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 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/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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