- “Fremont” appears on Geekbench with a custom 6-core/12-thread AMD CPU and verified records.
- The RX 7600 dedicated GPU and disabled iGPU tracks are more suited to a home PC than a laptop.
- Industry sources indicate mass production by late 2025 and a possible launch in early 2026, with no official confirmation.
- Valve has reiterated that there will be no Steam Deck 2 until there is a significant performance jump.
The conversation around Steam Deck 2 has been reactivated by a public entry on Geekbench under the codename «Fremont Valve»The discovery has sparked speculation: are we looking at the successor to Valve's handheld or a different project aimed at the living room?
What has been seen is what must be dissected with a magnifying glass: a Custom AMD CPU with 6 cores and 12 threads, frequencies of 3,20 GHz base and peaks close to 4,8 GHz, Together with 8GB DDR5 memory at 5600 MT/s. Added to the mention of a Radeon RX 7600 Dedicated GPU with the iGPU disabled as the test unit runs Windows 11 Pro, the obvious reading is that it might not be a typical laptop.
What the "Fremont" leak really says
The Geekbench tab appears verified on August 20 (ID: 13390426) and suggests that it is a prototype in validation, which is common when measuring internal platforms before their announcement.
According to the data, the system mounts a Custom AMD CPU 6C / 12T, 16MB of L3 cache y 6MB L2. It is accompanied by 8GB DDR5 5600 Dual Channel, a discreet figure for a final product but reasonable for Test equipment focused on validating firmware and drivers.
Another key detail is the software: the unit runs Windows 11 Pro, something common in validations, while the commercial product —if it were to arrive— would fit with SteamOS by ecosystem logic. This mix of signals reinforces the idea that we are facing desktop hardware in evaluation.
Graphically, the mentions of a AMD Radeon RX 7600 (RDNA 3) dedicated with the processor's iGPU disabled - pointed out by specialized leakers - are the most convincing clue: such a GPU demands more space, consumption and cooling than a handheld chassis allows.
In synthetic numbers, values around have been seen 2.412 points in single-core y 7.451 in multi-core, consistent with a 4-core Zen 6, far from what would mark a latest-generation APU based on Zen 5 designed for ultra-mobility.
- Potential performance: a design with a dedicated GPU could perform well above the APU from the original Deck and facilitate 1080p/60 fps in more demanding titles.
- Consumption and thermal: that improvement brings with it more energy demand and noise/heat to manage, aspects that fit better on a tabletop than in laptop.
Steam Deck 2 or a new living room PC from Valve?
If confirmed, Dedicated GPU, everything points to a compact equipment for the television —a sort of return to the spirit of Steam Machines—rather than a direct successor to the Steam Deck. A living room format allows more capable cooling, higher wattage sources y less commitments than a laptop.
Supply chain sources cited by Asian media place a possible mass production in the last quarter of 2025 and a potential launch early 2026. These are plausible dates for industrial cycles, but they are still unofficial until Valve makes its move.
In terms of performance and use, elements such as HDMI output, Plate and case designed by Valve and the execution of SteamOS to offer a "PC for TV" experience with an optimized interface. The presence of Windows 11 in the public test fits with a validation unit, not with the target software.
In parallel, accessories and ecosystem projects have been mentioned —control «Ibex», VR headset «Deckard» or drivers «Roy»— which could coincide in calendar, although at the moment they are unconfirmed mentions which should be treated with caution.
For its part, Valve has repeated on several occasions that will not make the jump to Steam Deck 2 until having a truly significant performance increase on a portable level. In light of the pieces that emerge in "Fremont," the movement fits more as living room accessory as a replacement for the Deck.
The photograph that leaves all the above is clear: Fremont points to a desktop hardware with a Zen 4 CPU and dedicated RX 7600 GPU that could coexist with the Steam Deck, not replace it. There are verified data and many loose ends still remain; until Valve makes a statement, it's best to remain cautious and calmly separate the measured from the imagined.