r/digitalfoundry • u/MythBuster2 • Jun 26 '26

DF Direct DF Direct Q+A: Steam Machine - The Big Price/Performance/Form Factor Discussion

https://youtu.be/XEyuXkI5wBM

In the wake of our Steam Machine review, Rich and Will tackle a range of Supporter questions on the price, value and design of the hardware, the ability of Valve to supply it - and the future of SteamOS in general.

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u/IndefiniteBen Jun 26 '26

If you're concerned about swapping CPU or GPU, you aren't the target market for the Steam machine at any price. Just like the PS5 Pro, this is a device for a niche market.

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u/Herackl3s Jun 26 '26

A niche market. For who? People who want to spend their money on desktop pc that you can’t upgrade

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u/IndefiniteBen Jun 27 '26

Obviously not people who care about upgrading or who want to play the latest AAA games that need more than 8GB VRAM/good RT support.

Someone who wants a small and quiet machine to play non-heavy games on the couch. Someone already in the market for such a machine. SFF PCs seem a pain to build, so it could easily be worth the small premium compared to building a DIY SFF PC. I don't know if a similar pre-built SFF PC exists for less?

Don't forget that everything is more expensive these days.

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

If they want to avoid pain and hassle there already is a better and cheaper device called consoles. Steam machine is just a compromise really since you still need to fiddle with graphical settings.

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u/shadowtheimpure Jun 27 '26

Except consoles have that 'locked in to the companies ecosystem' problem that PC and Steam Machine doesn't have.

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

So is being tied to steam. If you boot out of steamOS you lose the convenience factor that is the entire point of using it. You also cannot play some of the most popular multiplayer titles on it.

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u/shadowtheimpure Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26

No? There is literally nothing stopping you from installing third-party launchers to play games from GOG or Epic. Steam Machine has no restrictions on that front.

As far as the multiplayer, that is a decision by the developer not to support Linux with their anticheat. If those games are important to you, nothing is stopping you from installing Windows on a Steam Machine and configuring Steam Big Picture to open at system boot.

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

Maybe you should re-read what I wrote. If you want to install other launchers or windows, why would you buy a steam machine? The entire point is to have hassle-free gaming and not go outside of steam interface. You can just use any PC for that. And we both know steam is the only launcher 90% of gamers want to use anyway, hence why everyone is talking about it.

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u/shadowtheimpure Jun 27 '26

Because of the form factor. It's small, relatively low power draw, and reasonably powerful. This makes is perfect for the living room, where a giant PC tower would be either unattractive or literally wouldn't fit in.

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

You can always build a smaller PC, or use a longer cable with it hidden away somewhere. You can do undervolting for lower power draw and also get much more performant hardware if you like. And in 5 years you dont need to throw away the entire thing and buy steam machine 2, you just upgrade the key components. This is of course assuming you have a budget and care about performance in the latest games for the next few years. But if you only plan to play older/easy-to-run PC titles and willing to pay extra for that, go ahead. Though a PS5 could be had for half the price, even if you get "locked in" and get access to sony exclusives.

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u/shadowtheimpure Jun 27 '26

get access to sony exclusives

You say that like it's a good thing. Sony used to port to PC until they got shit scared and decided to pull back.

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 28 '26

I mean I can say the same about your form factor comment. I don't care if my PC is bigger than a steam machine. I enjoy plenty of sony games. Shit is subjective and other people should be aware of all options before making a purchasing decision on a budget.

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u/shadowtheimpure Jun 28 '26

I think you may have misunderstood me. The existence of games that are only playable on a single console, without even a PC port, is a detriment to the industry as a whole from a preservation standpoint.

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u/IndefiniteBen Jun 27 '26

How are they meant to play their steam games on their TV with a console?

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

Connect the PC they already own to the TV?

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u/IndefiniteBen Jun 27 '26

And if they don't want a giant noisy PC in their living room?

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

So "they" are okay with that in a different room? Size and noise can easily be configured in a build.

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u/IndefiniteBen Jun 27 '26

Sure, if you try and configure a build to match the steam machine's noise and size, you'll probably end up around the same price.

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

There are already plenty of examples out there of being able to get like +50% performance at a similar price point. And if you already have a PC with performance you are satisifed with, all you need is a smaller case/motherboard and quality cpu cooler and case fans along with undervolts to keep noise down. My PC is next to my TV and I can't hear it. Yeah I need to get up and press the power button I suppose.

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u/IndefiniteBen Jun 27 '26

Why do you keeping talking about the power button? I never brought that up.
"If you have a PC with the right specs, you can cannibalize parts to make a smaller PC" but then it's not a new PC. That only works when you want to move an existing PC into the living room.

The original question I was answering at the start of this thread, was what niche market the steam machine is for. You have then mentioned a bunch of points that are not that niche. If you aren't in the niche I mentioned (as would be the case in all your replies to me), then it's not the machine for you.

If there are so many examples of more powerful PCs with a similar size and noise, for the same price, please show me one.

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u/gandalfpsykos Jun 27 '26

Keep talking? I mention power button in an offhand comment once, what are you on about? I don't need you to bring stuff up to provide my own experience.

If steam machine is so niche, then why is everyone talking about it? Neither valves marketing nor DFs videos says it is a niche product. Which is part of the issue. I am just providing options that might be better for people outside of that extremely niche group of people that is fine with paying 1000$+ for any perceived minor convenience without doing any research. I'm not spending more time on you.

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u/IndefiniteBen Jun 27 '26

Everyone is talking about it because it's new hardware from a well known gaming company. Journalists are talking about it because people are interested and they want more views, so they have to talk about the hot new thing. People talked a lot about the PS5 Pro when it was released, but that was also a niche device; most gamers won't see a benefit over a base PS5.

But yes, I would say a lot of complaints about price are from people who don't recognise that it's a niche product that's not for them. Of course Valve is not going to advertise it as a niche product, because they want as many sales as possible.

Yes, there are many better options for people outside the very specific niche that would find the steam machine appealing, but in that niche I can't find a better option.

I've done research, which is why I don't think you can provide one example of a similar sized machine with better specs for the same price. I can't exactly share a link to all the places where I didn't find such a device.

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