Patriot has introduced its latest microSD card, specifically engineered for high-performance applications like gaming handhelds, including the Nintendo Switch and GPD Win series. While focusing solely on portable devices wouldn’t be a suitable fit for the ROG Ally.
While the Viper Gaming V30’s status as top-tier microSD cards for the Steam Deck remains uncertain, Valve’s handheld gaming PC, similar to other gaming portables, relies on the UHS-I velocity class interface in its construction. The Viper card is engineered to optimize the system’s learning and writing speeds when using a microSD card, ensuring that it does not compromise on performance as some high-end SanDisk or Samsung offerings may currently do.
The Viper Gaming V30 boasts read speeds of up to 100MB/s and write speeds of up to 90MB/s. The device’s storage capabilities match those of the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, peaking at around 104 MB/s for optimal performance.
While Patriot praises the Viper Gaming V30’s compatibility with the Asus ROG Ally, one could question this assessment given that the Ally employs a UHS-II interface, enabling transfer speeds of up to 312MB/s? If you own a ROG Ally, it’s more cost-effective to invest in a card that aligns with the velocity class of the slot on your console, rather than settling for an inferior match.
The availability of the Viper Gaming V30 remains unclear, with no disclosed launch date or value provided. Furthermore, the product is not currently listed on Patriot’s website as part of its available offerings. We do know that at a minimum, 1TB and 512GB variants will likely be available, as evidenced by the images shared thus far.
Whether the Viper Gaming V30 is worth the investment remains to be seen, but having additional options to expand Steam Deck storage, potentially at a lower cost, certainly doesn’t hurt.
Discovering your next gaming obsession while on-the-go? Look no further than our curated list of top Steam Deck games, carefully selected and rigorously tested for your gaming pleasure.
