Guide
Ultimate Backplate Mod on Steam Deck OLED
Hey, fans and subscribers, this is your host, Joe, from the GamingForInsight channel with a written guide (below) to the ultimate backplate mod for your Steam Deck through installing the Cooling Modcase for Steam Deck LCD & OLED by HandheldDIY.
You may be aware of or have discovered some limitations with the Steam Deck OLED that you want to unlock with a mod option. Like me, you may be curious about modding and want to see what you can unlock by installing a mod on one of your handhelds within your gaming handheld collection. HandheldDIY sent me its Cooling Modcase for Steam Deck LCD & OLED (NON-AFFILIATE LINK: https://www.handhelddiy.com/products/steam-deck-modcase) in agreement that I would create a video for the product/mod. No money was exchanged, and no terms were set. HandheldDIY delivered this backplate mod for the Steam Deck right to me.
Thank you, HandheldDIY, for the opportunity to experience another one of your products.
What can you expect on this page? I will go through installing and testing this HandheldDIY product/mod for my Steam Deck OLED. My YouTube video is only meant as an overview of the process. If you are looking to sink your curiosity into details, then please read through my guide on this page. Before you begin installing the mod, I provide test results and what you can expect going through the process so you can further determine whether this is the mod for you, at least based on my results.
What You Need
A Steam Deck OLED (new or refurbished) (NON-AFFILIATE LINK: https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck)
Cooling Modcase for Steam Deck LCD & OLED, With Tools Kit (NON-AFFILIATE LINK: https://www.handhelddiy.com/products/steam-deck-modcase)
HandheldDIY packages the backplate with a two PHO screwdrivers (one for Steam Deck LCD that is red and one for Steam Deck OLED that is yellow), silicone pads, guitar pick, silicon wrist straps, instruction manual.
What You Gain Installing This Mod
A Note on Testing…
I have two Steam Deck OLED devices: a Limited Edition and a refurbished one. The Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED has no mods installed on it and performs as was shipped to me; it serves as the comparison for original and stock performance with the backplate. I installed the modified (i.e., mod) HandheldDIY backplate on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED. Therefore, for testing you can observe what the experience without the mod on the Limited Edition Steam Deck is and what the experience with the mod (i.e., the HandheldDIY backplate mod for the Steam Deck OLED) on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED is. Backplate on my Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED was not altered to perform differently than how it in its original design; I provided no additional enhancements to the backplate on my Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED. What is captured is intended to be objective and done without a bias to alter the results to favor either product; furthermore, the testing is based only on my experience and is not intended as a definitive representation of either product.
LOWER TEMPERATURES…
HandheldDIY states, “Even with just [a 3D-printed sample], the Deckplate outperforms the stock backplate by dropping temperatures [by 6-7°C], resulting in [over 10% better] cooling. [The mass-produced Deckplate] will take it a step further, delivering up to [a 15% reduction] in temperature, ensuring your device stays cooler than ever.” (https://www.handhelddiy.com/products/steam-deck-modcase). I attempted to recreate this test with my Limited Edition OLED (not having the modded backplate) and my refurbished Steam Deck (having the installed backplate mod). I tested two games: Doom Eternal and Cyberpunk 2077. To accentuate a temperature distinction, I attempted to at least tax the APU with a high-demand process (i.e., the games individually at the highest settings) to create a circumstance where the APU would produce more heat than when idle upon first boot. My procedure was to boot each Steam Deck, disable WiFi on one Steam Deck (to run the game simultaneously), run the game (beyond the menu screen), leave the game running for 15 minutes idle, and then record. The room where this test was conducted was cooled to 72 degrees Fahrenheit with the AC unit in Auto; the Steam Decks were not placed near warm zones or cooler areas to alter testing. The AC unit was not pushing cool air onto the Steam Decks during recording, before recording, or after recording to alter the results.
For Doom Eternal, I set the game’s settings to Ultra Nightmare (below shown left video). I observed that the CPU and GPU components showed a 1-3 degree Celsius decrease in temperature on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED compared to the Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED.
For Cyberpunk 2077, I set the game’s settings to Raytracing Overdrive (below shown right video). The GPU component showed a 1-3 degree Celsius temperature decrease on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED compared to the Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED. I observed the CPU component show a 3-5 degree Celsius decreased temperature on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED than the Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED.
My conclusion is as follows. I could not produce the 15% reduction; however, my test data demonstrates that the CPU component and GPU component across two games are cooler on a Steam Deck OLED having the modded backplate than with a Steam Deck OLED with the original backplate. Different games, each with a different settings set, have the potential to provide varying results with this backplate based on my test data; however, regardless, a difference is observed, whether by 1 degree or 5 degrees. The degree variation did not stay consistent (i.e., consistently stay at 3 degrees difference for the longevity of time) and, instead, the range would rapidly adjust (i.e., 1 degree, 3 degrees, 1 degree, 2 degrees, etc.).
ADDED KICKSTAND…
It is a very nice and neat feature to stand the Steam Deck OLED upright instead of having to prop it in a dock with this mod. I frequently have my Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED (without the mod installed) in a dock, not because I need the ports, but so that it is standing upright like with a kickstand. I commonly keep my refurbished Steam Deck OLED (with the mod installed) propped up with the kickstand on my desk, and it is very convenient for it to be in the state, which makes my refurbished Steam Deck OLED more accessible.
MORE BATTERY…
The mod allows for the Steam Deck to have strapped to it an accessory battery with an attachable wrist strap (like you would find as an athletic band on an Apple Watch). I provided a video demonstration on how to attach each strap and the direction/placement I recommended they follow. For demonstration purposes only, I used the Anker Nano Power Bank, 10,000mAh Portable Charger with Built-In USB-C Cable, 30W Max Output (NON-AFFILIATE LINK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9CJKCH3?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1) (NOTE: you will want something that outputs more power for your Steam Deck OLED due to the Steam Deck having the feature to use more than 30W power at a time). Depending on the battery, your gaming experience with this strap will vary. I did not find that I could use the kickstand with the straps attached with or without a battery placed within it. You will need to remove those straps to use the kickstand. This feature of the modded backplate has use cases where an accessory battery can continue a gaming session when so inclined without providing an inconvenience and an opportunity to game longer. Strapping a battery is done with ease and approach and no frustration.
Part 1 - Prepare the Mod
This mod comes with silicon pads; you have two pads of each size. The size pads that come with the mod are 50 x 9, 30 x 4, and 15 x 4, which are in millimeters (mm). This guide is scoped to installing this backplate on the Steam Deck OLED. So, in this case, you will need to take one of the 50 x 9 pads, one of the 30 x 4, and one of the 15 x 4. Note that the pads are originally provided in pairs, so you will need to divide the pair down the center to use one. The area you will locate is the metal heat spreader and dust filter that are part of the modded backplate (it looks like the end of a hockey stick, in a way, turned upside down). If you look at the top left near the topmost hole, you will put one of the 50 x 9 pads to the right of that hole in a horizontal direction. Then, to the lower right of what looks like the bridge of the stick (in keeping with the analogy) or to the right of the dust filter, you are going to align a 30 x 4 in between two of the holes in a vertical direction and then right below it one of the 15 x 4 pads also placed vertically directly below in between those two holes (but the pad should be placed vertically towards the bottom). Use the corresponding video I provide to help locate the placement for the pads.
Part 2 - Remove the Default Backplate
You can optionally have your Steam Deck OLED off to begin. Rotate the steam deck to face the backplate (or the back of the Steam Deck OLED). There are eight screws to unfasten to remove the backplate. One is above and below the two programmable buttons on each side of the Steam Deck OLED. Four are in the center (two upper and two lower). Use the corresponding video to direct you to locate each of the eight. Use the yellow PHO screwdriver that came with the HandheldDIY mod package to unfasten the eight screws. One recommendation for when you remove the eight screws from the backplate is to put them in a spot for safekeeping to not lose them during the mod install; the box provided by HandheldDIY (you can close the lid of the box, too, for additional safekeeping) can serve as that safe place for keeping the screws.
The backplate has to be detached with the guitar pick that comes with the HandheldDIY mod package. I targeted the upper right-hand corner near the right bumper and trigger, as well as the lower right-hand side, to start wedging the guitar pick in between the main frame of the Steam Deck OLED and the backplate. Do ensure you removed all eight of the screws, as leaving one can cause the backplate to not fully detach and unfasten. As you work your way around the Steam Deck OLED with the guitar pick (clockwise or counterclockwise), and if all eight screws were removed, then the backplate will detach.
Part 3 - Install the Mod
You are ready now to attach and fasten the modded backplate to finish this guide and mod installation. Ensure you position the modded backplate to place it on the back of the Steam Deck OLED. I recommend for this mod to fasten the eight screws (that came with the original backplate that fastened it) before snapping any remaining areas to attach the modded backplate to the Steam Deck OLED fully. Fasten the eight screws that you originally unfastened in Part 1 with the yellow PHO Screwdriver. I recommend not fully fastening each one upon original placement (so start halfway fastening). Once you have all of the screws halfway fastened, then follow through with fully fastening them to complete the overall fastening of the backplate. You can then inspect the perimeter of the Steam Deck again to see if there are any additional areas to snap or attach that were not done so during the fastening of the screws. Rotate the Steam Deck OLED to face the front. Now it's time to get gaming.