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To check what your Steam Deck reports about its CPU and GPU, switch to Desktop Mode, open KInfoCenter, and select About System. The route is Steam > Power > Switch to Desktop, then Applications > System > KInfoCenter (or search for kinfocenter) and About System. For full CPU and GPU specifications, including details the system-information screen may not show, check Valve’s specification for your LCD or OLED model.
How do I check my Steam Deck’s CPU and GPU?
KInfoCenter is the built-in graphical tool for viewing hardware information in Desktop Mode. This is a free check using software already included with SteamOS. You do not need to open the Deck, remove a panel, install a diagnostic application, or buy a meter or other tool.
- Open the Power menu. From Gaming Mode, press the Steam button, choose Power, and select Switch to Desktop. Valve documents this route for moving from the game-focused interface to the KDE desktop.
- Open the application launcher. In Desktop Mode, choose Applications, then open the System category.
- Launch KInfoCenter. Select KInfoCenter. If the menu is difficult to navigate with the Deck’s controls, search for
kinfocenterin the desktop launcher instead. - Select About System. In KInfoCenter, open About System. Read the entries labeled Processors and Graphics Processor. Those entries are the hardware details that the Deck is reporting in that view.
- Compare with the correct Valve specification. Establish whether the device is the LCD or OLED Deck, then use the matching column in the table below. The manufacturer’s specification supplies architectural details that a compact system-information summary may omit.
The route is graphical, so a terminal command is not required. KInfoCenter is also preferable to treating a game overlay as a hardware-identification tool: an overlay can show what the system is doing at a particular moment, while About System is intended to identify the reported components.
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Valve documents STEAM + X for opening the on-screen keyboard in Desktop Mode. Use that keyboard to enter kinfocenter in the launcher search. A physical keyboard and mouse can also be connected, but they are optional conveniences rather than requirements. The answer does not require purchasing an accessory.
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If you prefer a full desktop workspace, a USB-C keyboard for Steam Deck is a reasonable optional search phrase. Confirm the connector on any product before buying; no particular listing or availability is established here. A Steam Deck-compatible USB-C dock is another optional way to connect a keyboard, mouse, or external display. Valve describes compatibility work for third-party docks and hubs, but a dock does not expose additional CPU or GPU specifications, and no particular third-party dock is verified by this guide. For the basic check, the Deck alone is sufficient and costs nothing beyond the device you already own.
What will KInfoCenter show?
In About System, look for the processor and graphics-processor entries. Depending on the installed software and hardware configuration, the text can be abbreviated or presented differently from Valve’s product page. KDE’s KInfoCenter documentation states: “The information presented will vary depending on your setup.” A missing architectural detail therefore does not prove that the Deck lacks that feature; it can simply mean that this particular summary does not enumerate it.
For example, the screen may identify the processor family or graphics processor without spelling out the complete Zen 2, RDNA 2, or compute-unit description used in Valve’s specification. It may also present a current or reported name rather than every design limit. Copy the entries if you need to compare two devices, but use Valve’s model-specific page when you need the published full specification.
What CPU and GPU does each Steam Deck model have?
Valve specifies both the LCD and OLED Deck with a four-core, eight-thread Zen 2 CPU and an RDNA 2 GPU with eight compute units. They are integrated into an AMD APU rather than installed as separate desktop-style cards. The models differ in process node, memory speed, and the way Valve states the advertised GPU frequency, so do not copy one model’s figures into the other model’s description.
| Valve specification | LCD Steam Deck | OLED Steam Deck |
|---|---|---|
| APU process node | 7 nm | 6 nm |
| CPU architecture | Zen 2 | Zen 2 |
| CPU cores / threads | 4 cores / 8 threads | 4 cores / 8 threads |
| Advertised CPU frequency | 2.4–3.5 GHz | 2.4–3.5 GHz |
| GPU architecture | RDNA 2 | RDNA 2 |
| GPU compute units | 8 | 8 |
| Advertised GPU frequency | 1.0–1.6 GHz | 1.6 GHz |
| APU power | 4–15 W | 4–15 W |
| Memory | 16 GB LPDDR5 at 5500 MT/s | 16 GB LPDDR5 at 6400 MT/s |
These are Valve’s published product specifications, not measurements taken from an individual Deck. Valve’s technical-specification page lists the OLED figures, while its Steam Deck product listing gives the LCD figures. Valve also describes the process-node distinction on its Deck information page. Its technical page includes the caveat, “Product specifications are subject to change,” so consult the current model page if you are documenting a later revision.
What is the same on LCD and OLED?
The shared CPU and GPU description is substantial. Both models use a Zen 2 CPU with four cores and eight threads, a 2.4–3.5 GHz advertised CPU range, and an RDNA 2 GPU with eight compute units. If KInfoCenter reports one of those common families, that alone may not identify the display model. Use the model designation and then verify the model-specific process node and memory figures.
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What differs between LCD and OLED?
The OLED specification lists a 6 nm AMD APU, 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory at 6400 MT/s, and a 1.6 GHz GPU specification. The LCD listing describes a 7 nm APU, 16 GB of LPDDR5 at 5500 MT/s, and a GPU range of 1.0–1.6 GHz. Both list 4–15 W for APU power. These distinctions explain why the table has separate columns even though the CPU architecture, core count, GPU architecture, and compute-unit count match.
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Why are the CPU and GPU described as an APU?
An APU combines the processor and graphics processor in one AMD package. The Deck is therefore not a small desktop with a separately replaceable CPU card and graphics card. Valve’s specification presents the CPU and GPU together as parts of the APU, and KInfoCenter can report them as integrated system components. This matters when interpreting the screen: a single APU-related description is normal, and the absence of a separate desktop graphics-card name is not an error.
The integrated design also explains why the published table includes APU power and shared system memory information alongside CPU and GPU architecture. Those entries describe the platform as a whole. They are not instructions to open the case or upgrade an individual card.
What does the GPU clock range mean?
For the LCD model, Valve gives a GPU frequency of 1.0–1.6 GHz. For OLED, Valve lists 1.6 GHz. Read those as published specification figures. They are not a promise that a live clock display will stay at 1.6 GHz during every game, menu, or background task.
A live clock can vary with workload and operating conditions, while the product page expresses the design’s advertised frequency. The same caution applies to the 4–15 W APU power figure: it is a specification range, not a guarantee of the Deck’s instantaneous total system draw. Do not replace the table with a single momentary reading from a game overlay.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIs KInfoCenter enough to identify the full specification?
Use KInfoCenter first because it is the straightforward built-in way to inspect what SteamOS reports. Then use Valve’s page for the complete published specification. The two sources answer slightly different questions:
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- About System: What processor and graphics hardware does this installation report?
- Valve’s model page: What architecture, frequency, process node, memory speed, compute-unit count, and APU power figures does Valve publish for this model?
KDE explicitly warns that the information shown varies by setup. As a result, About System may not list the GPU’s eight compute units, may shorten the processor name, or may omit a process-node description. That is a limitation of the summary, not evidence that the specification is different.
How to handle an abbreviated or unexpected entry
- Read the exact text under Processors and Graphics Processor rather than guessing from a game’s performance.
- Confirm whether the hardware is the LCD or OLED model before choosing a Valve specification.
- Compare the entry with the matching model column, allowing for the fact that KInfoCenter may use a shorter label.
- If a field is absent, record it as “not shown in About System” and obtain that value from Valve’s model page instead of inventing a measurement.
This approach prevents a common mistake: treating a system-information summary as if it were a complete product sheet. It also prevents the opposite mistake of assuming that a missing field means the Deck has a different CPU or GPU.
Are CPU and GPU usage the same as their specifications?
No. A specification describes the hardware design and advertised capability. Utilization, frame rate, temperature, power draw, and live clock readings describe current operation under particular software and environmental conditions.
A game can show low GPU utilization while the Deck is waiting on another part of the workload, or high utilization without changing the underlying GPU specification. Likewise, a live clock can move within an operating range without changing the model’s advertised architecture. Those observations are useful for troubleshooting performance, but they do not answer “What CPU and GPU does my Steam Deck have?”
What about Steam’s performance monitor?
Valve’s June 30, 2025 announcement described four detail levels for a Steam in-game performance monitor, including live performance information. The announcement’s initial release focus was Windows. It does not establish a particular menu path or availability for the Steam Deck, so do not transplant Windows-client instructions and present them as a confirmed Deck procedure.
For hardware identification, stay with the verified Desktop Mode route: Steam, Power, Switch to Desktop, KInfoCenter, and About System. If a performance monitor is available on a particular installation, treat its utilization and clock values as live observations, not replacements for Valve’s static model specification.
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Does the OLED Deck have the same CPU and GPU as the LCD Deck?
In the major architecture and count fields, yes: both are specified with a Zen 2 four-core/eight-thread CPU and an RDNA 2 GPU with eight compute units. They are not identical in every published number. OLED uses the 6 nm APU listing and 6400 MT/s memory figure; LCD uses the 7 nm listing and 5500 MT/s memory figure. Valve also states the GPU frequency differently: 1.6 GHz for OLED and 1.0–1.6 GHz for LCD.
Therefore, the correct answer depends on what “same” means. The CPU and GPU families and counts match, while platform details and advertised memory and GPU-frequency entries differ. Check the model column rather than inferring OLED or LCD from a shared processor name.
Common mistakes when checking Deck specifications
- Staying in Gaming Mode: KInfoCenter is a Desktop Mode application, so use the documented power-menu switch first.
- Assuming the launcher entry is missing: Search for
kinfocenterif browsing Applications > System does not immediately reveal it. - Expecting a full product sheet in About System: KDE says displayed information varies by setup; use Valve for omitted architecture or compute-unit details.
- Mixing LCD and OLED rows: Verify the model before copying process-node or memory-speed figures.
- Reading a live clock as a fixed specification: The LCD range and OLED figure are published values, not a guarantee of every momentary reading.
- Confusing usage with identity: Utilization and frame rate are observations of a workload, not proof of which CPU or GPU is installed.
- Buying hardware unnecessarily: A keyboard, mouse, dock, diagnostic app, and case-opening tools are not required for this check.
- Using unverified Windows instructions: Valve’s 2025 monitor announcement focused initially on Windows and does not confirm a Deck-specific menu route.
What information should I record?
For a useful inventory, record the model designation (LCD or OLED), the exact Processors text, the exact Graphics Processor text, and the date you checked. Then add the matching Valve values: Zen 2, four cores/eight threads, CPU frequency, RDNA 2, eight compute units, GPU frequency, APU power, process node, and memory speed. Label the Valve values as published specifications and the KInfoCenter entries as device-reported information.
This two-part record is clearer than writing down only a benchmark result. It preserves what the operating system identified and what Valve says the model is designed with, while acknowledging that the summary screen may not show every field.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can I check the specifications without buying anything?
Yes. The procedure uses SteamOS, Desktop Mode, KDE’s KInfoCenter, and Valve’s public specification pages. A physical keyboard and mouse, USB-C keyboard, or dock can make navigation more comfortable, but none is necessary. No particular accessory, retailer listing, price, or affiliate offer is required to identify the CPU and GPU.
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How do I type in Desktop Mode without a physical keyboard?
Press STEAM + X to bring up the on-screen keyboard in Desktop Mode, as described in Valve’s keyboard instructions. You can then enter kinfocenter in the desktop launcher search.
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Where do I check Steam Deck CPU specs?
Switch to Desktop Mode with Steam > Power > Switch to Desktop, open Applications > System > KInfoCenter, and select About System. Read the Processors entry, then compare it with Valve’s LCD or OLED specification.
How do I see my Steam Deck GPU specs?
In KInfoCenter’s About System view, read Graphics Processor. For the GPU architecture and compute-unit count that may not appear there, use the matching Valve specification: RDNA 2 with eight compute units for both LCD and OLED.
Can I connect a keyboard and mouse to my Steam Deck?
Yes. Valve says a physical keyboard and mouse can be connected, and its Dock page describes keyboard, mouse, and external-display use. Those accessories can make Desktop Mode easier to navigate, but they do not reveal extra CPU or GPU specifications.
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Does the Steam Deck have separate desktop-style CPU and GPU cards?
No. Valve specifies both as components of an AMD APU. The CPU and graphics processor are integrated system components rather than separate desktop upgrade cards.
Does the OLED Deck have the same CPU and GPU as the LCD Deck?
They share the published Zen 2 four-core/eight-thread CPU and RDNA 2 GPU with eight compute units. OLED is listed with a 6 nm APU and 6400 MT/s memory, while LCD is listed with a 7 nm APU and 5500 MT/s memory; Valve also states their GPU-frequency specifications differently.
Why is a detail missing from KInfoCenter?
KDE says, “The information presented will vary depending on your setup.” About System is a device-reported summary and may omit details such as GPU compute units or process node. Use Valve’s model-specific page for those published figures.
Is the 1.6 GHz GPU figure a constant live speed?
No. Valve’s 1.6 GHz OLED figure and the LCD 1.0–1.6 GHz range are published specifications. A live clock can vary with workload and operating conditions, so do not treat one momentary reading as a fixed promise.
Do I need a dock or diagnostic software to check the hardware?
No. The check is available through SteamOS Desktop Mode and KInfoCenter. A dock or USB-C keyboard is optional for convenience, and third-party diagnostic software is not required.
The Bottom Line
Use Steam > Power > Switch to Desktop, open KInfoCenter, and choose About System to read the Deck’s reported Processors and Graphics Processor entries. Then match the device to Valve’s LCD or OLED specification. Both models use a Zen 2 four-core/eight-thread CPU and an RDNA 2 GPU with eight compute units, while their APU process node, memory speed, and published GPU-frequency entries differ. Treat live clocks and utilization as performance observations, not as the specification itself.
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