The Steam Deck, Valve’s latest hybrid console, has one major flaw: its slightly noisy fan. To remedy the problem, a user shared a simple trick of applying electrical insulating tape behind the fan. If the maneuver seems to work, Valve strongly advises against carrying out this kind of home repair, in particular because of the still unknown impacts on the thermal part of the console.
The Steam Deck, Valve’s latest hybrid console, has undeniable qualities. However, not everything is perfect, and users complain in particular about noise pollution caused by the fan of the machine, extremely noisy as soon as the console heats up. The noise is so loud that it can easily drown out your game play if you’re not playing with headphones or earphones.
Via the SteamOS 3.2 update, available since April 27, Valve partially solved the problem via a software patch. Now the fan runs at full speed only when the situation requires it. This wasn’t the case until then, with the fan still ramping up even on relatively light games like Vampire Survivors.
Still, Valve’s fix had no effect on the characteristic hissing of the cooling system. Even the repair specialist iFixit, which will be offering spare parts for the Steam Deck in the future, has no concrete solution for users at the moment.
Read also: Steam Deck – Valve announces good surprises for the docking station
Stick tape on the fan? A bad idea according to Valve
However, Reddit user Oligarchy Ambulance found that by pressing lightly on the Valve logo located on the back of the console, the noise suddenly disappeared. Neither one nor two, he decides to open the machine and glue strips of electrical insulating adhesive to maintain some pressure on the fan and prevent hissing. This trick works, as proven by his “Before” and “After” videos posted on YouTube (visible below).
Despite everything, this maneuver is risky in more ways than one. First, it requires opening the console, which is never a very good idea (if only for the warranty), and then we don’t know yet the potential effects of the adhesive on the thermal part of the console. Valve has also spoken on the subject and advises against proceeding in this way. “We recommend not changing the airflow path, as we don’t know what impact this may have on the thermal part of the console.” a Valve spokesperson told our colleagues at The Verge. You have been warned.
Source: The Verge