Which RAM is best for the Steam Deck upgrade kit?

For your situation, I honestly think going for the highest-end chips is a waste of cash. I’ve looked into this a ton and if you're trying to be budget-conscious, the Micron MT62F1G32D4DS-023 LPDDR5-5500 is the way to go. You can usually find these chips for around $40-$60 if you source them right, which is way cheaper than bricking your Deck with experimental 6400MHz stuff.

Here’s my take on the value side of things:

- Stick to 5500MT/s: Anything faster literally drains the battery way quicker for maybe a 2-3 fps gain. Not worth the extra cost imo.
- Brand matters: Samsung K3LK7K70BM-BGCP LPDDR5 is decent but sometimes pricier and finicky with heat.
- Stability is king: If it crashes, you've wasted your money and time.

Basically, 16GB of the Micron stuff is the sweet spot for price-to-performance. It works, it's stable, and it wont break the bank. gl with the soldering!!

tbh i tried the swap with Samsung K3LK7K70BM-BGCP LPDDR5 chips and it was a total nightmare. i was aiming for 6400MHz but the stability was garbage... basically just constant crashes. if ur gonna do it, Micron MT62F1G32D4DS-023 LPDDR5-5500 is way more reliable for the Deck. Honestly, the performance bump is barely there for the risk involved. i mean, you get maybe 3-5 fps more? just isnt worth the battery drain imo...

Seconding the recommendation above regarding the Micron chips! I've spent way too much time doing market research on these LPDDR5 modules, and honestly, the stability you get with Micron MT62F1G32D4DS-023 LPDDR5-5500 is just unbeatable compared to the Samsung ones people keep bricking their Decks with.

Sooo, if you're looking for other solid options that actually work without constant crashing, here's what I've found in my deep dives:

* SK Hynix H5BCCG52MMR-NEK LPDDR5-6400 - These are lowkey the hidden gems for this mod. They handle the heat better than most.
* Samsung K3LKBKB0BM-MGCP LPDDR5-6400 - A bit more power hungry but super snappy for multitasking.

Basically, don't just chase the highest MHz number... it's all about the voltage tolerance. I'm super satisfied with my current setup cuz it actually stays stable during 3-hour sessions. Just take it slow with the heat gun and ur gonna be fine. gl!

Totally agree with the guys saying stick to the Micron chips. ngl, unless you enjoy staring at a black screen and troubleshooting BIOS settings for hours, the 5500MT/s sweet spot is where it's at for most of us. Adding to the DIY side of things, since you mentioned being ready for delicate work, the real MVP isnt just the RAM but the tools you use to seat them. If you're looking for a solid setup without spending a fortune, I'd suggest these:

• Quick 861DW Hot Air Rework Station
• Amtech NC-559-V2-TF Tacky Flux
• Mechanic TY-V866 Solder Paste Honestly, even with the best chips, a messy solder job will kill your deck faster than bad timings. Take it slow and maybe practice on a dead laptop board first if you havent done BGA work before... it's definitely a step up from basic soldering.

sooo, i’ve actually been there and it was honestly a mess. I tried pushing my Deck way too far and basically ended up with a brick for a week. unfortunately, most of these higher-speed modules like the Samsung K3LK7K70BM-BGCP LPDDR5 chips just aren't as good as expected when you try to hit 6400MHz... the heat and stability issues are REAL.

Pro tip: Stick to the Micron MT62F1G32D4DS-023 LPDDR5-5500 if you value your sanity. It’s way safer and won’t kill your battery life as fast, plus it's easier on the memory controller.

Check out the 'Steam Deck Hardware Modding' Discord; it’s literally the best resource for finding verified BIOS settings to keep things stable. also, make sure you have a high-quality Pinecil V2 Portable Soldering Iron because those pads are tiny and easy to lift. stay safe and dont rush it, right? gl!

Sooo I've been messing with handheld hardware for years and honestly, this is one of the more intense mods you can do. For your situation, I would suggest sticking with chips rated for 5500MT/s or maybe 6400MT/s if you're feeling brave. In my experience, anything faster than that literally hits a wall with the Steam Deck's memory controller. The real gains aren't just from the raw clock speed, but from the increased bandwidth helping the APU breathe during heavy multitasking.

I've tried many different setups and while the higher-speed modules look great on paper, the power draw *definitely* spikes once you start pushing the voltage to keep it stable. It's a trade-off. Before you dive in though, I gotta ask: are you more focused on hitting a higher stable frame rate in AAA titles, or are you just trying to fix the stuttering when you have a bunch of background apps running?