Performance Tuning

Optimize your Steam Deck for the best emulation experience.

Understanding Performance

What Affects Emulation Speed?

Several factors determine how well a game runs:

Factor	Impact
Original System Complexity	Newer consoles need more power to emulate
Emulator Maturity	Older, optimized emulators run better
Game Itself	Some games are harder to emulate than others
Enhancement Settings	Higher resolution and effects cost performance
Steam Deck Power Mode	More TDP means more performance

Performance Expectations by System

System	Expected Performance	Enhancements Possible
NES, SNES, Genesis	Perfect, minimal battery use	High resolution, shaders
N64, PS1	Perfect	4x+ resolution, widescreen
GameCube, PS2	Excellent for most games	2-3x resolution
Wii	Excellent	2x resolution, motion controls
Wii U	Good to excellent	Native resolution often
PS3	Varies significantly	Limited
Switch	Varies by game	Limited
PSP	Perfect	5x+ resolution

Steam Deck Settings

Quick Access Menu

Press the three-dot button (QAM) to access performance settings while in a game:

• Performance Overlay: Shows FPS, battery, thermals
• Framerate Limit: Cap FPS (useful for battery)
• Refresh Rate: 40-60Hz options
• TDP Limit: Power consumption cap
• GPU Clock: Manual GPU frequency control

Recommended Base Settings

Setting	Value	Purpose
Framerate Limit	60 or Off	Most games target 60fps
Refresh Rate	60Hz	Match game framerate
Allow Tearing	Off	Prevents visual artifacts
Half Rate Shading	Off	Can cause visual issues

40Hz Mode

For games that cannot maintain 60fps, 40Hz mode is a great middle ground:

• Set Refresh Rate to 40Hz
• Set Framerate Limit to 40
• Games feel smoother than 30fps but need less power than 60fps
• Significant battery savings

Good for: PS3 games, demanding Wii U/Switch games, some PS2 games at high resolution.

Power and TDP

What is TDP?

TDP (Thermal Design Power) is how much power the APU can use. Higher TDP means more performance but shorter battery life and more heat.

TDP Recommendations

Emulation Target	TDP Range	Battery Life
8/16-bit (NES, SNES, Genesis)	4-6W	6+ hours
5th gen (PS1, N64, Saturn)	5-8W	4-5 hours
6th gen (PS2, GameCube, Dreamcast)	8-12W	2-3 hours
7th gen (Wii, PSP)	8-12W	2-3 hours
8th gen (Wii U, PS3)	12-15W	1.5-2 hours
Switch	12-15W	1.5-2 hours

Plugged In vs Battery

When plugged in:

• TDP can stay at maximum (15W)
• No thermal throttling concerns
• Use all the enhancements you want

On battery:

• Lower TDP extends playtime
• Find the minimum TDP that gives smooth gameplay
• Consider lowering enhancements

Per-Game Settings

Steam Per-Game Profiles

Steam can save different performance settings for each game:

1. Launch the game
2. Open QAM (three-dot button)
3. Adjust settings
4. Toggle "Use per-game profile" on

Settings are saved automatically for that game.

When to Use Per-Game Settings

• Demanding games that need high TDP
• Light games where you want better battery
• Games that run best at 40Hz
• Games requiring specific refresh rates

RetroArch Performance

Key Settings

Video Driver

Use Vulkan for best performance on Steam Deck. OpenGL works but is generally slower.

Threaded Video

Enable this for smoother performance at the cost of slight input latency. Good for most games.

Run Ahead

Reduces input latency by running frames ahead. Use with caution - can cause performance issues on demanding cores.

Shaders

Shaders add visual effects but cost performance:

• CRT shaders: Moderate impact
• xBR/ScaleFX: Higher impact
• Simple scanlines: Low impact

If performance is an issue, try simpler shaders or disable them.

Core-Specific Settings

N64 (Mupen64Plus-Next)

• GFX Plugin: GLideN64 (balanced) or ParaLLEl-RDP (accurate but demanding)
• Native resolution or 2x for best performance
• Disable framebuffer emulation if not needed

Saturn (Beetle Saturn)

• Very demanding core
• Keep enhancements minimal
• Consider Kronos for better performance (lower accuracy)

Standalone Emulator Tips

PCSX2 (PlayStation 2)

Setting	Recommendation
Renderer	Vulkan
Internal Resolution	2x-3x native (720p-1080p)
MTVU	Enable (multi-threaded VU)
Fast CDVD	Enable (faster loading)
VSync	Enable

Dolphin (GameCube/Wii)

Setting	Recommendation
Backend	Vulkan
Internal Resolution	2x native (720p)
Shader Compilation	Synchronous (avoid stuttering)
Dual Core	Enable
Immediately Present XFB	Enable (reduces latency)

RPCS3 (PlayStation 3)

Setting	Recommendation
Renderer	Vulkan
Resolution Scale	100% or lower
SPU Decoder	LLVM Recompiler
PPU Decoder	LLVM Recompiler
Shader Quality	Low for performance

PPSSPP (PSP)

Setting	Recommendation
Backend	Vulkan
Rendering Resolution	4x-5x (runs great)
Frame Skipping	Off (not needed)
Texture Scaling	xBRZ 2x or 4x

Cemu (Wii U)

Setting	Recommendation
Graphics API	Vulkan
Async Compile	Enable
VSync	Match Emulated
Graphics Packs	FPS++ for 60fps games

Battery Life Optimization

General Tips

• Lower TDP - Find minimum for smooth gameplay
• Lower brightness - Significant battery impact
• Use 40Hz mode - Great battery/experience balance
• Reduce resolution - Less GPU work needed
• Disable shaders - Use simpler or no filters
• Close background apps - Every bit helps

System-Specific Battery Tips

System	Battery Optimization
Retro (8/16-bit)	TDP 4-5W, 40Hz fine, enjoy long sessions
PS1/N64	TDP 6-8W, lower resolution helps
PS2/GameCube	TDP 10W, 40Hz mode, 2x resolution
Wii U/PS3	Plug in for long sessions, 40Hz helps

Thermal Management

Heat and Emulation

Demanding emulation generates heat. The Steam Deck will thermal throttle if it gets too hot, reducing performance to cool down.

Keeping Cool

• Good airflow: Do not block the vents
• Avoid direct sunlight: External heat adds up
• Take breaks: Let it cool during long sessions
• Lower settings: Less work means less heat

Monitoring Temperature

Enable the performance overlay (QAM, Performance, Overlay Level 2+) to see thermals. The Steam Deck throttles around 100C.

Accessories

Some users add cooling accessories:

• USB-C fans
• Cooling grips
• External stands with fans

These help with extended demanding sessions but are not required for most use.