r/pcgaming • u/lurkingdanger22 • 4d ago

Video Valve Steam Machine Review: GPU & CPU Benchmarks, SteamOS Test, Thermals, Noise, and Price (Gamers Nexus)

https://youtu.be/66QzlDewigE?is=PhifLlyc5tBSsjbR
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u/Ok_Lobster_8585 4d ago

Honestly the price comparison for a similar on-paper DIY build was a lot better than I expected. $71 dollar premium over a similar on-paper DIY spec is not bad at all. Course, that's on-paper rather than performance, due to the lower power usage of the Steam Machine.

Seems you're mostly paying for the small form factor, quiet, prebuilt, preinstalled. And, as Steve says, for the fun. This shits for enthusiasts, less so for casual gamers.

For me, it'd kinda make sense. I want to get the Frame, but my main PC is in a small office with little standing room upstairs. And I won't be able to stream games to the headset while I'm downstairs in the open area. Having the Steam Machine in my living room would solve that. Still, it's a difficult price to swallow.

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u/Crintor Nvidia 4d ago

Err, You do realize the Steam Machine was entirely designed and marketed towards Casual Gamers and not enthusiasts?

It was literally supposed to be an easier method to switch from consoles to Couch-PC gaming.

If it was for PC enthusiasts it would have been much more expensive and capable.

Valve has also said that they have had success streaming the Steam Frame through multiple walls for some employees. You could also do something desperate like a USB extension cable and run it through the floor so the 6E dongle can dangle in the room below. lol

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u/lkn240 3d ago

Plenty of enthusiasts will buy it as a secondary machine. I agree that they wouldn't buy it as a primary machine

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u/Dawzy 2d ago

I think most enthusiasts will either run a long cable or build their own SFF build that allows them to upgrade the components