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A community mod can make Cyberpunk 2077 show roughly 80–90 FPS on a Steam Deck when paired with frame generation, but the game is not rendering 90 complete frames per second. In the reported demonstration, HelixSR produced just over 40 rendered FPS; MAKO then generated additional frames. The Steam Deck OLED can display that output at up to 90Hz, while the LCD model is limited to 60Hz.
What the HelixSR result actually means
HelixSR is a community project that acts as a drop-in FSR 3.1 upscaler for Direct3D 12 games while running DLSS’s neural-network upscaling on AMD GPUs, including the Steam Deck’s custom AMD APU. That gives compatible games an additional upscaling path beyond their standard options.
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In the Cyberpunk demonstration reported by Notebookcheck, the underlying game renderer stayed just above 40 FPS without frame generation. With MAKO enabled, the displayed counter rose to approximately 80–90 FPS because extra frames were inserted between the frames produced by the game.
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Can Steam Deck run Cyberpunk at 90 FPS?
Only the OLED Deck can show a 90-FPS output at the panel’s full refresh rate. Valve lists the Steam Deck OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz. Valve Steam Support states that “the Steam Deck LCD display is capped at a 60Hz refresh rate, and the Steam Deck OLED display is capped at 90Hz refresh rate.”
- Steam Deck OLED: can present up to 90 refreshes per second, so an 80–90 FPS generated output can use the panel’s full refresh range.
- Steam Deck LCD: remains capped at 60Hz. It may still benefit from upscaling or frame-generation techniques, but the screen cannot show 90 refreshes per second.
The display limit is separate from the game’s render rate. A Deck can render fewer frames than the panel refreshes, or generate intermediate frames, without changing the hardware’s native rendering capability.
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HelixSR and MAKO do different jobs
HelixSR: the upscaling layer
HelixSR supplies the upscaling path. Its project documentation describes Linux and Steam Deck support and provides the setup command ./helixsr-setup.sh. The project is intended for Direct3D 12 titles and uses DLSS’s network on AMD hardware through its FSR 3.1 drop-in implementation.
MAKO: the frame-generation layer
MAKO is a separate, Vulkan-powered Linux graphics layer that adds frame generation and scaling for Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and desktop Linux. In the Cyberpunk example, MAKO is the component responsible for creating the additional displayed frames after the game has rendered its base frames.
Because the two projects are separate, installing HelixSR alone does not reproduce the reported 80–90 FPS counter. A compatible frame-generation layer such as MAKO is also required for that type of output.
What was reported, versus what is not established
| Configuration | Base rendered FPS | Displayed result | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard or stock settings | Not stated in the Notebookcheck demonstration report | Not stated in the Notebookcheck demonstration report | No controlled stock comparison is established. |
| HelixSR without frame generation | Just above 40 FPS in the reported Cyberpunk demonstration | Approximately the same order as the rendered rate | Upscaling improves the performance path, but does not by itself create extra frames. |
| HelixSR with MAKO frame generation | Just above 40 FPS in the reported demonstration | Approximately 80–90 FPS | The higher figure includes generated frames; it is not native 90-FPS rendering. |
The figures come from a community demonstration rather than a controlled laboratory benchmark. They should not be treated as a guaranteed result for every Deck, game build, graphics preset, or software version.
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- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
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- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
How to approach a HelixSR Steam Deck setup
HelixSR and MAKO are actively developed community projects, so menu names, compatibility and installation details can change. The documented path is:
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- Use a Linux or Steam Deck installation with a compatible Direct3D 12 game. Keep in mind that the reported result is specific to a particular Cyberpunk setup, not a promise for every title.
- Obtain the HelixSR project files from its official project page and run the Linux/Steam Deck setup script:
./helixsr-setup.sh. - Launch the game through the configuration in which HelixSR is installed, then select the game’s supported upscaling options rather than NVIDIA-only features.
- Leave NVIDIA Reflex and the game’s built-in DLSS Frame Generation options disabled. HelixSR documentation says those NVIDIA-only menu options do not work with HelixSR.
- Install and configure MAKO separately if you want generated frames. MAKO is the additional Vulkan layer used for frame generation; HelixSR does not replace it.
- Test with an on-screen counter and observe frame pacing, input response and image stability. Compare the game’s rendered rate with the displayed rate instead of relying on one headline number.
Exact launch parameters and compatibility can vary by Proton version, game update and project release. A setup that works for the reported Cyberpunk demonstration may require adjustment after an update.
Trade-offs beyond the FPS counter
| Factor | What the available report supports |
|---|---|
| Native performance | The Cyberpunk demonstration rendered just above 40 FPS before frame generation. |
| Generated performance | MAKO raised the displayed result to approximately 80–90 FPS by inserting frames. |
| Image quality | No controlled image-quality comparison is stated; results can depend on resolution, preset and motion. |
| Latency and frame pacing | Not measured in the report. Generated frames do not increase the game’s simulation or input-processing rate. |
| Compatibility | HelixSR targets Direct3D 12 through its Linux implementation; MAKO adds a separate Vulkan layer. Compatibility is project- and game-dependent. |
| Power draw and battery life | No controlled battery or power measurement is provided, so a specific battery-life penalty cannot be claimed. |
| Setup complexity | Higher than stock settings because HelixSR and a separate frame-generation layer must be installed and maintained. |
For a meaningful comparison, record native rendered FPS, generated FPS, frame pacing, latency, image artifacts, compatibility and battery behavior together. A larger counter alone does not prove that the game feels or responds like a native 90-FPS title.
The practical verdict
HelixSR makes DLSS-style neural upscaling available on AMD-based Steam Deck hardware, and the Cyberpunk demonstration shows why that is interesting: just over 40 rendered FPS can become an approximately 80–90 FPS displayed result when MAKO supplies frame generation. The claim is credible as a generated-frame demonstration, not as evidence that the Steam Deck is natively rendering Cyberpunk at 90 FPS. For the full 90Hz presentation, you also need the OLED Deck; the LCD model remains limited to 60Hz.
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