Valve’s Steam Deck is a fantastic piece of hardware. However, like all advanced computing devices it generates heat, and being in a small enclosed form factor this thermal energy doesn’t always leave the Deck as fast as it should. While there are a variety of methods you might try to mitigate such a situation, if you’d like to take care of things (hopefully) once and for all, the CoolDeck from Low Budget presents a delightfully extreme solution.
The CoolDeck takes the form of a precision-machined aluminum plate, which bolts onto the Steam Deck and replaces the original EMI shield. On this new plate you can mount an M.2 form factor heat sink and a fan, allowing it to radiate thermal energy away from your handheld computing hardware. The heat sink is mounted to the CoolDeck plate via thermal epoxy, and is necessary for effective use.
Where this add-on gets extra dicey/awesome is that in order to install it you’ll need to cut a hole in the back cover, thus voiding your warranty. The installation leaves an obviously modded device with a heat sink sticking out of the back, reminiscent of an automobile with a gigantic blower poking through the hood. On the other hand, this mod looks like a great conversation starter, and replacement covers are readily available if you’d like to go back to an original look.
