Given how useful u/ryanrudolf 's refresh rate unlocker is on the LCD steam deck [allowing 30-70hz refresh rates on most LCD decks] and that I seem to have received an OLED steam deck before they did, I figured I would do a bit of display testing to see how far the OLED panel in my unit can be pushed. Here are my results:
Maximum timings (pclk method): 147.223 800 818 822 858 1280 1288 1290 1320 +HSync +VSync
Minimum timings (pclk method): 56.628 800 818 822 858 1280 1288 1290 1320 +HSync +VSync
Minimum timings (vblank from max pclk): 147.223 800 818 822 858 1280 1288 1290 5320 +HSync +VSync
Minimum timings (vblank from stock pclk): 102 800 818 822 858 1280 1288 1290 5320 +HSync +VSync
Maximum refresh rate (pclk): ~130hz
Minimum refresh rate (pclk): ~50hz
Minimum refresh rate (vblank from max pclk): ~32hz
Minimum refresh rate (vblank from stock pclk): ~22hz
VRR: Untested, but given vblank results, may be possible to force enable using an EDID override
Colours/gamma curves/brightness appear directly related to pixel clock / refresh rate, higher rates appear washed out, lower ones appear too dark.
Like with LCD models, flickering appears at low refresh rates
While I did not notice any negative side effects during or after my testing, operating electronics outside of their rated parameters may reduce lifespan or cause damage to said device, if anyone wants to test further, you do so at your own risk.
I may test if VRR works myself eventually if nobody else does so over these next coming days/weeks.
Don’t care for more than 90hz on this device (for now), but VRR would be godsend.
I can see a bit of a purpose for 120hz. Lower latency and the fact 120hz and below covers every possible framerate with the lowest latency. I don’t know if it’s worth it for the loss of colour accuracy and vibrancy, but it’d be cool like when the Quest 2 got updated to 120hz.
120hz can cut down into 60(½), 40(⅓), 30(¼) with 50 being covered by 100hz. This won’t cut down latency nearly as much as the 90hz did from 60hz has but it will lower it down to make up for gamescopes added latency imo.
This will probably increase power usage by a little bit and it will mess with the display’s colour and brightness. But if it didn’t mess with the display to have 120hz it would definitely be worth updating to. The decreased latency for easier to run games would be a big deal. Plus with VRR this would make 120hz-65hz unbelievably awesome!
Based on the Linus video review he was told my Valve that they didn’t use a display hardware part that makes VRR necessary as they would have to source the display from a more expensive source. So there’s a hardware piece missing, so I’m not sure if VRR is possible at all.
What is the benefit of VRR?
It mostly does what it says - allows the display to adjust its refresh rate to exactly match the incoming frame rate from a game.
A 90hz display can’t actually display 60fps content smoothly. It ends up displaying 60fps content at a mix of 45hz and 90hz. (45hz is just displaying the same frame twice). A VRR display can display 60fps content perfectly smooth.
Thanks for the explanation! I didn’t really think about the refresh not displaying lower FPS correctly.
Sure, but the Deck can run its display at 60Hz. Constant FPS isn’t a problem, it’s varying FPS.