When it comes to rare console prototypes, especially those with mass appeal, collectors are often willing to shell out big bucks. This was evident when a prototype of the Steam Deck popped up on eBay. A user from the r/SteamDeck community was quick to notice this gem.
This prototype, which recently sold on eBay, originated with a hefty asking price of $3,000 but eventually changed hands for $2,000. It’s strikingly similar to earlier images Valve released, housing an AMD APU with Picasso silicon from 2019.
Dubbed “Engineering Sample 34,” this version deviates from the typical Steam Deck. It sports unique blue accents, a more pronounced curved design, and circular trackpads. Notably, there seems to be some sort of sensor atop the right joystick, adding to its distinct appearance.
Despite a clear sticker on the back boldly stating “Not for resale,” it seems the seller found a way around that hurdle.
During its developmental stages, Valve crafted numerous engineering samples for internal testing. Due to this, pinpointing the manufacturing date of this specific model can be challenging. However, the older APU suggests it was likely used to test mechanical components before finalizing retail specifications, possibly dating back to 2019 or 2020.
The seller also mentioned that it lacks an operating system, meaning SteamOS isn’t installed. Notebookcheck managed to capture some BIOS images from the listing, revealing part of its spec lineup. These confirmed that Valve previously experimented with older prototypes using an unnamed AMD Picasso chip (from the Ryzen 3000 mobile line), which reportedly could possess up to four Zen+ cores and a GCN 5.0 (Vega 3/8/11) integrated GPU. These architectural elements alone create a noticeable performance gap compared to today’s retail models.
In addition, this prototype’s specs, such as 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, fall short when compared to the current market options of 16GB and 512GB setups, unless you consider the 64GB eMMC variant. If you put AMD’s Aerith and Sephiroth APUs against this older setup, they’d easily outpace the older model.
It will be interesting to see who scooped up this unique piece. If the buyer is a reviewer or hardware expert, we might soon dive deep into how this customized Picasso chip operates and how the Steam Deck evolved. On the other hand, it might just end up gracing a collector’s shelves, tucked away from the spotlight.
To those hoping for a new Steam Deck, Valve has indicated that gamers will need to remain patient until more advanced processors emerge on the scene.
