Steam Deck AMD APU Performance For Non-Gaming CPU Workloads

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Steam Deck AMD APU Performance For Non-Gaming CPU Workloads

Since the release at the end of February of Valve's Steam Deck there has been numerous Phoronix readers wondering about the CPU performance of the Steam Deck's AMD APU in non-gaming workloads and just how viable the Steam Deck could be for a converged device for desktop uses. Here is some commentary on that front and benchmark results.

https://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=30957

[sarfarazahmad]

How does this fare against an rpi4, just to wrap the head around it. No point comparing apples to oranges

[Michael]

How does this fare against an rpi4, just to wrap the head around it. No point comparing apples to oranges

https://openbenchmarking.org/vs/Processor/AMD%20Custom%20APU%200405,ARMv8%20Cortex-A72%204-Core

[onlyLinuxLuvUBack]

Great Stuff Again !

[otoomet]

I assume the Deck's cpu was running in a deck in all these tests? What is the limiting factor here--is it the cpu itself (being slow and 4 cores only), is it cooling, power, or something else?

[cb88]

How does this fare against an rpi4, just to wrap the head around it. No point comparing apples to oranges

It obliterates it by a factor of 4+... 45 vs 191 geometric mean.

[cb88]

I assume the Deck's cpu was running in a deck in all these tests? What is the limiting factor here--is it the cpu itself (being slow and 4 cores only), is it cooling, power, or something else?

AFAIK they said the steam deck doesn't have a low power dock vs undock mode.... you control power by limiting performance FPS etc... after all if the game needs the system to run full blast it has to do it even undocked.

Also not sure why you call it "slow" its Zen 2.... its low power yes but it isn't anything to sneeze at.... its 4x faster core per core than an Rpi 4.

[Linuxxx]

I assume the Deck's cpu was running in a deck in all these tests? What is the limiting factor here--is it the cpu itself (being slow and 4 cores only), is it cooling, power, or something else?

SchedUtil governor...

[brucethemoose]

I assume the Deck's cpu was running in a deck in all these tests? What is the limiting factor here--is it the cpu itself (being slow and 4 cores only), is it cooling, power, or something else?

The deck CPU is TDP limited.

Theoretically you could squeeze a little more out by raising it, buts its already running at Zen 2's "sweet spot," aka a bit over 3GHz. Past that, you hit diminishing returns real quick... so its really not *that* limited anyway, at least in CPU only workloads.

[evil_core]

Beware! Michael Larabel is not a human being, but some alien sent from outer space(or maybe recovered from sputnik as secret russian weapon) to destroy human race!

Don't thrust him, what you usually see on photos is some kind of mask or CGI. The proof is reflection on SteamDeck 1st photo:

michael-alien_from_outer_space.jpg
Still wonder if Michael SteamDeck is 512GB sporting "premium anti-glare etched glass" or simply skimping on it, lost him(and revealed true face)?
If somebody has more data on it, please share. It can be important for both UFO hunters and persons still wondering if 512GB anti-reflective screen is worth the price!