Win Max 2 by GPD is a handheld gaming PC with 4G LTE connectivity and a 10.1-inch display. This console is more of a laptop with a gamepad than a console, offering a much larger screen than typical portable consoles like Nintendo Switch or Valve’s Steam Deck.
According to a video posted by The Phawx, the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U emerged as the more efficient GPU outperforming its Intel counterpart by a considerable margin.
The low-powered APU from AMD has a total of 12 Compute Units and is based on RDNA2 architecture, the same architecture Steam Deck has. The Steam Deck, however, has only eight such units and a bit older Zen2 CPU architecture. Therefore, the GPD console has better performance but obviously a worse optimization for Steam OS than the Steam Deck.
However, this could change as GPD recently teased a possible collaboration with Valve. GPD commented on a discussion thread on Win Max 2’s Indiegogo page, stating that Valve contacted them in March about a collaboration proposal. Traditionally, the console is supposed to come with Windows 11 and the Steam client installed.
However, this future collaboration with Valve will enable the Ryzen 7 6800U variant to come with the SteamOS system. In return, Steam will promote GPD’s products on its website. This will surely prove beneficial to new players. GPD states that the entire process could take half a year, although the initial development might have already started.
Ryzen 7 6800U handheld game consoles have been introduced in recent months, and Steam could possibly expand its ecosystem by collaborating with other console manufacturers as well, like AYN, AOKZOE, or AYANEO, who recently announced its NEXT 2 console.
Valve could optimize SteamOS in all these consoles, which will definitely gain support from fans for both parties, although the optimization could take a lot of time. GPD Win Max 2 arrives in September 2022, with the base edition costing $999 and the limited edition at a cheaper $899 price tag.
About GamePad Digital
GamePad Digital is a technology company located in Shenzhen, China. They manufacture handheld Android video game consoles based on ARM architecture.
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