Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Apple M2 (8-GPU) | |
CPU comparisonIn this CPU comparison, we compare the Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) and the Apple M2 (8-GPU) and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.
We compare the Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) 4 core processor released in Q4/2023 with the Apple M2 (8-GPU) which has 8 CPU cores and was introduced in Q2/2022. |
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AMD Ryzen 5 (85) | Family | Apple M series (25) |
AMD Sephiroth (Steam Deck Refresh 2023) (1) | CPU group | Apple M2 (8) |
4 | Generation | 2 |
Sephiroth (Zen 2) | Architecture | M2 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
Valve Steam Deck (AMD Custom APU 0405) | Predecessor | Apple M1 |
-- | Successor | Apple M3 (8-GPU) |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) is a 4 core processor with a clock frequency of 2.40 GHz (3.50 GHz). The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The Apple M2 (8-GPU) clocks with 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz), has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel. |
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Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Characteristic | Apple M2 (8-GPU) |
4 | Cores | 8 |
8 | Threads | 8 |
normal | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
Yes | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
2.40 GHz (3.50 GHz) | A-Core | 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz) 4x Avalanche |
-- | B-Core | 0.60 GHz (2.42 GHz) 4x Blizzard |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningProcessors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor. |
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Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Characteristic | Apple M2 (8-GPU) |
-- | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
-- | AI specifications | 16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS |
Internal GraphicsGraphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback. |
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AMD Custom Radeon Graphics (Steam Deck) | GPU | Apple M2 (8 Core) |
1.00 GHz | GPU frequency | 0.45 GHz |
1.60 GHz | GPU (Turbo) | 1.40 GHz |
-- | GPU Generation | 2 |
7 nm | Technology | 5 nm |
2 | Max. displays | 2 |
8 | Compute units | 128 |
512 | Shader | 1024 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
8 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 24 GB |
12 | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos. |
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AMD Custom Radeon Graphics (Steam Deck) | GPU | Apple M2 (8 Core) |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP9 | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP8 | Decode |
No | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec AVC | Decode |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeUp to 16 GB of memory in a maximum of 4 memory channels is supported by the Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh), while the Apple M2 (8-GPU) supports a maximum of 24 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s enabled. |
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Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Characteristic | Apple M2 (8-GPU) |
LPDDR5-6400 | Memory | LPDDR5-6400 |
16 GB | Max. Memory | 24 GB |
4 (Quad Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
102.4 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
2.00 MB | L2 Cache | 20.00 MB |
4.00 MB | L3 Cache | -- |
3.0 | PCIe version | 4.0 |
8 | PCIe lanes | -- |
7.9 GB/s | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) has a TDP of 15 W. The TDP of the Apple M2 (8-GPU) is 20 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution. |
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Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Characteristic | Apple M2 (8-GPU) |
15 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 20 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | 25 W |
4 W | TDP down | 10 W |
100 °C | Tjunction max. | 100 °C |
Technical detailsThe Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) has 6.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 6 nm. The cache of Apple M2 (8-GPU) is at 20.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 5 nm. |
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Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Characteristic | Apple M2 (8-GPU) |
6 nm | Technology | 5 nm |
Monolithic | Chip design | Chiplet |
x86-64 (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8.5-A (64 bit) |
SSE4a, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, FMA3 | ISA extensions | Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation |
FF3 | Socket | -- |
AMD-V, SVM | Virtualization | Apple Virtualization Framework |
Yes | AES-NI | Yes |
SteamOS (Arch Linux) | Operating systems | macOS, iPadOS |
Q4/2023 | Release date | Q2/2022 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 2.80 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 2.80 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
AMD Custom Radeon Graphics (Steam Deck) @ 1.60 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
Apple M2 (8 Core) @ 1.40 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 2.80 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 2.80 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 2.80 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
2.40 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8,558 CB R23 MC @ 20 W |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh)
4C 8T @ 2.40 GHz |
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Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8C 8T @ 0.66 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Apple M2 (8-GPU) |
Valve Steam Deck (2023 Refresh) | Apple MacBook Air 14 (2022) Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) |