steam Machine GPU, but its width is 49 mm (1.9 inches) versus 162 mm (6.4 inches), and its height is 117 mm (4.6 inches) versus 152 mm (6 inches). The Steam Machine GPU uses a single USB Type-C display output, while the Steam Machine GPU provides one HDMI 2.1a and one DisplayPort 2.1.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations of AMD’s RDNA architecture. The Steam Deck OLED GPU is built on RDNA 2.0, while the Steam Machine GPU uses RDNA 3.0. Both parts are fabricated on TSMC’s 6 nm process node, but the underlying chip designs differ considerably.

The Steam Deck OLED GPU uses the Sephiroth chip, which integrates 2,400 million transistors on a 131 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 18.3 million per mm². The Steam Machine GPU uses the Navi 33 chip, codenamed Hotpink Bonefish, which packs 13,300 million transistors into a 204 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 65.2 million per mm². The Steam Machine GPU therefore has 5.5 times more transistors and a 3.6 times higher transistor density, despite being only 1.6 times larger in die area.

Core configuration differences are stark. The Steam Deck OLED GPU contains 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, 16 raster operation units, and 8 ray tracing cores. The Steam Machine GPU has 1,792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, 64 raster operation units, and 28 ray tracing cores. That gives the Steam Machine GPU 3.5 times more shading units, 3.5 times more TMUs, 4.0 times more ROPs, and 3.5 times more RT cores.

Clock speeds also differ. The Steam Deck OLED GPU has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 1600 MHz. The Steam Machine GPU runs at a base clock of 1720 MHz, a boost clock of 2450 MHz, and a game clock of 2250 MHz. The Steam Machine GPU’s boost clock is 1.5 times higher than the Steam Deck OLED GPU’s boost clock.

Memory subsystems diverge in type and speed. The Steam Deck OLED GPU uses 16 GB of LPDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, with memory clocks at 1375 MHz and 11 Gbps effective. The Steam Machine GPU uses 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, with memory clocks at 2250 MHz and 18 Gbps effective. Both share the same bus width, but the Steam Machine GPU achieves higher bandwidth due to faster memory.

API support shows minor differences. Both parts support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and OpenGL 4.6. The Steam Deck OLED GPU supports Vulkan 1.3, while the Steam Machine GPU supports Vulkan 1.4.

The Steam Deck OLED GPU has no power connectors listed, while the Steam Machine GPU also lists none. The Steam Deck OLED GPU’s TDP is 15 W, the Steam Machine GPU’s is 110 W. Neither part lists a suggested PSU, bus interface, or slot width.

Both parts are marked as Active production status. The Steam Deck OLED GPU was released on 2023-11-08, while the Steam Machine GPU has a release date of 2026-06-28.

Where Each One Wins

Based solely on the recorded data, the Steam Machine GPU wins across every compute and graphics throughput metric. Its FP32 performance of 17.56 TFLOPS is 10.7 times higher than the Steam Deck OLED GPU’s 1.638 TFLOPS. Its FP16 performance of 17.56 TFLOPS (1:1) is 5.4 times higher than the Steam Deck OLED GPU’s 3.277 TFLOPS (2:1). Pixel rate, texture rate, and memory bandwidth all favor the Steam Machine GPU by factors between 1.6 and 6.1.

The Steam Machine GPU also holds a large lead in shading units, TMUs, ROPs, and RT cores, each 3.5 to 4.0 times higher than the Steam Deck OLED GPU. Its higher boost clock of 2450 MHz versus 1600 MHz further reinforces the performance gap. For workloads that rely on raw geometry, fill rate, or ray tracing throughput, the Steam Machine GPU is the clear choice based on the data.

The Steam Deck OLED GPU wins in memory capacity and power consumption. Its 16 GB LPDDR5 frame buffer is double the 8 GB GDDR6 found on the Steam Machine GPU. This could matter for workloads or games that require large working sets, although the Steam Machine GPU’s higher bandwidth may compensate in many scenarios. The Steam Deck OLED GPU’s 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Steam Machine GPU’s 110 W, making it far more suitable for battery-powered or thermally constrained environments. Its physical dimensions, particularly the 49 mm width versus 162 mm, also indicate a more compact integration profile.

In terms of API support, the Steam Machine GPU holds a slight edge with Vulkan 1.4 versus Vulkan 1.3 on the Steam Deck OLED GPU. Both support the same DirectX and OpenGL versions.

The release dates show the Steam Machine GPU is a later product, launching in 2026 versus 2023 for the Steam Deck OLED GPU. This aligns with its newer RDNA 3.0 architecture and higher transistor density.

For use cases, the data suggests the Steam Machine GPU targets high-resolution or high-refresh-rate gaming where its higher pixel rate, texture rate, and bandwidth can be fully utilized. The Steam Deck OLED GPU, with its lower power draw and larger memory capacity, appears oriented toward portable or low-power scenarios where capacity and efficiency outweigh raw throughput.

The Steam Machine GPU’s display outputs include HDMI 2.1a and DisplayPort 2.1, which support modern high-bandwidth displays. The Steam Deck OLED GPU’s single USB Type-C output is typical of a handheld form factor, likely requiring an adapter for external displays.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 performance?

A: The Steam Machine GPU records 17.56 TFLOPS, which is 10.7 times higher than the Steam Deck OLED GPU’s 1.638 TFLOPS.

Q: How do the memory capacities compare?

A: The Steam Deck OLED GPU has 16 GB of LPDDR5, while the Steam Machine GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6. The Steam Deck OLED GPU offers double the capacity, but the Steam Machine GPU provides 288.0 GB/s bandwidth versus 176.0 GB/s.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Steam Deck OLED GPU has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 1600 MHz. The Steam Machine GPU has a base clock of 1720 MHz, a boost clock of 2450 MHz, and a game clock of 2250 MHz.

Q: Which GPU has more raster operation units?

A: The Steam Machine GPU has 64 ROPs, which is 4.0 times more than the Steam Deck OLED GPU’s 16 ROPs.

Q: Do both GPUs use the same process node?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on TSMC’s 6 nm process. However, the Steam Machine GPU’s Navi 33 chip has 13,300 million transistors on a 204 mm² die, while the Steam Deck OLED GPU’s Sephiroth chip has 2,400 million transistors on a 131 mm² die.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Steam Deck OLED GPU has a TDP of 15 W, while the Steam Machine GPU has a TDP of 110 W. The Steam Deck OLED GPU draws 7.3 times less power.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU | AMD Steam Machine GPU |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Chip | Sephiroth | Navi 33 |

| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | RDNA 3.0 |

| Codename | Not listed | Hotpink Bonefish |

| Transistors | 2,400 million | 13,300 million |

| Die Size | 131 mm² | 204 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 18.3M / mm² | 65.2M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1000 MHz | 1720 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1600 MHz | 2450 MHz |

| Game Clock | Not listed | 2250 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1375 MHz, 11 Gbps effective | 2250 MHz, 18 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 16 GB | 8 GB |

| Memory Type | LPDDR5 | GDDR6 |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 176.0 GB/s | 288.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 512 | 1792 |

| TMUs | 32 | 112 |

| ROPs | 16 | 64 |

| RT Cores | 8 | 28 |

| Pixel Rate | 25.60 GPixel/s | 156.8 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 51.20 GTexel/s | 274.4 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1.638 TFLOPS | 17.56 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 3.277 TFLOPS (2:1) | 17.56 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 15 W | 110 W |

| Display Outputs | 1x USB Type-C | 1x HDMI 2.1a, 1x DisplayPort 2.1 |

| Vulkan | 1.3 | 1.4 |

| Release Date | 2023-11-08 | 2026-06-28 |

| Dimensions (L x H x W) | 298 mm x 117 mm x 49 mm | 156 mm x 152 mm x 162 mm |

Both GPUs share the same manufacturer, AMD; the same process node, 6 nm; the same foundry, TSMC; the same memory bus width, 128 bit; the same DirectX version, 12 Ultimate (12_2); the same OpenGL version, 4.6; the same production status, Active; no listed launch MSRP; no listed slot width; no listed power connectors; no listed suggested PSU; and no listed bus interface. Both also have null predecessor and successor fields. The Steam Deck OLED GPU lists no game clock, while the Steam Machine GPU lists no tensor cores (both have null tensor cores). The Steam Machine GPU has a higher transistor density by 3.6 times. The Steam Machine GPU’s FP16 ratio is 1:1, while the Steam Deck OLED GPU uses a 2:1 ratio. The Steam Machine GPU’s dimensions show a wider and taller but shorter physical profile compared to the Steam Deck OLED GPU.