Steam Machine

[Moonface]

Your Games on the Big Screen
Powerful PC gaming made easy, in a small and mighty package.

Your Steam Library in more places
With over six times the horsepower of Steam Deck, Steam Machine has the power to play your whole Steam library, including your favorite AAA titles. Just sign in with your Steam account and your entire library is there.

It's also a PC!
Yes, Steam Machine is optimized for gaming, but it's still your PC. Install your own apps, or even another operating system. Who are we to tell you how to use your computer?

Tech Specs

• CPU
  Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T
  • up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP
    
• GPU
  Semi-custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs
  • 2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP
    
• RAM
  16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
  
• Power
  Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V
  
• Storage
  Two Steam Machine models, 512GB NVMe SSD / 2TB NVMe SSD, both with a high-speed microSD slot
  
  
• Wi-Fi
  2x2 Wi-Fi 6E
  
• Bluetooth
  Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna
  
• Steam Controller
  Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter
  
  
• Displays
  DisplayPort 1.4
  • Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz
    
  • Supports HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining
    
  HDMI 2.0
  • Up to 4K @ 120Hz
    
  • Supports HDR, FreeSync, and CEC
    
• USB
  Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front
  Two USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the back
  One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back
  
• Networking
  Gigabit ethernet
  
• LED Strip
  17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability
  
  
• Size
  152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide
  
• Weight
  2.6 kg
  
  
• Operating System
  SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
  
• Desktop
  KDE Plasma
  

---

No price yet, but I remember back when Steam Machines tried to be a thing years ago and never really panned out too well. Depending on price maybe I'll get one to play games with on my TV since right now I just use my laptop, which is fine but has its limits.

I know either way I can't say I'm a fan of that new Steam Controller. It looks so weird and bulky; it reminds me of the original Xbox controller a bit.

[Dragon Lord]

That controller is an abomination and should never be able to see the light of day.

As for the "Steam Machine" itself, not really interested. It's probably going to be overpriced for what it offers and with a gaming PC already, I have no reason to even give it a look. I can just hook my PC up to my TV if I want to play my Steam games on a TV (not sure why I would though).

I don't think this thing is going to do amazingly. It might do well on the market, but I think the Steam fanboys saying this is going to be a console killer are a bit delusional. The Steam Deck was supposed to be the big Nintendo Switch killer, and instead the Nintendo Switch embarrassed it. Then it was supposed to kill the hype for the Nintendo Switch 2, only for the NS2 to bypass the Steam Deck's total life time sales in just a couple of months. PlayStation still has a massive player base that is loyal to them, so I think the Steam Machine will be popular within its niche, but won't come close to really touching the PS5 (I guess we'll see what the numbers look like when the PS6 launches to really see if it has any effect, though I don't think it will).

It might be the final nail in the coffin for Xbox, but they've already got one foot out the door on the console market anyways and they probably plan to go full third-party publisher mode after their next console anyways (if they don't cancel it). The fact that the Halo Remake is going to be on PS5 day 1 is a huge sign of the future of Xbox. So the Steam Machine might accelerate Microsoft's exit from the console market a little bit, but I think that's about all it'll really do in terms of shaking up the console market.

I could be wrong, but my prediction would be that the "Steam Machine" maybe ends up around the same area as the Steam Deck has (5~6 million units). Unless it's dirt cheap in comparison to everything else, but if the rumors of the PS6 having a GPU around the same levels as a 5090, and as long as PlayStation doesn't want an astronomical price for it, I think it'll be hard for the Steam Machine to really compete with the next console generation over all if it's any where near the same price as they are.

But again, why is that controller allowed to exist? That thing is a crime against humanity.

[Maniakkid25]

I immediately foresee a problem with that controller: the sticks are too close. What happens if you have to push right on the left stick, and left on the right stick at the same time? Thumbs are going to bash into each other, mark my words.

I'm going to withhold judgment until I see a price tag. Given my budget, I wouldn't mind having a gaming PC that isn't just a shabby off-the-shelf refurbished office PC, but I have my doubts they are going to sell it at an affordable price unless they want to take a DEEP loss on it.

[Moonface]

Apparently based on Steam Survey data, this thing is supposed to be more powerful than 70% of gaming PCs on the market. While I'd find that impressive, it could just be that because people don't upgrade their PC's until they need to that a lot of people are just running something that's already a few years old. I'd rather see how it compares to other PCs on the market currently in terms of being better hardware wise, and where it falls price wise in comparison to PCs that have equivalent specs to it. Speaking of price, this was an interesting part of the article:

Valve selected this configuration considering the price (which remains unknown), entry-level segment, and market position based on Steam Survey data.

[Dead2009]

Id much rather get the Steam Deck over this, tbh.

[fantanoice]

I think the Gabecube needs a handle.

[Moonface]

Id much rather get the Steam Deck over this, tbh.

I don't know how but until I read this comment I had utterly forgot that a Steam Deck has a TV dock. I've yet to use mine to know how good stuff looks and whatnot but I'd definitely suggest a Steam Deck over this.

@fantanoice: Well hello stranger!  I bet someone will attempt to install one through 3D printing or a company will figure out how to offer it as a peripheral, although besides the novelty of it it probably wouldn't serve much function. Now that I think about it there's definitely gonna be a Gamecube wrap for this thing.

[Dragon Lord]

So Valve has stated that the Steam Machine will be priced "more like a PC" and not a console, so I'm definitely seeing this thing coming in the $1,200-$1,500 range at the lowest.

[Moonface]

So Valve has stated that the Steam Machine will be priced "more like a PC" and not a console, so I'm definitely seeing this thing coming in the $1,200-$1,500 range at the lowest.

Yeah it's definitely going to be notably more than other consoles cost going by this statement and this article from a few days ago already indicated this was the direction Valve were likely to take with the price.

When I said I’m disappointed it isn’t going to follow a console pricing model, where its subsided by the fact that manufacturer is going to be taking 30% of every game sold on it over the lifespan of this thing, because I feel that would be a more meaningful product, they asked what I meant by console price and I said $500. Nobody said anything, but the energy in the room wasn’t great.

I did also see comments that this isn't as powerful as a PS5 but I don't know how accurate that claim actually is.

[Dragon Lord]

I looked into it a little bit, and in terms of GPU, the Steam Machine is said to be on par with a laptop 4060, which isn't great. The PS5 Pro is supposedly equivalent to a 5060 Ti. The important thing to keep in mind is that mobile/laptop versions of GPUs are always significantly weaker than their desktop counterparts. A laptop 4060 is said to be equal to a desktop 3060 Ti, with some sources saying it's closer to a 3070 instead.

So if all information is accurate, the Steam Machine has a GPU that is, in terms of power, three generations behind, while the PS5 Pro has one that's newer.

Of course there's a lot more aspects to consider (CPU for example), but obviously when it comes to playing video games, the GPU is a pretty important factor. If they are going to charge over $1,000 for a machine that's less powerful than my almost four year old PC with a 3080 in it, while being significantly weaker than it, that's absolutely wild. People might as well just save up a bit more money and aim for a desktop PC with a 5070 in it (or 5080, but that would be a bit more expensive).

Hell, you could get a gaming laptop with a 5060/5070/5080 in it that would probably outperform this thing and wouldn't cost much more than it. Depending on the brand + other specs, you can get a laptop with a 5080 for $1,700-$2,000. So yeah, I just really don't know where they are going with this thing if the price is going to be as high as it sounds like it's going to be. Too high and you're pointless because just getting a custom desktop will be better, but you're also facing a console in the PS5 Pro that seems like it's going to outperform your machine by a pretty good margin for quite a bit less.

[Moonface]

The laptop I currently have is this one, which has a 4060 in it. I got it back in Summer 2024 for around $1200, and in some aspects I think it's better than the Steam Machine such as the RAM where I have 32GB, whilst the Steam Machine has 24GB although it does have two different types so maybe overall it equals out to my higher capacity? If overall the Steam Machine is close to the specs of my laptop now I wouldn't consider paying for it now what I paid for this laptop back then to be a good price.

[Karo]

I'm kinda surprised that they are going like with a Nintendo method of the hardward not being as strong? If it not really making it cheaper then what is the point of it and who is the target audience? I also don't really care enough about steam to want a namebrand steam computer versus just getting a better stronger computer? 

Unless they are planning to offer different GPU and different thing in it to create a build your own PC type thing, but why go with steam over another brand that would be cheaper?

[Moonface]

Considering the Steam Deck doesn't offer any notable differences in the hardware specs between the LCD and OLED versions despite how long it's been a thing, I can't see Valve doing it for the Steam Machine. As for why Valve would think someone will pick it over a regular PC, their target is probably people who want a simple plug and play system like a console but with the benefits of a PC. You're not going to have to wait for Windows to set itself up nor deal with setting it up how you want like you would with a fresh Windows install, and any other things that a PC user deals with that a console user doesn't generally worry about.

[Dragon Lord]

The laptop I currently have is this one, which has a 4060 in it. I got it back in Summer 2024 for around $1200, and in some aspects I think it's better than the Steam Machine such as the RAM where I have 32GB, whilst the Steam Machine has 24GB although it does have two different types so maybe overall it equals out to my higher capacity? If overall the Steam Machine is close to the specs of my laptop now I wouldn't consider paying for it now what I paid for this laptop back then to be a good price.

Yeah, unless they have yet to reveal some details about it that will be a game changer for it, I don't see any reason why anyone should buy the Steam Machine over a laptop with a 4080/4090/5070/5080/5090 in it. Well, maybe not a 5090, as laptops with one of those are still leaning harder towards the $3,000 range, but most laptops below that will be $1,500-$2,500 and sound like they'll offer a better experience over all. You can just hook your laptop up to a TV with an HDMI cable if someone really wants to do PC gaming on their TV. 

Either there is something we don't know yet, or Valve are really overestimating (or maybe not) how much people will simp over them and everything they put out. But then again, considering the sales of the Steam Deck are only in the ~5 million units range after several years, compared to how many Steam users there are in total, I don't know what they are expecting to achieve with this thing.

They could be aiming to target the computer illiterate crowd with this, but at that point I'd argue why would those people pay over $1,000 for the Steam Machine when they could just pick up a PS5 Pro and possibly get a better gaming experience? Sure, you could argue access to the massive Steam library could be a draw, but I'd counter argue with the fact that most people who are technologically illiterate and just want an easy plug and play option aren't the types of people who have thousands of free hours a year to sit and play through a massive Steam library. They're likely the people who are buying a PS5/Switch2/XSX and maybe playing 3-5 games a year at best.

[Moonface]

I can't imagine there's any specs or details that weren't shared already given how extensive the reveal details were to begin with. They didn't even just give us the raw specs but also extra details like being able to install your own OS and stuff; the only thing that wasn't covered is price and now that I think about it, we didn't even get a price for the new Steam Controller nor the other stuff that was revealed alongside the Steam Machine. I wonder if the prices are being held back because of one of these reasons:

1. The prices are higher than people would expect and revealing them alongside the hardware would put a dampener on the reveal.
   
2. The prices haven't been revealed yet to keep people talking about the Steam Machine through speculating what the price could/should be and gives it exposure without Valve needing to actually do anything themselves.
   
3. Valve are taking a similar approach to what Nintendo did with the Switch 2 price, where they're waiting to see if the price needs to shift up or down due to tariffs or shortages of components since there is apparently a RAM shortage going on.