HANDHELD NEWS – However, the modder isn’t quite finished with it yet, as not all aspects of the project have been finalized.

Although the internal components of the Steam Deck seem a bit outdated these days, it still feels like the ideal model for a handheld PC, although it is a little large and bulky. The Steam Boy is a unique reimagining of the Steam Deck, created by Reddit user PhyFawkes. As the Steam Deck’s motherboard is quite small, the device could potentially be Game Boy-sized. The case consists of a 3D-printed PETG shell that not only accommodates the relatively small motherboard, along with the APU heatsink and fans, but also the fairly large battery.

The SteamBoy (WIP)
byu/PhyFawkes inSteamDeckModded

SteamBoy Teardown and Assembly
byu/PhyFawkes inSteamDeckModded

PhyFawkes also managed to squeeze the Steam Deck’s internal speakers into the frame alongside the sound card and ribbon cables, which are placed in a creative way. However, all this hardware leaves little room for controls, which are limited to a D-pad, four traditional buttons, along with two system buttons, a joystick, and a touchpad. This is a clever solution, especially when you compare the Steam Boy to the original Steam Deck. In terms of footprint, it’s well under half the size. The hardware is stacked inside the frame in a Tetris-style arrangement, which is why it’s significantly thicker. Despite this, it still fits comfortably in a large coat pocket, which is more than can be said for the original Steam Deck.

However, there is one minor drawback. PhyFawkes has not yet managed to connect the display, which is a standard Game Boy-configuration OLED panel with a resolution of 1200 x 1080 and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It seems that an adapter board is required between the motherboard’s output and the display, as well as a BIOS modification. This will be the next task. PhyFawkes also mentioned that the shoulder buttons are on the to-do list. At least one of these is apparently in a good spot on the motherboard, so it can be mounted on the outside of the device where it is easily accessible.

There’s just something about Valve’s hardware that makes us want to take it apart, isn’t there?

Source: PCGamer