Steam Deck Modder Takes on Bold Water Cooling Challenge for Gaming Handheld

On YouTube, a creative tinkerer known as Diy Papi has taken on the ambitious task of transforming his Steam Deck into a device cooled by a custom water-cooling system. In a video lasting about 15 minutes, Papi dives into the details of how he adapted his gaming handheld into this unique, water-cooled setup.

Currently, the Steam Deck is our top pick for a handheld gaming PC, as highlighted in our detailed Steam Deck OLED review. But this YouTuber had his sights set on something far beyond Valve’s original design. Creating a water-cooled Steam Deck is no simple feat; it requires more than just attaching some components. The entire device needs to be re-engineered in an almost makeshift manner.

To start, Papi had to significantly alter the backplate, cutting it open to make way for the new assembly. The modification process involved attaching water blocks to essential components and connecting them to tubes and a pump to ensure proper water circulation. Initially, the setup was held together with electrical tape, but it was upgraded with cable ties and screws for a more secure fix.

“Is it worth it? I can already tell you, it’s a big fat no,” Papi admits with refreshing candor. For him, the project’s value lay in the challenge of pulling it off, not necessarily in the results it produced.

The finished project didn’t seem to deliver much improvement. The water-cooled Steam Deck reached temperatures of 70°C, not too dissimilar from the peak temperatures of the OLED model running alongside it.

One commenter on YouTube noted that Papi’s technique might not have been the most efficient. The cooling system was focused on the heat shield rather than directly on the AMD APU die itself. If the water block had been applied directly to the device’s internals, it might have displayed more impressive results.

Interestingly, a similar project was showcased last year by TikToker Vurathayho. His Steam Deck was rigged with desktop-grade water cooling, achieving temperatures as low as 58°C while handling demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077.

While the Steam Deck wasn’t originally designed with water cooling in mind, this kind of cooling can have a profound impact on desktop PCs, offering not just cooler temperatures but also reducing noise levels. If you’re interested in venturing into water cooling for your PC, our comprehensive guide can equip you with the knowledge to tweak your system for maximum performance.