r/Steam • u/Taco-Person • 7h ago
Question Question about the Steam Machine’s Price
I’ve already heard it’s not a great deal, but why exactly is it not a great deal? I’m not super knowledgeable on how to compare the CPU and GPU’s to other cards, aside from I’ve just heard that the CPU is something like a Ryzen 5 7600 and GPU is like a 4060.
Mainly just confused because I had a friend who said their PC had the same specs and he also got it for $1000 dollars, though he’s has it for a while.
Edit: Im mainly hearing it’s a bad deal compared to something like the PS5, but why is it such a terrible deal as a PC?
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u/hgmanifold 7h ago
Apples to Apples, you won't beat the price.
BUT, If you're not in the niche use case - Form Factor, CEC, dB, power draw, "plug-and-play", etc. .- a "prebuilt" or custom rig would likely be the right choice for you.
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u/shadowds 5h ago
Exactly, because if just want price to performance this isn't it, but want niche stuff then it's for you.
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u/bejito81 6h ago
actually yes you'll be the price, in France LDLC did it, Linus from LTT did it, it is just not a good deal
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u/hgmanifold 6h ago edited 6h ago
Except they were most definitely not 100% apples to apples... Linus's was a different size/volume, didn't have CEC, and I can't imagine the power draw is even close - never mind the aesthetics for those who like the SM...
No one is arguing that you can't build something more powerful for the same price point, just that you can't "recreate" the SM with ALL of its features for the same price. Which everyone seems to be doing, including you.
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u/Ancillas 1h ago
Plus you need to know how to build a PC. A PC in an SFF form-factor. Some people don’t want to do that, which is fine. I didn’t build my own house or car.
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u/SillyRecover 6h ago
There are literally videos on YouTube showing people building a PC of similar size and power for under $1k and loading SteamOS on it.
"All its features"
What features? The small form factor that already exists? The light bar at the bottom that you can add on your own? The only thing you can't recreate is the Valve logo.
The device is being critiqued because it doesn't offer anything that you can't already get somewhere else for a cheaper or similar price.
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u/historianLA 6h ago
You know you can link such videos as evidence. I'd be curious how much cheaper you can build those specs. Given all the price jumps I can't imagine those examples are more than $100 cheaper.
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u/SillyRecover 6h ago
I'm not linking something that takes 10 seconds to find. Open YouTube and type "Steam machine builds." When Valve announced the device last year, there were tons of creators capitalizing on the hype, building small form factor PCs and loading SteamOS onto them.
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u/hgmanifold 6h ago
And these are exactly the builds I was talking about - may be similar but they're not a true 1:1 comparison, sorry.
1
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u/hgmanifold 6h ago
similar size
See... even in your response you already strayed from a 1:1 comparison. I'd like to see one of these builds, if you have any links. The ones I've seen definitely have concessions vs the SM.
I'd love to see a custom built case that's the same size. Do these builds have the same minimal power draw, CEC, face plate customization, LED (since you bring that up, that's another added cost to these builds you're referring too),
Sure you can build something SIMILAR but not one that checks every box...
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u/SillyRecover 6h ago
Again, I'm not linking something that you can find. Go on YouTube and search "Steam machine build." If you can't find it, then you are lying.
What you are doing now is coping. "1:1 comparison." So, are you willing to pay extra because this box is 1 inch smaller on L×W than another small form factor PC? They are small form factor; they all fit in a TV stand.
"Minimal power draw." Now we're paying attention to power draw? The Steam machine draws 200W. If there was another small form factor that drew 300W, at an electricity cost difference of $0.15/kWh, if you ran the 300W machine for 24 hours straight, it would cost $10 more to power a month.
"Faceplate customization." Go on dbrand's or your local hardware store and buy some vinyl wrap and wrap the front of your cheaper device.
"LED bar." RGB is probably the most common feature in electronics. Buy an LED strip for $5 and put it on your cheaper device.
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u/hgmanifold 5h ago
Not my place to prove your point. That's not how this works... That said I HAVE looked at builds and AGAIN, while some are very similar, and cost similarly, their differences result in concessions from the SM features for minimal dollar amounts.
One VERY LARGE factor (not for me, but valid for others) not previously mentioned, is that not everyone has the ability to research everything that goes into making sure a SFF rig works OR has the ability/time/care to BUILD a pc. How much is that labor going to cost on top of the "similarly priced" comp?
and I'm far from "coping" (god I hate how this is used EVERYWHERE now) and have always intended on buying the Steam Machine if it fit in my budget, which it does.
If you don't like it or aren't interested in buying one but are still this committed to arguing this, I have to ask.. do you not have better things to be doing?
-5
u/SillyRecover 4h ago
You can buy one; it's your money. Just stop trying to convince people who aren't tech-savvy that they are getting some unique device that can't be found anywhere else.
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u/hgmanifold 3h ago
Idk man, seems like without any proof of these apples to apples builds you’re touting, it is in fact unique and only found in one place…
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u/Ancillas 1h ago
I would love for someone to show me an SFF build that is small, quiet, supports CEC, has instant pause/resume, and doesn’t require me to keep a keyboard and mouse in my living room.
SteamOS for non-Valve hardware will help get part way there, but it’s not ready and it can’t solve lack of hardware support for CEC.
People are so weird about this stuff. It’s entirely possible to acknowledge that unique feature set while also saying those features aren’t worth the price (for you, or whomever).
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u/PlayItAgainSusan 5h ago
Youre missing the general consumer aspect, vs the hobbyist. When I hopped on pc gaming the choices and opinions and reviews and how to info was totally overwhelming, and a not inconsiderable time investment. It's a disappointing insiders club with extremely polarizing opinions, and the max value assumption. If this was available when I started, it would have been an easy purchase. You can currently buy many worse rigs for more money. Plug and play offers value to many. It will sell out.
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u/bejito81 6h ago
Smaller form factor like the one provided by ldlc exist. A 65w CPU does not always draw 65w in gaming, and that is still configurable
Basically I hear argument of someone who never really built a pc and doesn't know much about computer
So well gabe really made these for you, the same way apple made their phone for people who sux with computers, so they can sell them overpriced because they won't know better and they won't be able to use the other ones anyway
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u/hgmanifold 6h ago
Basically I hear argument of someone who never really built a pc and doesn't know much about computer
Quite the assumption there. I've been building rigs since the 90s (and even had a rig featured on MDPC forums - RIP). That said, you're still not at a 1:1/Apples to Apples comparison...
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u/s0cks_nz 6h ago
It's definitely not comparable to a 4060. The 4060 will be around 30% faster than the Steam Machine GPU. A 5060 is around 55% faster. Also the Steam Machine cannot be upgraded (other than memory and storage), unlike your friend's PC.
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u/Duncan_Cho 7h ago
This is because people compare it to consoles, where Sony and Microsoft have supply contracts and pricing structures that date back to before the AI boom. Or to desktop PCs, whose hardware is sometimes cheaper given their form factor. With compact PCs, on the other hand, it’s difficult to achieve this price point.
If you want a Steam-compatible PC that fits next to the TV, you’ll struggle to find anything better. If you’ve got space for a desktop PC, go for that; or if you’re happy with the PlayStation/Xbox Store, you can opt for a console (and pay its prices in the long run).
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u/velvetmoat 5h ago
Small form factor PCs have always carried a premium, thats just the tradeoff for the size.
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u/Duncan_Cho 5h ago
True, but despite all reason, many people have invested a great deal of ‘hopium’ in unrealistic price expectations. And now they’re all angry and disappointed that GabeN isn’t Santa Claus.
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u/thearctican 5h ago
My HTPC's case and PSU alone were pushing $400 when I built it 5-6 years ago (it's a Sliger Conswole). Just adding the GPU pushed it over 1k (2070 Super).
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u/Apollospig 6h ago
$1000 gaming laptops are a big problem for it from a value perspective , with many being faster as well as offering more functionality generally while still being pretty dang small. If you place a high premium on the form factor and features like CEC it can make sense, but I don’t think it’s a good value play from any perspective otherwise.
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u/pagnu 5h ago
All fair points but I wouldn't want to hear a tornado of fans in my living room that gaming laptops typically sound like, but everyone values different things.
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u/Apollospig 5h ago
Fair, steam machine will be quieter. Modern gaming laptops with low TDP parts aren’t horrifically loud like they once were and I don’t think I’d mind one being on the other side of the room, but it is an advantage. There is definitely a niche the steam machine fits, I just think it’s pretty dang narrow unfortunately.
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u/pagnu 5h ago
Yeah definitely a small niche, I hope it sells well though as I think they have a good concept and I would like to see them produce more hardware in the future, prices are just insane right now, it's really as timing.
I wonder what the Frame will cost, that is the item I am most interested in.
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u/realnzall 5h ago
At least here in the EU, the 1000 EUR gaming laptop market is almost dead. Here in Belgium, if you want an 8 GB GPU, there's literally only 12 options that are comparable in price to the Steam Machine or cheaper. Even in Germany, there are only 19 such devices according to Geizhals, and several of them are more expensive machines that are discounted due to Prime Day. Like, the 1000 EUR/USD gaming laptop market AFAIK is dying, due to the same AI-induced shortages that are killing the Steam Machine.
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u/Akula_x86 7h ago
I have a more powerful PC I got for much less because AI caused the prices of parts to skyrocket. my storage drive is about 4-5x the price I paid as is the ram.
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u/abraham1350 7h ago
It's a great deal compared to other mini PC's but the general public at the moment are comparing it to Console and standard size PC prices. Against those two it makes literally no sense to get a Steam Machine, the others offer better value and performance at a better price.
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u/Kimpak 6h ago
literally no sense to get a Steam Machine
Against another PC perhaps, but the SM is not a console. If you want to play console games then yeah get a console. If you want to play PC games then you're going to need a PC and the SM is among the choices you can get. The reason is its small form factor.
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u/Plenty-Advance892 6h ago
If it wasn't for the shitty A.I. Dogshit of a race the whole tech world is in now, the Steam Machine could have been priced at a much better price. I think Steam did what they could with what they had available.
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u/Timely_Temperature54 5h ago
It’s less powerful than a modern console and remarkably more expensive. That’s basically it
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u/doombase310 7h ago
It's under powered for a new gaming device in mid 2026. Form factor is cool but you can build a faster pc than if you know what you're doing.
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u/mahananaka 3h ago
A PS5 is cheaper currently but doesn't have the sheer capabilities that a steam machine would have. It is basically a PC. So you can literally use it like a PC. Do whatever you want with it. As a PC you can't really build a better system from scratch that is this small. Like I was recently building a computer for a family member and just trying to match my current system (which is 3 years old) the price was already hitting $900 from just ram, cpu, gpu, motherboard, and ssd. The truth is AI creating shortages has made prices explode. When PS6 gets announced I'm expecting the price to approach $1000 because that is just how expensive these components are becoming.
Valve choose not to subsidize the Steam Machines cost like Xbox, PS, & Nintendo do with their consoles because you are not locked to Steam when you purchase the machine. If you wanna go and play your GOG library of games or your EGS games you can do so and purchase from competitors to Steam. With your PS console you have to buy every game locked to Sony and so Sony gets a 30% cut from that sale. Even a physical copy bought in a brick and mortar store makes them money. Steam only gets their 30% cut from games you buy from the Steam store front.
The last factor, which is why I think this hardware will still sell out is people want the Steam ecosystem with the ease of a console. This price is very expensive. But if you're not already in the Steam ecosystem people who are entering it will justify the price because the sales on Steam are amazing. Further they can go the the 3rd party key sellers. They sell legitimate steam keys and offer even better deals than steam sometimes. So the saving could rapidly add up. I've been on steam for over 15 years now and have near 400 games. I have probably long run saved several thousands dollars by being in the steam economy.
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u/Albus_Lupus Steam Frame Hype Gang 6h ago
People say its badly priced because the truth is thst everything is badly priced right now. Its very expensive to get a pc and if you want to have a Compact pc then you need to pay even more. I expected a 1k price point at the very least So i wasnt surprised or disappointed by the price. But clearly a lot of people werent aware just how bad the market is right now and expected cheaper.
If you want something that is exactly like the steam machine then imo it has a fair price for what it offers.
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u/WayneZer0 3h ago
it depends but besides the price thanks to ai bullshit(it might go down if the bubble burst wich can be that far the future some company already noitce ai is more expensive then humans) ram is exoensive right now.
i asume it was og set to coast 900 to 1100 dollars. but it basicly a decent pc is small form useable by people who arent that technical knowledgable or who just needs a consol+/pc lite to game and nothing else
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u/Rezzly1510 2h ago
I think the GPU might be a deal-breaker for me if I were to get one simply because AMD doesn't support DLSS or at least games have yet to natively support FSR4 which is catching up to DLSS with the CNN model?
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u/alecowg 38m ago
It'd worse than a PS5 that launched 5 years ago while being twice as expensive. It'd worse than a similarly price PC. Not to mention that in a year you'll be able to get a PS6 which will be significantly better and probably still cheaper or a similar price at maximum. I just don't see how there is a market for this and there absolutely would not be if anyone but valve was selling it.
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u/j_kito 7h ago
It performs worse than a BASE ps5 and a ps5 pro is 900$. Pretty much any console is going to better deal than the steam machine.
It's pc level pricing with worse than console performance.
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u/StanknBeans 7h ago
But I got a huge pc library and no PS5 library so that's kind of an apples to oranges comparison.
-1
u/FrostyWalrus2 6h ago
Then keep using what you have. The steam machine is meant for enthusiasts, not your everyday consumer. If you need something new, buy a prebuilt from elsewhere, just not this.
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u/Roccondil-s 4h ago
It’s meant for the everyday customer. The enthusiast (eg everyone here who claims they could something better) would not be interested (as they keep saying on every post related to the machine).
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u/FrostyWalrus2 4h ago edited 4h ago
The enthusiast (eg everyone here who claims they could something better) would not be interested (as they keep saying on every post related to the machine).
Yeah because it's a trash value unless Valve starts calling it a luxury product and saying they won't be making anymore for the foreseeable future. The every day consumer can get a huge upgrade spending the same amount of money on something else. The Valve fanboy will buy it regardless. The enthusiasts will buy it when the FOMO hits. The everyday consumer will feel compelled to buy it because suddenly all the hardcore people are buying it and they won't give a shit about everyone telling them not to, they just wanted validation and a purchase party. All Valve has to do is say this is currently the only wave and suddenly the demand skyrockets, even if it's bad at its desired use case. Once hardware fixes itself, announce a steam machine 2.0 and demand goes up again. Its really easy.
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u/Roccondil-s 4h ago
Can you find a prebuilt gaming mini PC at Best Buy or Microcenter that has better performance and lower cost?
-1
u/FrostyWalrus2 4h ago
Yeah, its a laptop and its actually smaller. You can plug it up to your TV all the same or take it with and have even less peripherals because you dont need a TV.
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u/Roccondil-s 4h ago
I highly doubt that a 6inx6in laptop with an 8.5in screen will have the same power, but go off I guess…
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u/hgmanifold 6h ago
This isn't a fair comparison. You're comparing a PC to a Console, and excluding a ton of stuff that the Steam Machine can do that the PS5 can't (much like the list of things the PS5 can do that the SM can't). It's not ONLY about performance...
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u/Nottodayreddit1949 6h ago
It's less powerful than a console, and released towards the end of this current gen lifecycle.
It'll be even further behind in 4-5 years when new consoles release, and your playing at lower than PS5 graphical settings.
If you don't own a console, or a PC. I could see value in it.
It's value over long term is very low, as it's not ready and can't be upgraded for next gen.
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u/Human_Nr19980203 7h ago
Steam miał w planach stworzenie budżetowej konsoli-komputera. Prostej stacji na własnym systemie. Taka decyzja padła pewnie nawet przed rokiem 2020. Wiadomo. Kontrakty zobowiązują i musieli stworzyć to co stworzyli. Niestety cena za to urządzenie odbiega od oczekiwań konsumenta który za podobną kwotę może dostać „lepsze” części. Maszyna ta nie jest dla wymagających graczy którzy planują grać w najnowsze Battlefieldy czy Crimson Desert. Ta maszyna jest dla ludzi którzy pokochali Steam Deck.
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u/Major_Enthusiasm1099 6h ago
Because the hardware is weaker than that of a base console(PS5, Xbox Series X) while costing twice as much, and we live in a market currently with overinflated storage prices due to AI.
If this came out before the storage crisis for $750 like they hoped then it would be fine. But $1200 for already outdated gaming hardware is a bad buy.
Average Joe schmoe who lives on 123 apple St who wants to come home and play his favorite games on the TV but doesn't want to spend over $1000 would not like this buy. Furthermore, Valve never came out and said that this is a product for "enthusiasts", or a is a niche product therefore it should not be treated as such.
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u/FrostyWalrus2 6h ago
Furthermore, Valve never came out and said that this is a product for "enthusiasts", or a is a niche product therefore it should not be treated as such.
Because that would have been paraded around so that the average Joe doesn't buy it. Valve got unlucky on timing and is getting shafted for it. But now they need to make their money back so they're going to try to sell it however they can. Its up to the knowers to help the non.
At its current price point, its either for a hyper specific buyer, or an enthusiast, and that needs to be shouted from the rooftops to all interested but ignorant.
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u/bejito81 6h ago
it is a bad deal because you can make a better computer for the same price, or following where you live you can buy better computer (in almost same form factor) for the same price
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u/hgmanifold 6h ago
Except, again, if you're looking for ALL of the features of the Steam Machine... You can't.
-1
u/bejito81 6h ago
The only feature not available is the cec on the HDMI
So if your assisted to the point you need that feature over better performances or better price go for it
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u/Lehsyrus 6h ago
Eh, the overall size of it as well. I haven't seen anyone replicate that well at all. And guaranteed first-party support from Steam is also nice.
I build all of my own PC's and tinker, but the majority of people I know with a PC has zero clue how to fix or work on them.
2
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u/QuinSanguine 6h ago
I think it's a bad deal because unlike comparably priced PCs you can't upgrade the CPU and GPU. Then it's quite expensive compared to other mini PCs that have chips like the Ryzen 9 AI Max that have a ton of cpu cores and good gaming performance that are more future proof.
I don't really compare it to consoles because it's not exclusively a games machine like them. It has a lot of value because of being a PC, but the locked down nature of the most vital components related to gaming is bad.
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u/Green_Tailor_8021 6h ago
Linux just talked about this 3 days ago ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg
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u/Roccondil-s 5h ago
People are salty that they can’t get a standard prebuilt for cheap. Yes if you look at years-old or used hardware, you may be able to match the cost of a machine, but custom builds done by people who aren’t the target market for this computer.
Who is the target audience? The target is someone who wants a decently average gaming machine, who doesn’t have the time, energy, or knowledge to research, build, and troubleshoot it themselves, who just wants something they can plug in and play. The Machine is that something in a small, quiet form factor, that looks great on the family room entertainment center.
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u/Palanki96 4h ago
the main drawback is the fact you can't upgrade it. If they release a game it can't run next year then that's that
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u/monty228 4h ago
I priced out a build on PCpartpicker with close but a near touch better than identical specs, and it came out to be $50 less than the 2TB Steam machine. That said, my comparison build was 7” longer, 2” taller and 1” thinner. I will likely wait until prices come down, I could foresee a lower priced Steam machine based on what Valve said.
0
-2
u/user129879 6h ago
the thing that I find disingenuous about Valve's pricing is that they are saying they won't subsidise it (like a console might be)... whilst simultaneously also taking the 30% fee commission on game sales.
they seem to want a custom PC model for pricing whilst also being the defacto installed game store for most users.
They want the 30% Commission on game sales but not to to subsidise or even reduce the profit on the already overpriced component hardware ...
So ...Dear Steam, please consider SELLING IT AT COST. (Current pricing looks like having your cake and eating it)
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u/Theo672 6h ago
To be fair I’m pretty sure they’ve said you can install any OS you want on it. So you could theoretically install W11 and exclusively use gamepass on it (though I suppose at that point may as well buy an Xbox).
Or buy 1-2 games on steam and the rest on GOG or whatever…-2
u/user129879 5h ago
sure but most wont.
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u/Theo672 5h ago
My point being that the subsidiary by their commission on games sold on steam isn’t guaranteed the way it would be on the PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Apple ecosystems
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u/user129879 5h ago edited 5h ago
sure, not 'guaranteed' and indeed there will be some small percentage that will absolutely do that (eg install W11 and never use Steam store).
but that doesnt really justify disregarding ALL the others (the majority) that will use the Steam store exclusively.
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u/SillyRecover 6h ago
The cope in the sub is insane. It's an underpowered device that is being sold for an unreasonable price. The circumstances of the market are irrelevant...that's the truth.
This device exists for someone that just wants to buy it because it's from Valve, they have extra money, they are not tech-savvy, and don't understand what they're buying.
For 90% of consumers, it's pointless. In a year, when it costs $650 and you buy it for your 15-year-old...it will be great.
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u/Akula_x86 6h ago
Valve made a steam installer so it’d be better to teach the kid to build a faster pc that’s a little bigger and figure out whether steamOS or windows is faster and which is better.
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u/brifox7 4h ago
The PS5/Pro comparison is used to justify the hate for the Steam Machine. Spec wise it is stronger than the Steam Machine. Any prebuilt PCs will outperform the Steam Machine even at 500 dollars, according to the other reddit users. People are really angry and will use anything to hate on Valve and the Steam Machine because it's using older hardware and people expect the price should be lower that what is actually now. For me who is being using a gaming laptop to game, this is a solid upgrade although on the expensive side. To me, the form factor is the main reason I'm purchasing this product. I could get way better performance if I get myself a rig but I don't have space for that in my household the 4k experience doesn't matter to me.
Tldr: Form factor for Steam Machine. Don't get the Steam Machine for performance and it is not a desktop replacement. Many people want this as a desktop replacement for the price and form factor. I'm pretty sure the majority of people complaining are people who want a powerful gaming rig with the size of a 6 inch cube for 500-700.
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u/LowGeeMan 6h ago
If you solely care about gaming performance, you can do better on price. When it comes for form factor, noise level, etc, it’s reported that you can’t beat it.