Valve's Steam Machine is here: starts at $1,049 for 512GB or $1,349 for the 2TB version

[AnilD]

Valve refusing to subsidize the hardware is philosophically admirable and commercially painful. I really like the idea of a polished SteamOS console, but $1,049 for RX 7600-class performance and 512GB of storage makes this feel like a boutique mini PC rather than a mass-market console.

 

[Alpine7995]

The walnut faceplate is a nice touch because nothing says living-room gaming value quite like paying $1,349 for 2TB and receiving artisanal wood as emotional compensation.

 

[LordVile95]

Actually, if dual boot Windows on it, you could play anticheat restricted games (with Linux becoming more popular, it's also a matter of time before it doesn't matter).

But then you’re losing the interface which is the entire point of buying this underpowered nonsense.

Also you can hook up a disc drive if you reeeeaaally want.

No because it has no expansion slots.

The freedom of a PC in contrast to a locked-down console.

Freedom of what exactly? A soldered together box charged at 2x the market rate?

And yeah, it's not subsidized and the RAMpocalypse is inflating the cost. You are more or less paying for the freedom of PC in a console form factor + ram/storage prices.

Consoles haven’t been subsidised for years, the PS5 was sold at a profit as soon as production spooled up. Typically they’re only sold at a loss when they’re trying to get market share.

I'm not saying it's a good price (not much is a good price at this stage in AI screwing hardware prices up), but lets not pretend it isn't just a fancy PC....

No it’s a bad PC that gets trounced by hardware that’s 3 generations old, gets beaten on performance by consoles whilst being 2x the price and it can’t be upgraded and runs a buggy OS.

 

[penn919]

I think an official steam machine is good in general because it's a target spec for the current Gen. As for the device itself, it's nothing special. It's just another SFF PC. You can literally build something with similar specs and it'll perform nearly identical. No special recipe. If you don't like the product, buy a better one or build one. Just make sure the GPU is AMD and the CPU is a modern hexa-core or greater (Intel or AMD).

 

[Squid Surprise]

...Do you know anything about CEC?

I do - and any gaming PC can send games through HDMI without a problem… are you having issues gaming on a TV? You might need to do some research…
Why would you need CEC for a PC anyways? Just set your input on you AVR/TV and you’re good…

 

[Theinsanegamer]

...Do you know anything about CEC?

...Do you know anything about Big Picture mode? Or PCs in general?

I've been running a PC on my TV for, what, nearly 20 years now? It isnt hard to do. You dont need some special HDMI spec to make it work.

I think an official steam machine is good in general because it's a target spec for the current Gen. As for the device itself, it's nothing special. It's just another SFF PC. You can literally build something with similar specs and it'll perform nearly identical. No special recipe. If you don't like the product, buy a better one or build one. Just make sure the GPU is AMD and the CPU is a modern hexa-core or greater (Intel or AMD).

A target spec for PC? What game developer is going to rely on an under-powered overpriced trash can to be the benchmark for their software when they already have the xbox series S filling that function?

Good point but mobile 5050 is much slower. It is basically a 2060 and you don't know if it is lower powered version that is even worse. (range seems to be 50-100W)

You may want to check some benchmarks. The RTX 5050 is faster then the 7600m.

https://technical.city/en/video/Radeon-RX-7600M-vs-GeForce-RTX-5050-mobile

The 7600m is margin of error faster.....if you pump 120w into it. BTW the 5050 here is running at 50w.
https://technical.city/en/video/Radeon-RX-7600M-XT-vs-GeForce-RTX-5050-mobile

The 7600m sucked balls, which is why nobody used it when it came out. Valve needed to use a 9060 instead.

 

[Hecate91]

The Steam Machine is overpriced, but I guess most people haven't looked at the cost of RAM and storage, or the cost of what hardware is nowadays. You're not going to build anything close to this in the same form factor, mini PC's have a weaker iGPU and will be bandwidth limited.
Those comparing it to a console are especially missing the point, a console has subsidized hardware, and requires you to buy a subscription to play online, you'd also have to buy games again for an Xbox or PS5. The whole point of the Steam Machine is having a compact PC to play Steam games you already own on your TV.
But the best thing about this is Steam OS hopefully gains some more traction against Windows.

 

[Squid Surprise]

The Steam Machine is overpriced, but I guess most people haven't looked at the cost of RAM and storage, or the cost of what hardware is nowadays. You're not going to build anything close to this in the same form factor, mini PC's have a weaker iGPU and will be bandwidth limited.

Yes you are - did you read the article?

Those comparing it to a console are especially missing the point, a console has subsidized hardware, and requires you to buy a subscription to play online, you'd also have to buy games again for an Xbox or PS5. The whole point of the Steam Machine is having a compact PC to play Steam games you already own on your TV.
But the best thing about this is Steam OS hopefully gains some more traction against Windows.

Consoles aren’t being sold at a loss any more…

This device is the worst of both worlds… you get an overpriced crappy PC that only plays Steam games… you could buy a cheaper console OR a cheaper PC…. Not sure why anyone would need this…

 

[m4a4]

But then you’re losing the interface which is the entire point of buying this underpowered nonsense.

Then don't buy it! But you have the freedom to get those games you definitely don't play or actually care about to work on it.

No because it has no expansion slots.

Do you know how USB works..?

Freedom of what exactly? A soldered together box charged at 2x the market rate?

Consoles haven’t been subsidised for years, the PS5 was sold at a profit as soon as production spooled up. Typically they’re only sold at a loss when they’re trying to get market share.

No it’s a bad PC that gets trounced by hardware that’s 3 generations old, gets beaten on performance by consoles whilst being 2x the price and it can’t be upgraded and runs a buggy OS.

Seems like you are just arguing for the sake of arguing if you are seriously questioning what "freedom" implies vs a console.
And sure they're not selling at a loss anymore (not what I said), but we all know console makers aren't making a killing off of their hardware.

Why are you here if it's not appealing for you? Just to whine?

 

[m4a4]

I do - and any gaming PC can send games through HDMI without a problem… are you having issues gaming on a TV? You might need to do some research…
Why would you need CEC for a PC anyways? Just set your input on you AVR/TV and you’re good…

PC GPUs don't have native CEC support, like consoles. You need a workaround to hopefully get it working on a TV and the typical livingroom sound system setup. You know, so you can then control the devices that support it without needing to manually adjust/power them on individually..?

Seems like you didn't know those basic facts. TV's don't work like a PC monitor

 

[m4a4]

...Do you know anything about Big Picture mode? Or PCs in general?

I've been running a PC on my TV for, what, nearly 20 years now? It isnt hard to do. You dont need some special HDMI spec to make it work.

So no, you do not know what CEC is. But you arrogantly replied to me like you did.

See my comment above for a short bit of education.

 

[Squid Surprise]

PC GPUs don't have native CEC support, like consoles. You need a workaround to hopefully get it working on a TV and the typical livingroom sound system setup. You know, so you can then control the devices that support it without needing to manually adjust/power them on individually..?

Seems like you didn't know those basic facts. TV's don't work like a PC monitor

Your PC is always on - or should be… so CEC is irrelevant… and if it isn’t, you’ve got a keyboard to “wake it up”…

CEC is flawed on SO many devices… first thing I did was disable it on all of my devices. I have a universal remote (a SofaBaton - used to use the Logitech Harmony, but they discontinued it) and I can easily use all of my devices from it - Denon AVR, Samsung TV, Bell Fibe TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, Wii and PC… people have been doing similar things for years…

 

[SRB]

PC GPUs don't have native CEC support, like consoles. You need a workaround to hopefully get it working on a TV and the typical livingroom sound system setup. You know, so you can then control the devices that support it without needing to manually adjust/power them on individually..?

Seems like you didn't know those basic facts. TV's don't work like a PC monitor

I find it interesting that CEC becomes a bone of contention for you. I've used a Sony 4k 120hz HDTV as a monitor for my main PC for years. The audio is sent across the HDMI. It can come from the TV or separate audio system (I have a Yamaha surround receiver set up with 5.1 surround). With my home theater setup, I use an optical out that passes any audio source being displayed on the TV to the receiver. eARC can also do similar things. When I fire up my home theater pc, my main TV uses CEC to switch automatically to the pc when the PC boots. TV remote works for volume and switching inputs or channels like normal. (pretty much the same as the attached PS5). 4K 120 w/freesync works just fine.

How old is your TV????

 

[m4a4]

I find it interesting that CEC becomes a bone of contention for you. I've used a Sony 4k 120hz Monitor for my main PC for years. The audio is sent across the HDMI. It can come from the TV or separate audio system (I have a Yamaha surround receiver set up with 5.1 surround). With my home theater setup, I use an optical out that passes any audio source being displayed to the receiver. eARC can also do similar things. When I fire up my home theater pc, my main TV uses CEC to switch automatically to the pc when the PC boots. TV remote works for volume and switching inputs or channels like normal. (pretty much the same as the attached PS5). 4K 120 w/freesync works just fine.

How old is your TV????

It is when it comes to consoles. PC doesn't like it, but Steam Machine will with a special motherboard.

But can your PC turn on the TV natively like your PS5 can?


I guess one thing that isn't made clear; if I was to recommend to non-techie people in my life (once the price goes down) who already use CEC for their console, I wouldn't want to deal with them trying to get it working. Here, it should work for once.

 

[SRB]

PC GPUs don't have native CEC support, like consoles. You need a workaround to hopefully get it working on a TV and the typical livingroom sound system setup. You know, so you can then control the devices that support it without needing to manually adjust/power them on individually..?

Seems like you didn't know those basic facts. TV's don't work like a PC monitor

See my comments above. I've had my TV attached to my home theater for 7 years now....just have an optical cable from the tv to dolby surround receiver. If the input to the tv has dolby encoding, it goes out to reciever, regardless of the source (tuner, blu-ray, PC) . By your thinking I don't need the Dualsense controller, because I can run it from my remote(which I can't). Nor can the Dualsense actually control the TV. As far at the PC, all I need is a wirelsess keyboard and mouse, which I can't replace with the TV remote either. TV remote works regardless if I want to watch something other than the PC, which will go to sleep with no use of the keyboard or mouse.

I've yet to see any remote that replaces EVERYTHING,

 

[Squid Surprise]

See my comments above. I've had my TV attached to my home theater for 7 years now....just have an optical cable from the tv to dolby surround receiver. If the input to the tv has dolby encoding, it goes out to reciever, regardless of the source (tuner, blu-ray, PC) . By your thinking I don't need the Dualsense controller, because I can run it from my remote(which I can't). Nor can the Dualsense actually control the TV. As far at the PC, all I need is a wirelsess keyboard and mouse, which I can't replace with the TV remote either. TV remote works regardless if I want to watch something other than the PC, which will go to sleep with no use of the keyboard or mouse.

I've yet to see any remote that replaces EVERYTHING,

Well, assuming you want to use your keyboard/mouse/controller for your PC, no remote can replace EVERYTHING… that’s why CEC is useless to anyone with more than 2 devices connected to their TV unless they’re all the same brand (and even then, it’s not always seamless).

The Logitech harmony came really close - the SofaBaton X2 does as well… but neither is perfect… I suppose you can get a professional remote that can be programmed - but those can run over $1000 and require getting a tech to reprogram it every time you get a new device…

I find eARC annoying as it doesn’t always work… but better to use a PC (or Roku, shield, fire tv, Apple TV, etc) and connect that to an AVR. TV sound is usually mediocre - invest in an AVR

 

[LordVile95]

Then don't buy it! But you have the freedom to get those games you definitely don't play or actually care about to work on it.


Do you know how USB works..?

Which it only has 1 USB C so that’s that port gone and adds another 100 to the price.

Seems like you are just arguing for the sake of arguing if you are seriously questioning what "freedom" implies vs a console.
And sure they're not selling at a loss anymore (not what I said), but we all know console makers aren't making a killing off of their hardware.

The point is you’re effectively locking yourself in to outdated, none upgradable hardware and steams monopoly meaning you’re effectively getting a worse deal than console on the hardware, performance, usability, price, comparability with large titles, game prices, features and in return are getting no benefits from it being a PC. You could build a better performing machine for near half the price.

Why are you here if it's not appealing for you? Just to whine?

Because it’s a bad product and bad products should be called out.

You’re literally the one replying to every negative comment and simping for a billionaire.

 

[LordVile95]

The Steam Machine is overpriced, but I guess most people haven't looked at the cost of RAM and storage, or the cost of what hardware is nowadays. You're not going to build anything close to this in the same form factor, mini PC's have a weaker iGPU and will be bandwidth limited.
Those comparing it to a console are especially missing the point, a console has subsidized hardware, and requires you to buy a subscription to play online, you'd also have to buy games again for an Xbox or PS5. The whole point of the Steam Machine is having a compact PC to play Steam games you already own on your TV.
But the best thing about this is Steam OS hopefully gains some more traction against Windows.

I mean I built a media PC recently for £350-400. All you’d need to do to outperform the steam machine would be swap the 1060 I used for any modern GPU even bad ones like the 5060 and you’d still come in significantly under cost.

 

[m4a4]

Which it only has 1 USB C so that’s that port gone and adds another 100 to the price.

The point is you’re effectively locking yourself in to outdated, none upgradable hardware and steams monopoly meaning you’re effectively getting a worse deal than console on the hardware, performance, usability, price, comparability with large titles, game prices, features and in return are getting no benefits from it being a PC. You could build a better performing machine for near half the price.

Because it’s a bad product and bad products should be called out.

You’re literally the one replying to every negative comment and simping for a billionaire.

USB C? For an external disc drive? What reality are you living in?

You can't even be intellectually honest about something so braindead as an external disc drive, first implying that it needed to be in some magic expansion slot. No, a basic one doesn't need anything more than a basic USB A slot.

And then you're whining and complaining that I'm replying to people's replies? Man, you can't even frame a back and forth honestly. Well, I guess I'm done replying to someone as disingenuous as you.

 

[LordVile95]

USB C? For an external disc drive? What reality are you living in?

The one with 4K blu ray drives that ship with USBC?

You can't even be intellectually honest about something so braindead as an external disc drive, first implying that it needed to be in some magic expansion slot. No, a basic one doesn't need anything more than a basic USB A slot.

You’re literally trying to pass off a DVD drive as equivalent to a 4K Blu ray drive which cannot be plugged into a “basic USB A port” as it wouldn’t work. You either have to use a front USBA port or the rear USBC. The rear USBA ports are both USB2 and won’t work.

And then you're whining and complaining that I'm replying to people's replies? Man, you can't even frame a back and forth honestly. Well, I guess I'm done replying to someone as disingenuous as you.

Nice reflection buddy.

 

[Rapob]

From rumours claiming $399-499 including a controller, to $1200 with controller and a lousy 512GB SSD or $1400+ for 2TB version, that you likely want unless you like to constantly clean up to make room for new games. 1TB should be the minimum really.

Horrible price and close to DOA.

The CPU aspect is trash as well, only 2x Zen 4 cores, rest is Zen 4c cores. Perf will likely be worse than Ryzen 7600, might even hit AM4 levels of CPU perf (5800X3D is surely faster)

The 8GB VRAM for the GPU is "okay" considering how low this machine is, but the problem is the small PCIe 4.0 bandwidth when you need to swap to system RAM, which is not even running in dual channel, a single 16GB stick is what you get, with utterly terrible latency 5600 @ CL47 (...CL47, what the actual F is that)

They market this as a 4K/UHD machine, without FSR runnning at Performance mode, meaning 1080p internally, you won't have a chance at "4K", even indie games might be too demanding for native 4K haha.

I understand the RAM/SSD crisis, this system could not launch at a worse time but it does not explain the CPU, RAM, VRAM choices.

Nvidias N1X and eventually N2X/N3X is likely going to shite all over this machine. 6144 CUDA Cores and 20 ARM CPU Cores with superior DLSS 4.x support with broad and wide game support.

 

[Burty117]

I don't think it matters that much. At the time of writing in the UK the Steam Machine is £879 base or £938 with an included controller. I can go and get a much faster PS5 Pro that includes the controller for £680 from all the major retailers. No shortage, no scalping and it's already had the RAM price rise added to it last month.

The Steam Machine is a particularly tough sell to its intended audience when the PS5 Pro is still well below Valves asking price. As the article also suggests, I can assemble a similar a mini ITX system and use the (maybe) better Xbox controller and come out at £730 all in.

Either way you slice it, this "console" is very expensive for what it is sadly.

Sorry, where in the UK can you get a PS5 Pro for £680? And that doesn't include the disc drive as well I assume?

Cheapest I'm finding is £775 but is usually around £790, add the disc drive, another £100, you're at £890.
A Steam Machine with controller is £938.

It's still more expensive and less powerful, but I do agree with Valves decision to not subsidise their hardware and let me, the consumer, use it how I want to, not lock it down like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.

It's a tough pill to swallow, and I have 2x 16GB DDR5 SODIMM sticks right here waiting to go in one of these, Digital Foundry found a 20-25% performance increase in select games with the extra RAM stick, so probably worth doing, it's still a lot of money though.

I'll sign up for one, if I get it, I do, If I don't, I don't. I want to support Valve here, but man that pricing is properly painful.

 

[LordVile95]

Sorry, where in the UK can you get a PS5 Pro for £680? And that doesn't include the disc drive as well I assume?

CEX it’s £650

But the base PS5 outperforms the steam machine it’s somewhere between that and the XSS.

 

[godrilla]

For reference on a prebuilt pc that comes with a 7500x3d, 9070xt and 32 gigs of ram, 1 terabyte of storage for $1499.
9060xt with only 16 gigs of ram same cpu and same 1 terabyte storage capacity is $1199.

 

[Burty117]

CEX it’s £650

But the base PS5 outperforms the steam machine it’s somewhere between that and the XSS.

So second hand, I'm sure no one in the comments section is trying their hardest to make this look worse than it is...