Add Disable Memory Power Down option to BIOS menu

[radityaargap]

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Randomly crashes to verifying installation as discussed here #1257

Someone already found the problem, they even give you the fix. Why do you refuse to implement it in the updates? A lot of people can't RMA their device because they don't live in the officialy supported countries.

I know you explained that the "fix" will increase power consumption but can't you at least give us the option to switch it on and off. Make it an official update instead of forcing us to use old bios. Having higher power consumption is better than having the deck crashes every time. I'm begging you. Why are you guys so mean to us?

[emcy849]

I have weirdly started getting this issue again recently (while playing halo infinite, specifically squad battle playlist for some reason) after quite a long time where it went away and i thought it was fixed in some recent update :(

Even doing the bios retrain thing multiple times isnt preventing it now.

[lostgoat]

@emcy849 can you open a new issue describing your problem? Let me know in that new issue if the crash occurs just in halo or if it also happens in other games. And if you can submit a system report after you see the crash that would be useful. I'd like to compare it to the system report you submitted before.

[TiagoKuribara]

Commenting just to show that there is interest in this feature (:

I would really like this to be implemented too! I live in Brazil and my deck had the aforementioned problem, it works great now, but I had to lock my BIOS and can never update it. it would be awesome if my deck could keep receiving BIOS updates! (:

[zigenstern]

This issue is still relevant, I can't use the old 116 bios to disable the dram power down with the latest SteamOS star update either, a while back my screen broke, steam essentially told me to shove off because I replaced my original 64gb SSD myself many months beforehand, and the only screen I could find in stock anywhere was the deckHD upgrade screen, and it can't change the refreshrate in os v3.6.19 and bios 116, it would be so cool if they implemented the VERY SIMPLE FIX of ADDING THIS OPTION THEMSELVES, then the games I'm playing on the device I bought, TO PLAY GAMES, won't crash every few minutes

[lostgoat]

Hi @zigenstern

This option should already be available in new BIOS versions. It is under the advanced tab.

[zigenstern]

Hi @zigenstern

This option should already be available in new BIOS versions. It is under the advanced tab.

@lostgoat What's it called? I don't see it, would absolutely love to be wrong, and I am in bios 131

[lostgoat]

The option is called “memory power down” and it’s at the bottom of the Advanced menu.

I don’t have a steam deck handy that has the current stable bios. But if it isn’t available in the stable channel, then you might need to opt into the “Main” (development channel) to get this bios update.

After updating the bios you can switch to stable and you’ll keep your updated bios.

[zigenstern]

I'm updating to Main now, if it's there and works, I might actually have to kiss you

[zigenstern]

@lostgoat Do you know what bios version you have? Main channel doesn't seem to want to give me a bios

[lostgoat]

Right now I have an OLED deck with me which has a different BIOS versions than an LCD decal. I can let you know the right version info tomorrow when I have access to an LCD deck.

[zigenstern]

Alright thank you, I'm gonna go check the beta channel since I just found this one reddit post where someone asked about it

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/1epdsy4/memory_power_down/

Thank you for all your help

[zigenstern]

hi @lostgoat, sorry to keep bothering, but i have checked every branch option i have, stable/release candidate, beta/beta candidate, preivew/preview candidate, and main. I have yet to see any option in the bios on any page regarding memory power down. Maybe its only there for the OLED decks so far, which is hilarious, since i have yet to see or hear any report of it happening to the OLED

[zigenstern]

If it is the case that its for the OLED only for the time being, that would be quite sad. i have unlocked the CBS and PBS menus in bios 131 on the LCD deck using the SREP/runtime patcher method, and was only able to find the DRAM power down enable option in the CBS menu, under UMC Common Options > DDR Controller options > DRAM Controller configuration. i couldn't find the one that used to be under the PBS menu, and with it disabled in only the CBS menu i still experience the same crashing. Looks like my deck will either be usable for only 5-10 minutes at a time, but i can control the refresh rate, or I can fix the problem outright by flashing a real old bios and blocking valve from updating it automatically, but lose any control over refreshrate

[lostgoat]

Hey @zigenstern

I'm updating my LCD now to check.

By the way, are you in a region serviced by steam support? This option is mainly intended for user who are in a part of the world where we can't RMA the unit. But if you are in an area where we provide support we'd be more than happy to RMA the unit for you.

If you are, please open a support ticket and let me know your steam username or ticket ID so I can leave a comment on it.

because I replaced my original 64gb SSD myself many months beforehand

Just to clarify here, changing the SSD does not void the warranty. I'm not sure what the details of your case were, but the SSD exchange wouldn't have been the reason an RMA was not previously offered.

[zigenstern]

my cat and his rotund rear end jumped onto my Deck while it was in it's case and managed to crack the screen, back when it was still within the first year of ownership. I asked for RMA to get the screen fixed, mentioned I did not know if my warranty was void because i had upgraded the SSD myself, and the support agent said "we will not repair a device that was broken while doing a DIY upgrade",

And now its been well over a year and I'm fairly certain its not in warrantee anymore anyways. As for region, I'm in the north east of the USA

What would i put in this support ticket?

[lostgoat]

Put a link to this issue and send me the ticket id.

[zigenstern]

@lostgoat should i DM/Email it to you or just put it here? and would it let you see the address they demanded i enter?

[lostgoat]

Thanks, I found it by searching for the issue link.

For other folks in a country that doesn't have access to Steam Support. The 'Memory Power Down' option will be available for LCD steam decks with BIOS 133. This BIOS version is still under testing. Once that completes, it should be available in the Main channel, then make its way to Beta and Stable later on.

I'm keeping this issue open until there is a public release of BIOS 133 in the Main channel.

[TiagoKuribara]

thank you very much! (:

I'm from brazil, i cant RMA my steam deck here, so I'm looking forward for this update (:

[zigenstern]

Happy update, despite the 2 years since I got the deck (Q3 preorder) they said I can RMA it for a brand new replacement, AND they are willing to let me send it in without the original screen and SSD since I no longer possess those items. And to think the many months I've been dealing with this issue I just thought they would say no since it's been modified by myself and the whole 2 year thing

[Taskerer]

Thanks, I found it by searching for the issue link.

For other folks in a country that doesn't have access to Steam Support. The 'Memory Power Down' option will be available for LCD steam decks with BIOS 133. This BIOS version is still under testing. Once that completes, it should be available in the Main channel, then make its way to Beta and Stable later on.

I'm keeping this issue open until there is a public release of BIOS 133 in the Main channel.

How soon is the 133 bios coming out?