How to Enable Performance Overlay on Steam Deck

Steam Deck isn’t only a moveable gaming console however a full-fledged laptop operating a fork of Arch Linux. You possibly can play the entire library of video games accessible on Steam on this handheld machine. So, there are quite a few video games you possibly can set up in your Steam Deck, however not all of them are Deck Verified, and their efficiency would possibly range. You would possibly see low body charges, stutters, and different points. And adjusting efficiency will be difficult with out the fitting instruments. Thankfully, Steam Deck ships with an in-built efficiency overlay, which you’ll toggle on everytime you need. You don’t want any third-party software program to see the FPS counter, monitor CPU/GPU utilization, and extra efficiency stats in your Steam Deck. This text will clarify tips on how to see the efficiency overlay on Steam Deck.

Present FPS Counter on Steam Deck (2023)

On this article, we are going to discover ways to deliver up the efficiency overlay on Steam Deck to observe the efficiency. You possibly can change between 4 totally different overlay ranges, relying on the quantity of efficiency information you want. Additionally, it’ll allow you to fine-tune the sport expertise, so let’s dive proper in.

Learn how to Allow Efficiency Overlay on Steam Deck

Since day one, Steam Deck has included a efficiency overlay that reveals customers how effectively a sport is operating on their handheld. It then allows you to fine-tune the expertise to discover a steadiness between sport efficiency and battery life on the Steam Deck. Whereas desktop PC customers have to obtain extra software program like MSI Afterburner and its alternate options, you don’t want to do this right here. That mentioned, let’s have a look at the steps to activate the efficiency general on Steam Deck.

1. Press the Fast Entry Menu button (QAM, the three-dot button) beneath the fitting trackpad.

2. Throughout the Fast Entry menu, it’s good to click on the “battery” icon, which can take you to the efficiency tuning part on Steam Deck.

3. Right here, you will note the “Efficiency Overlay Stage” slider beneath the battery life. Use the “A” button to entry this slider and select the specified degree of efficiency overlay. You possibly can then use the D-Pad or left stick to pick out the overlay degree.

4. Every degree of the efficiency overlay reveals solely different quantities of knowledge. For somebody who solely desires an FPS counter, degree one ought to be sufficient. However superior customers will certainly use increased ranges to see extra important data on the fly. That mentioned, let’s take a look on the data every efficiency overlay degree reveals on Steam Deck.

What Data Does Every Efficiency Overlay Present

Efficiency Overlay Stage 1

Stage one is the only efficiency overlay on Steam Deck. It reveals solely the body price within the top-left if you play a sport. This degree overlay is finest for individuals who don’t wish to litter the tiny display on their console with numbers and solely want to see the FPS counter.

Efficiency Overlay Stage 2

Stage two reveals the important statistics a consumer would possibly require to fine-tune the efficiency of their Steam Deck. The overlay is solid on the display in a neat manner alongside the highest of the display. Efficiency overlay degree two reveals the next particulars:

• The body price (FPS) and a chart displaying the body price dips on Steam Deck
• Battery proportion with what number of volts the battery is pulling, GPU and CPU utilization together with voltage utilization, and RAM utilization
• It additionally reveals the Gamescope, which is a micro compositor that spoofs many options corresponding to framerate limiter and FidelityFX to run within the sport occasion. This factor is accountable for per-game session settings

Efficiency Overlay Stage 3

The extent three overlay contains the whole lot from degree two, however with extra in-depth data. For starters, the third degree morphs from a horizontal strip to a field on the highest left, displaying off all the required data clearly. Aside from the CPU and GPU utilization, it reveals the temperature of the respective element. Moreover, the body price chart shows the body consistency, and the minimal, most, and common ms measurements.

Efficiency Overlay Stage 4

The fourth degree of the efficiency overlay contains intensive data associated to the Steam Deck efficiency. Stage 4 efficiency overlay reveals the next data:

• GPU and CPU utilization proportion, with warmth era, voltage utilization, and processing energy utilization
• Per CPU core efficiency to assist monitor what number of cores of the APU in Steam Deck are getting used for video games
• GPU VRAM utilization and fan pace
• RAM utilization whereas taking part in the sport
• Battery utilization, voltage utilization proportion, and approximate remaining time
• Exhibits whether or not the FSR is getting used or not.
• Exhibits the Body time and Body depend.

The most effective factor in regards to the Stage 4 overlay is {that a} educated consumer can tweak practically each single factor right here to get higher efficiency and prolong the battery life on Steam Deck. Nonetheless, other than the GPU, CPU pace, and framerate, customers want community-created Decky plugins to customise each side.

Incessantly Requested Questions

Is The Efficiency Overlay Restricted to Video Video games?

Apparently sufficient, the efficiency overlay in Steam Deck will not be restricted to video video games. If a consumer desires, they’ll solid the overlay on the SteamOS itself. Nonetheless, its performance shines via when utilized in a gaming mode.

Can We Use The Efficiency Overlay In Desktop Mode?

Sadly, the efficiency overlay doesn’t work exterior of SteamOS. To make use of a efficiency overlay within the Linux surroundings, customers can set up separate benchmarking software program or apps like MangoHUD on Steam Deck. However, a consumer would possibly not often play video games within the desktop mode on Steam Deck, since video games are optimized to run effectively within the gaming mode.

Use Steam Deck Efficiency Overlay to See FPS, CPU/ GPU Data, & Extra

Wrapping issues up, we not solely discovered tips on how to use the efficiency overlay on Steam Deck on this article but additionally how a lot data every overlay degree delivers to the consumer. The FPS counter and different stats are an effective way to grasp how your machine is performing in actual time. And you may tweak these parameters to get extra out of your system. It even helps enhance the battery lifetime of Steam Deck whilst you’re touring or throughout an intense playthrough. Did you discover the efficiency overlay on Steam Deck helpful? What overlay lay do you like to make use of? Tell us within the feedback part under.