Key Takeaways
1. Valve announced the Steam Machine’s specifications on November 12, but pricing details will be revealed closer to its 2024 release.
2. The Steam Machine is designed for 4K 60 FPS gameplay, while a YouTuber built a similar PC for an estimated $600 to $650.
3. The DIY build used a Ryzen 5 5600 CPU and a bios-flashed Radeon RX 6600M GPU, achieving strong performance in modern games at 1,440p.
4. The Steam Machine features a newer Zen 4 CPU and a more powerful RDNA 3 GPU compared to the YouTuber’s build.
5. If the Steam Machine can outperform the DIY build at a comparable price, it could be highly successful in the market.
Valve made an announcement about the Steam Machine on November 12, and while its specifications are now known, the pricing remains a mystery. This hybrid PC is set to be available next year, with pricing details expected to be revealed closer to the release date. Nevertheless, Valve has managed to include a notable amount of power in a compact design, claiming it can achieve 4K 60 FPS gameplay with FSR. A YouTuber, however, built his own version of the Steam Machine that performs quite well, maintaining a similar size and a more affordable price tag.
YouTuber’s Build
The ETA Prime YouTube channel has shared a video (link below) where a mini-ITX PC build is created to closely match Valve’s specifications for the Steam Machine. The YouTuber sourced some second-hand components from eBay and a Radeon GPU from AliExpress, assembling everything inside the ASRock Deskmeet X300 Mini PC (available on Amazon) barebones kit. The dimensions of the case are 218.3 x 219.3 x 168 mm, making it somewhat larger than the Steam Machine, which measures 152 x 162.4 x 156 mm.
Specifications Breakdown
For the CPU, a Ryzen 5 5600 based on Zen 3 architecture was chosen. While it has the same core count as the Zen 4 CPU found in the Steam Machine, the latter utilizes the newer Zen 4 architecture. The Ryzen 5 5600 is a desktop CPU with a power consumption of up to 65W, compared to the Valve’s offering, which has a TDP of 30W.
As for the GPU, ETA Prime aimed to acquire a desktop Radeon RX 6600 but ended up with a bios-flashed RX 6600M, which still comes with 8 GB of VRAM (matching the Steam Machine). This GPU is built on RDNA 2 architecture and can reach up to 100W, putting it at a slight disadvantage compared to the RDNA 3-based 28 CU GPU in the Steam Machine that can go up to 110W. The performance is akin to a Radeon RX 7600M-level GPU.
Performance Results
To complete the build, ETA Prime added 16 GB of DDR4 RAM (the same as the Steam Machine) and 1 TB of NVMe storage. He used the 500W PSU included with the barebones kit and installed the latest version of SteamOS.
The DIY build kicked off with Elden Ring, running the game at 1,440p max settings and maintaining a locked 60 FPS. Spider-Man 2 was playable at 1,440p with medium settings using FSR (balanced) and achieved an average of 70 – 75 FPS. When FSR frame generation was enabled and settings upgraded to high, the FPS exceeded 100. Cyberpunk 2077 performed well at high settings (1,440p), staying above 60 FPS. Witcher 3 showed similar results, exceeding 60 FPS at ultra settings with FSR. Doom: The Dark Ages at 1,440p, medium settings, and FSR had a performance range of 60 to 70 FPS. Borderlands 4 did experience some ghosting with FSR frame generation but remained quite playable.
Although ETA Prime did not disclose the exact costs for the components or the total build price, it is estimated to be around $600 to $650. At this price point, providing a complete Windows experience while running modern AAA titles at 1,440p offers great value. Of course, FSR and frame generation play a significant role in the final performance. Valve has indicated that the Steam Machine will be able to deliver 4K 60 FPS and will likely be priced similarly to a PC with the same specifications. Additionally, a known leaker recently suggested that the Steam Machine could be priced below $600 based on the Bill of Materials (BOM) estimate. If the Steam Machine can outperform this DIY build at a comparable price, it would surely be a big success.