One thing to sit up for: Valve’s Steam Deck wasn’t the primary handheld gaming PC and virtually definitely will not be the final. Different firms try to create options for transportable Home windows or Linux gaming. Ayn and GPD supply two examples with drastically completely different specs and worth factors.
This week, GPD unveiled the successor to final yr’s GPD Win Max. An IndieGoGo marketing campaign for the brand new system begins Wednesday at 10 pm EST with a versatile objective of $20,000. 5 fashions can be found, all within the ballpark of $1,000.
Just like the 2021 mannequin, the GPD Win Max 2 appears extra like a mini laptop computer than a handheld recreation system. This yr’s model affords three AMD variants and one Intel choice, differing in reminiscence and storage capability.
The Intel mannequin packs a Core i7-1260P with 1.4GHz Iris Xe graphics at a 20-28W TDP, whereas the AMD choice encompasses a Ryzen 7 6800U with a 2.2GHz 680M GPU at 15-28W. Each sport 16-thread CPUs with a 4.7GHz max increase, Wi-Fi 6, and a ten.1″ display that may change between 1920 x 1200 or 2560 x 1600 resolutions.
Benchmarks for the 680M mannequin present Elden Ring reaching 35 frames per second on medium settings, God of Warfare at 45fps on low with FSR, Forza Horizon 5 at 75fps on low, and FIFA 22 hitting 132fps on extremely, all at 1200p.
Backers can select between 16 or 32GB of RAM, and 1TB or 2TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage, with a further M.2 growth slot and a MicroSD slot. The most affordable model options AMD {hardware} with 16GB of RAM and simply 128GB of storage at $900. Nevertheless, GPD solely affords 50 of those and will not promote them at retail.
The opposite fashions are as follows:
- 6800U, 16GB RAM, 1TB, $999
- 6800U, 32GB, RAM, 1TB, $1199
- 6800U, 32GB, 2TB, $1299
- 1260P, 16GB, RAM, 1TB, $999
Conversely, Ayn’s Loki Zero appears like one thing with a totally completely different function and shopper in thoughts. The Loki Zero appears unambiguously like a gaming handheld, contrasting GPD’s clamshell design that would truthfully move for a micro work laptop computer. The opposite instantly obvious distinction is worth, with pre-orders for Ayn’s machine beginning at a reduced $200 from a $250 MSRP.
The {hardware} matches the modest worth — an Athlon Silver 3050e (dual-core, 4 threads) with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of onboard M.2 storage with a MicroSD slot, and a 720p display. Probably, nobody will use this to play current AAA video games exterior of cloud streaming. Ayn in all probability intends its system to run lower-end PC video games like Stardew Valley, Hades, Cuphead, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, or Citizen Sleeper.
For something aside from a high-end gaming PC, $1,200 is a excessive worth, however is Ayn providing sufficient right here for a pretty entry-point to handheld PC gaming?