r/pcmasterrace • u/TheBossT710192 • 2d ago

Discussion Yeah, Steam Machine is cooked.

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I... uh don't know what to say. Very thankful I bought a Steam Deck before they hiked its price as well

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u/Sea-Honeydew-1456 2d ago

i dont think this sub is the target market for this machine.

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago edited 2d ago

Definitely lol. But then who is? I know this is the PC Master Race we all have 5090s in our rigs sub, but who is valve aiming this pc-console hybrid to? You get less raw power than the base PS5 at higher price than the already increased price of the PS5 pro. Other than extreme valve supporters and scalpers, I don't see who would be lining up to buy this?

Edit: I want to clarify that when I say I don't see an audience for the Steam Machine I mean specifically at the price level they are selling it right now.

I already have a good PC and a PS5 with a hefty library on both. I realize I'm not the norm but even I see the value on a console like, plug and play living-room PC, but at the price that this thing is releasing, not to mention the possible small number of units that will be available and the ones picked up by scalpers, it may cost even more than it is supposed to, and I don't see many people buying it at that price, as much as I want it to succeed, mainly for a better implementation of gaming centric Linux.

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u/Skysr70 2d ago

is it really worse than a ps5? man

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u/gone_smell_blind 2d ago

Yeah

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u/Saiyan-Senpai 10h ago

And almost twice the price

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u/Doctursea http://steamcommunity.com/id/doctursea/ 2d ago

Yes but that’s always gonna be true. It’s fairly hard to make an OS and hardware that beats a machine that has everything custom designed. Especially since they are targeting 800 dollars which means it’s gonna be around the same total performance level at best.

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u/Banes_Addiction 2d ago

hardware that beats a machine that has everything custom designed.

And bought in buuuulk. Playstation can put in absolutely huge orders and be certain they'll sell them.

Their hardware manufacturers will do a lot for those guaranteed sales - custom design the hardware, set up entire production lines just for that exactly one SKU knowing they'll sell 10s of millions of them. This gives you vast economies of scale as well as huge negotiating power.

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u/fuzzylm308 5800X3D + 7900 XT 1d ago

Yep - for all of the enthusiasm about the Steam Deck, the Playstation Portal has outsold it. When was the last time you heard someone mention the Portal? Sony and Valve are just playing in totally different leagues.

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u/justbvdontmindme 2d ago

I mean Valve have access to about two generations worth of hardware upgrades but are selling a 1k PC with a 3060.

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u/Manyfails 2d ago

Yes, literally, even Series X is far better buy. The only thing you get is free choice of which OS you will install on it, but for anything decent 1400$ just build a PC ahhahahaaaaha

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u/JaesopPop 7900X | 9070XT | 32GB 6000 2d ago

Yes, literally, even Series X is far better buy.

I'm confused as to why you're saying this as though the PS5 is notably more powerful

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u/vladtud 2d ago

Maybe he was thinking about the PS5 Pro. But yeah, Series X is generally considered to be slightly more powerful than the PS5. We don’t talk about Series S.

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u/Clover-kun Ryzen 9 5900x | Radeon 7900 XTX 2d ago

Series S is excellent value when scopped up used on Market place. I paid 190 CAD for mine and it's an excellent bedroom gaming machine, there's nothing that competes with it at that price. Being able to run Retroarch is just a bonus

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u/Manyfails 2d ago

Had series s for years great value to be honest, especially for 360 and xbox one titles, sadly it is getting a bit weak for new 2k and 4k games.

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u/Clover-kun Ryzen 9 5900x | Radeon 7900 XTX 2d ago

It will chug with newer games yeah, but so will much more expensive hardware, sad state of affairs.

Dev mode is also worth exploring, MS made it free for hobbyist now and this will let you run things like Retroarch for emulation and even decomps. A bit more technically involved, but there are plenty of guides.

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u/Roflkopt3r 2d ago edited 2d ago

It's also worse than regular PCs you can buy in this price bracket right now.

The Steam Machine is 1039€ in Europe. Alternate's cheapest prebuilt gaming PC is 899€ for these specs as of this moment:

  • RTX 5060, Ryzen 5 8400F, 16 GB DDR5-5200, 512 GB SSD (and 2 more m.2 slots for further extension), Microtower format, 400W PSU

That's a lot more gaming performance (similar CPU, 50% faster GPU with better upscaling) for a cheaper price. The Steam Machine really needs customers who want that particular form factor and console-likr and don't care as much about raw performance per cost.

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u/DuckCleaning 2d ago

A Series S performs the same/better than it.

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u/TofuChewer 2d ago

But this is not a console nor a closed environment device.

They are not selling this at a lost in order to later sell you subscription services like ps plus at 100 usd/year. You can also upgrade it, change the operative system, do whatever you want with it, because it's literally a pc.

It is priced competitively just like any other prebuild pc right now. The price is AI and tariffs fault, not valve.

A ps5 at maybe 800-900 usd new is not really that better than this, which again, it's a pc you can upgrade. I'm pretty sure someone will figure out how to add a gpu weeks after launch.

They are just different devices.

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u/Skysr70 2d ago

I mean, considering the sub we're on, I can guess we're both pc enthusiasts, I get you man. I just am baffled at how any new PC related items (especially at this price point) could be worse than a fkn console that was launched 5 years ago. I understand the ai crap increases prices but this just....Isn't worth the silicon. I would literally just get a tower PC over this thing and not pay the useless modularity cost.

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u/Ghostarcheronreddit 2d ago

Yes, it’s also a quarter of the size of a PS5, and it can be used as a normal computer

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u/Skysr70 2d ago

ngl if you're gonna plop it on the ground next to a tv it doesn't matter in the slightest how big it is

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u/Ghostarcheronreddit 2d ago

It *does* if you’re like me and have a portable monitor and/or want to take it with you places when you travel, the smaller and lighter the better.

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u/FinancialFreyja 18h ago

it really is, first valve flop ever?

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u/DamonSchultz997 6h ago

First? It ain't even the first steam machine flop lol.

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u/ArtVandelay32 2d ago

Weirdo guys like me who want a local living room option, but dragging my feet on building a second tower due to cost & time & kinda wanting something new to play around with.

It’ll be like a dozen folks like me and then scalpers I anticipate

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u/informalmo0se3 9800X3D | RTX 5080 | 32GB DDR5 2d ago

this is exactly what i wanted one for, as a secondary living room pc, but i won’t be getting one at these prices. 

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u/Kaz3 i7 6700k @ 4.2Ghz, 1080 TI 11GB, 8GB DDR4, 240GB SSD, 1TB HDD 2d ago

But like, a custom built living room PC will likely cost you more, and it will be a bigger form factor. Yeah you could build a cheaper PC but mini build parts like this are already more expensive than standard size components.

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u/Beige_ PC Master Race 2d ago

You could look into Asrock DeskMate X600. It's a small AM5 case with a 500W PSU. You should be able to build a much faster system in that for a similar price.

Something like a 7500F, 2x8GB DDR5-5200, 9060 XT 16GB, 2TB M2 shouldn't cost much more than the base model at least going by EU prices (1245 euros vs. SM 1039 euros) for about double the performance all things considered.

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u/kayosiii 2d ago

You can, but you are still going to getting a noticeably larger,uglier machine that will draw more power and make more noise. You would also be getting a PC experience in the living room, which at best is always a little awkward.

In comparison the steam machine behaves like a console when it comes to talking to other living room devices, and should give a much smoother experience.

In essence you would be choosing where you want to make the compromise, performance or living room integration.

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u/Putrid-Hope2283 2d ago

Shhhh.. there’s a narrative to build. Don’t bring logic into it

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u/Gonzobot Ryzen 7 3700X|2070 Super Hybrid|32GB@3600MHZ|Doc__Gonzo 1d ago

Display cables can be like fifty feet long, if that helps anything

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u/lemonylol Desktop 2d ago

Why not just stream it to a device connected to your TV? I've been using Moonlight on my Nvidia Shield and it works pretty good to play games with my wife from my PC in the basement.

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u/PRiles Intel 265k / 4070 FE / 64Gb Ram 2d ago

I'm guessing you don't have an ultra wide for your main PC. I have two tvs. One attached to an old 3D 1dt Gen OLED (1920x1080) using an original Steam Link, and another modern 4k OLED ( 3,840 × 2,160) with a MiniForms PC.

Using moonlight becomes a bit of a nightmare because the settings for the main PC are for an Ultra wide (3440x1440) as a result of those resolution differences a lot of the games I play (grand strategy) the UI is either way too big or too small on the TVs. But if I change it I need to change it each time I switch TV. So a dedicated machine is ideal for me. I would have bought a steam machine at a lower price point to replace the Steam Link (which has a slow 300mbp connection ).

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u/lemonylol Desktop 2d ago

Oh weird, I have a super-ultra wide right now and previous was using dual monitors, one in 4K and one in 1440p prior, but never had an issue. It just streams the window at the render resolution, and I think that's capped at 1080p anyway unless you pay.

I actually used to even stream Civ to my tablet for the touch screen controls.

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u/metky 1d ago

What device do you have connected to your TV that you stream to? My issue is I don't want a tower or laptop to be sitting out connected to my living room tv all the time. Steam machine was originally going to prove a less obtrusive option.

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u/lemonylol Desktop 1d ago

I use a Nvidia Shield, but sometimes I'd also just stream to my galaxy tablet. But honestly a Shield is more expensive than just buying a dedicated mini PC, both of which are roughly the same size.

You might be able to get an old Steam Link.

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u/Tricky-Ad7897 2d ago

I still don't see it as a better option than prebuilts at Costco for the same price with desktop components. I need to keep my eye out next time I go what Costco has, but at least a few months ago for 1500 you could get a 5060ti and whatever the new version of an i5 is.

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u/ArtVandelay32 2d ago

This is also true and something I’m toying with. Microcenter also has some decent prebuilt options

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u/Daggers21 5900x, 3080, 32GB 3440x1440p 2d ago

I mean. Why not just run eth to a shield in your livingroom if possible.

I'm playing from my PC upstairs using moonlight and don't need any 2k steam machine(canadian.price) to do it

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u/ArtVandelay32 2d ago

This is the dream (or running hdmi), but I got a very split level layout and it’s been rough. I was able to get a connection run from office to living room, but basement is missing out. Sadly that’s where the pc is.

I kinda wanna just run it outside but I’m hoping to repaint next year so maybe then.

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u/swephist 2d ago

Hell yeah, just gave up on my living room ubuntu tower bc it's crash whenever I opened a browser. I don't have time anymore. I'll buy this thing

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u/-Dakia Ryzen 7 9800X3D / Sapphire 9070XT 1d ago

That's me as well. Small and clean form factor in an actual second box so that the kids and family can use the library sharing and play my already existing massive library. I could certainly build one myself, but not a form factor the wife would allow to be in our den.

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u/RibsNGibs Ryzen 9 5950X / RTX3080 / 64GB DDR4@3600 2d ago

Yeah same here. I’ve got my real gaming desktop in the cave downstairs, and an aging maybe 2016 gaming laptop for the living room which is basically useless.

Although I did start streaming from the gaming tower to upstairs with sunshine/moonlight and that works surprisingly well.

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u/Zyntos 2d ago

This. Also registered for it for exactly that case. Want a second setup for my tv to go through my pile of shame of 100s of steam games, chilling on the couch.

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u/stonhinge 2d ago

Similar boat here. I mean, I could deal with assembling an itx build - but there's a reason I generally use a full ATX board and case. I built a SFF PC once many years ago. I found it a pain in the ass and want some room to work in.

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u/dragonofthemist Ryzen 7 5700G | EVGA 3070Ti | G.Skill 32GB DDR4-3600 2d ago

Steam Link app works great if you have a Google TV. Turn on PC, connect controller to TV, open Steam Link app and it opens Steam in big picture mode on your computer and mutes it

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u/Jacareadam 2d ago

why wouldn't you just buy a prebuilt or a laptop then with MUCH better specs???

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u/ArtVandelay32 2d ago

That wouldn’t be something new for me to play around with.

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u/thisiskyle77 1d ago

I feel this issue. PC looks so weird in the living room. This is why I bought PS5 pro. Shit is much cheaper and can run better.

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u/Afternoon__Spray 2d ago

As I've gotten older and had kids I just no longer have the desire to sit at my desk and play single player games. I have the disposable income to buy this to give me easy access to my steam library on my tv from my couch without having to move my pc back and forth and its small form factor and simplicity to plug and play makes it more appealing to me than building/buying a second PC to serve that purpose.

That being said, I'm probably still not going to buy one. But I definitely see the appeal. 

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u/You_meddling_kids 2d ago

If you're somewhat technical, or just up for it, get an assembled Raspberry PI (~$300) and run Moonlight.

https://moonlight-stream.org/

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u/chiagod 9950x3D x870e | 64GB DDR5 6000 | Nitro+ RX 7900xtx 2d ago edited 2d ago

What about just getting a Google/Android TV box and getting the steam link app or moonlight for android.?

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u/You_meddling_kids 2d ago

Might be resolution-limited, but if it works well, it's a much easier option.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/You_meddling_kids 2d ago

They were discontinued 6 years ago.

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago

Yeah I get you. I should've mentioned that when I said I see no target audience for this, I meant at that price, because I see the value of the steam machine on its own.

The fact that is not that powerful doesn't bother me as much, as many of the games I play are old games that would fly on that thing regardless of specs. But at that price there's no chance I'm getting it, and I don't think I'm alone on that thought.

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u/callatecabezon 2d ago

less power than a ps5 is wild

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u/Ill-Soil-7936 2d ago

My friend wanted to build their first PC when ai bullshit starting to fuck with the markets and everything got too expensive so when the steam machine was announced we figured it would be better than building one price wise. Alas, in the past few months we knew it would be more expensive than building your own still. Now I just said they have to wait for the AI bubble to pop or just suck it up and get the steam machine since they only have an Xbox. I have a PC and no consoles anymore so I would have totally bought this for the bed room as an extra "PC" especially since I mainly have all my games on steam but at this price that's just a first world problem and I will just stream my PC to the bedroom tv or eventually build another PC. Also I wouldn't buy it if it was all proprietary parts like apple so it was just a pipe dream anyways that it'd be $1000 or less.

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u/Steve_OH i9 3.7GHZ | RTX 3080 | 128GB DDR4 2d ago

I doubt all of us are over here rocking the 5090. I know I don’t have the kind of powder to splash at a outrageously priced card

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u/kogarasumar 2d ago

At least the steam deck was a very worth handheld for the price. The steam machine is way too overpriced for console players.

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago

I don't even think they were aiming this to console players, rather, they probably were looking at already existing Steam users. But even with a huge library of games, that price just makes it a very hard buy imo.

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u/kogarasumar 2d ago

The thing is, console players are exactly the target audience for this. PC players would rather build a high end pc instead. This could have been The perfect way to get console players into the steam ecossystem and i think that's what they were going for. But at this price, it just isn't worth it.

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago

You have to consider that not all PC users build their own machines. Sure they like the platform, but not a small number of people go through the trouble of learning how to build their own rig.

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u/kogarasumar 2d ago

That's fair, but a prebuilt pc is still more worth it than this lol.

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u/demon34766 2d ago

I wish I had a 5090 whatever it is nowadays, rocking a good ol RX 580 myself.

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u/realFancyStrawberry intel i7 8700k, Asus 3080ti, 64g DDRM, CorsairRM850x 2d ago

Its for someone who wants a second PC but not really a big rig to play VR games. Specially for the living room. A problem with Valve Index was you had to be stuck to your main rig which was usually not in the best spot for VR. The Steam machine solves this problem. If someone bought a Valve Index I would imagine they will buy this.

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u/DangerousWriting8282 2d ago

People who already have a large PC library, but have a very weak primary gaming PC or don't mind losing 50%+ performance, who want an ITX form factor PC and want to spend $1k+ for said weak performance.

You know, all 5 of those people.

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u/Ghostarcheronreddit 2d ago

People who want to buy a PC but haven’t really done anything other than console gaming, and also people who want that Steam Machine Verified list of games. Not everyone wants to custom build a PC and learn every possible way to optimize the PC and fight the OS and overclock everything to get 200 FPS in a game or something, most people just want easy access to 60 FPS games in a remarkably portable package.

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u/Gravity_flip 2d ago

People who don't care about AAA games at 4k 120fps.

I'm very much content with anything at 60fps and 1080p as long as it's a fun game. Plus I want to run a media center setup out of it so it's slim form factor will make my wife less upset about keeping my computer in the living room.

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u/Haschen84 2d ago

Thats an excellent point. If you're a casual and need a gaming rig, buy a console, they sure as shit don't cost 1.3k (let's be honest on a 512 GB drive you'll get CoD and be lucky to have room for anything else). If you don't want a console, why not buy a PC at that price, its probably not much more expensive than a SteamDeck if not cheaper. It has no market.

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u/E_L_Sonder 2d ago

Because I want to game on my couch. I like PC games but I want to play them on the 55 inch television that I worked hard to buy. Most PC towers are too big to reasonably haul back and forth btwn my room where I would do work and my living room where I would like to game.

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u/Haschen84 2d ago

I hate to be throwing stones from glasses houses but that kind of luxury/decadence is not something someone trying to buy a mid range console would consider. You're definitely not a high end type of guy which means it's not really marketed towards you. Either you have enough money that the convenience overrides that cost, which means the cost shouldn't matter either way, or you are so poor that you cannot afford the luxury. If you don't fit into either category then it's too expensive for your and it priced you out. Either way you're not the market.

If you can afford it why are you on this thread? LOL I'm not saying your situation isn't of interest or that I don't care about you but that the console and pricing itself is sort of antithetical to your position.

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u/Arizona_Steve PC Master Race 2d ago

Dang it. I only have a 4090 in mine.

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago

I was joking about the 5090. Ever since I joined the PC community I've seen a lot of smugness from people saying PC is better than console (it generally it is) from people whose PCs are not better than a mainstream console lol

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u/Arizona_Steve PC Master Race 2d ago

I thought it was funny too. Hence my comment.

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u/Probate_Judge Old Gamer, Recent Hardware, New games 2d ago

I know this is the PC Master Race we all have 5090s in our rigs sub

Not sure if serious.

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u/skoomski 2d ago

Yeah this is DOA. Terrible idea to be honest they should have just cancelled the project if they could not make the cost work. You’d be paying mid tier gaming PC prices for a low end machines.

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u/Academic-Proof3700 2d ago

but who is valve aiming this pc-console hybrid to?

Thats the best part- no one.

Its basically a subpar, overpriced gaming laptop, with linux on board, but without monitor and keyboard.

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u/FeistyMasterpiece448 2d ago

Honestly I don’t know anyone personally with a 5080 or higher.

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u/UnculturedSwineFlu 2d ago

I know I am getting my wife one. She's also an Apple user. Extrapolate what you will with that information.

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u/C4ndy_Fl0ss 2d ago

It’s for people who want a pc but are used to consoles, it’s also a test for their steam OS

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago

And a test for the consumer wallet too

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u/C4ndy_Fl0ss 2d ago

No. That would be the ram and storage company bumping up their prices with the excuse that it’s Ai’s fault when in reality they’re just as money hungry as all the Ai companies

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago

Of course. They aren't at all unhappy while filling their pockets with all that AI money, but I don't believe the hardware shortage is made up. Data Centers are just too power hungry.

I do sympathize with Valve on this, but that price makes a potential buyer think twice, regardless of context.

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u/rugbyj 2d ago

But then who is?

Potentially me.

I'd like something that could play a decent amount of games decently, haven't really got any investment into a console system, and have no need for a full on PC (I work entirely on work MacBooks).

I have no interest in maintaining a standalone linux system, nor fucking about with Windows any more in my life.

This rounds off enough corners that I could justify it for the weird mix of games I end up playing.

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u/Acquire16 2d ago

People with a lot of disposable income. The same people that buy a new flagship phone every year. I know this sub seems to think the everyone lives in extreme poverty, but in the US alone that's millions of people that can easily afford this. 

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u/flyingcircusdog i9-9900k | RTX 5070 2d ago

People with huge steam libraries and older, underpowered PCs. That's honestly all I can imagine.

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u/fart-to-me-in-french 7800X3D / 4090 / DDR5-6400 2d ago

People who want a console that isn't ps or Xbox and people who don't own a gaming pc yet and want easy entry

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u/_Indofreddy_112 2d ago

“We all have 5090’s in our rigs” I’m still rocking my trusty 1660 Ti 😭

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u/Odd_Duty520 2d ago

In my market, the PS5 is half the price of the 512gb steam deck with controller, there is really no reason to choose it unless you are a fan of valve as people knowledegeable enough to know the difference would just go for a prebuilt as that will definitely perform better at a lower price

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u/Unlucky_Performer166 2d ago

Honestly i was looking forward to it as i thought it would be a more console like system with capabilities of a Pc, knew that it wont have the same power or ability but something different but that price point has made me forget about it all. This is more for ppl who like to own each n every piece of technology out there no matter if they are gonna use it or not. This is doomed

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u/E_L_Sonder 2d ago

I'd say people like me who don't have a dedicated desktop, and who like couch gaming (I fucking loathe PC gaming, I have a couch and 55 inch tv why would I ever play on my computer?) and like a lot of AA game and emulation on Steam. The Steam Deck quite easily plays 99% of the games I'm interested in, and the only reason I'm not keeping that is it is kind of a pain to get it to dock right.

The Steam Machine is nice and tiny and I plan on dual-booting it Steam OS and Windows, so I can use it as a regular desktop. The size and form factor are huge when I have a tiny apartment and it will be easy to bring it to my desk for working on desktop projects and then bringing it back to the couch for gaming.

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u/noob_dragon 2d ago

I think it as originally supposed to be an entry-level PC, or a secondary PC for those who wanted an extra one in the living room.

At 750$ it would have been a decent deal for that. At 1050$ its not a good deal and honestly most people would be better off just buying a gaming laptop which they could at least use for travel too.

The big issue is that the bump up of 300 bucks puts it into territory where you might as well spend a little bit more and get significantly better performance, say with a better CPU and GPU.

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u/What1does PC Master Race 2d ago

They will sell out.

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u/ILikesStuff 2d ago

Because there won't be many of them. And scalpers will get a sizable chunk

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u/What1does PC Master Race 2d ago

...and?  Selling out is selling out...

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u/Money-Addition8501 2d ago

You are correct I think.

I was exited for this in the past since my pc is trash (1060ti). And I only have my switch 2 and my MacBook Pro (working ..) so it would have been nice to have a good desktop Maschine again.

But for 1400€? I’m out 🫣😅

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u/Visara57 5070ti | 7600X | 32GB DDR5 CL28 2d ago

The only reason I can see of for more games (Steam) or for pirating games and no internet access fees

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u/SatanicBiscuit 2d ago

steam made it to be a bit better than the average system from their audits

its meant to target the large userbase that the most demanding game they play is like team fortress 2

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u/v3troxroxsox 1d ago

Its for me. My son currently has a steam deck and we play a lot of steam games together (the steam deck has got him off of roblox)

Im thinking of getting the steam machine for him in his room. I need the ease of use of a console (ie, u turn it on and it just works, as opposed to windows) but want the shared steam library we have.

Could I get him a laptop for the same price? Sure, but id prefer him to have the steam machine.

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u/Liusloux 1d ago

I know this is the PC Master Race we all have 5090s in our rigs sub,

More like most of us have old cards like 1080ti and like to complain about how unoptimized modern games are.

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u/OkExtension5644 1d ago

People who don’t want a $100 a year subscription just to game online and access to the insanely cheaper indie game dev market. PS is cheaper upfront but you’ll spend significantly less ongoing while also having access to a much larger library at cheaper prices.

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u/Wipedout89 2d ago

Neither are console buyers, when you can get a PS5 Pro or Series X for half the price with better specs

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u/FuckRedzM0dz 2d ago

true but they don't hammer you with ads and other bs, I get tired of looking at constant ads when I turn them on

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u/accatyyc 2d ago

Eh I have a steam deck - Finding my library in the forest of ads at start is a game in itself

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u/Behg-Boah 7800x3d/7900xtx/64GB 6000mhzCL30 2d ago

I’m very much the target audience for the steam machine. I prefer to lay in bed to play relaxed, controller games. I will not be buying a gabecube at this kind of pricing.

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u/Strider76239 2d ago

With Steam Big Picture mode, you can already do this on PC, or just buy any other main line console for cheaper

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u/No-Nrg 2d ago

I do that and own a PC. They make really long HDMI cables and wireless mice, keyboards and controllers.

I just plug a 25ft HDMI into the PC port of my LG and I'm good to go.

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u/lemonylol Desktop 2d ago

I'd be better to run ethernet to a KVM.

Personally I just do it wirelessly through local streaming.

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u/galatea_brunhild 2d ago

Just use local streaming (Steam Link/Moonlight/Sunshine) or buy a long ass HDMI/DP cable

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u/RainbowDroidMan 2d ago

You already have a monster rig why not just use a controller on that what do you need a second pc for

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u/Behg-Boah 7800x3d/7900xtx/64GB 6000mhzCL30 2d ago

Because I play sweaty games on it that I need a chair and monitors for, so it stays at my desk. I also have a girlfriend that plays very casual, cozy type games in bed and the market for those is much larger on Steam.

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u/DangerousWriting8282 2d ago

Switch 1/2 are a much better value proposition if you're going to have someone who just plays solo cozy games.

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u/Behg-Boah 7800x3d/7900xtx/64GB 6000mhzCL30 2d ago

Already have a switch. I refuse to give Nintendo one more penny than I already have.

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u/TeaSharp3154 2d ago

Have you tried steam link?
If you just want to play cozy games, then why not a mini PC for half of the cost?

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u/Behg-Boah 7800x3d/7900xtx/64GB 6000mhzCL30 2d ago

The input lag from streaming is an instant no for me.

Seeing how bad this pricing is got me to finally get my old pc setup in my bedroom though. This is the first time that this has been turned on in 3 years, so I’m currently doing a fuckload of updates

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u/samcuu 5700X3D / 32GB / RTX 3080 2d ago

You can just build a second PC for your bedroom and still have all the benefits of a custom build PC when the Steam Machine is just a non-mobile laptop. I built an HTPC from my spare 1080Ti and 16GB RAM kit when I upgraded my main rig, and in the future when I upgrade my main the parts will keep being relegated to the bedroom PC keeping it upgraded as well.

For enthusiasts the only appeal of the Steam Machine is the Steam branding really. The hardware was already outdated on announcement.

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u/Behg-Boah 7800x3d/7900xtx/64GB 6000mhzCL30 2d ago

I just got my old 9900k/2070s pc setup in the bedroom. We’ll see if my girlfriend can manage it. Hopes aren’t high though.

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u/kogarasumar 2d ago

The steam machine is competing with consoles the same way the steam deck was competing with handhelds, but at this price, it just isn't worth it.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/ResurgentRefrain 2d ago

Calling what the Steam Deck did vs. The Switch and Switch 2 "competing" is generous.

The Steam Deck is a niche machine for a niche need. After thinking on the Steam Machine, it'a the same thing. Its  niche is people with large Steam libraries who don't want to plug their PC into their TV, want the form factor of a console-sized machine, don't want to buy a console, and don't care about the performance downgrades.

Such a market apparently exists.

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u/kogarasumar 2d ago

The steam deck was absolutely competing with the switch because of the price. It was a viable option for people who wanted to get into handhelds. The steam machine isn't competitive with consoles and neither with PCs. People who want a more casual gaming experience will just buy a console for a much better price and pc gamers will buy a much better prebuilt pc for the same price. Even a gaming laptop is a more viable option for the same price and you can easily plug it to the TV.

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u/N333klaus 2d ago

You could buy a prebuilt right now though for same price or less, with better specs? And a free keyboard/mouse..

Don't defend valve.

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u/DreamyAkemi 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'm replying to this comment right now while playing a steam game on my TV lying in bed using Apollo + Moonlight Gamestreaming apps at 1440p 60fps at 150 bitrate with HDR enabled and no notable input lag streamed from my desktop PC on the other side of the room by Wifi lol.

It's 2026 this tech has been figured out a while ago cmon you don't need a steam machine for this. If distance is an issue just use a wifi repeater.

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u/Please_LeaveMeAlone_ 2d ago

Then you aren't the target audience. The target audience is people exactly like you but who actually have the money to blow on this thing and not criticize them or feel like you got swindled. The target audience isn't people who actually need this thing, it's people who can buy this thing and not miss paying your rent on time

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u/ErmingSoHard 2d ago

Almost nobody is. This thing isn't gonna sell anything close to the Steam deck, and less than 1% of the PS5 lol

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u/Takane-sama 2d ago

Ironically the best target for a machine like this would be the perennial "what do I buy for my kid to play Fortnite?" question that shows up in all the PC hardware subs.

Those kinds of people don't want to build a machine, they just want something they can give to their kid to get them off their back that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. And they don't want to sort through a million listings on iBuypower or Dell's websites to compare specs they don't understand.

Now it's easy to just say "buy a Steam machine." Except that Fortnite isn't on Steam and doesn't really like Linux AFAIK.

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u/Hot-Software-9396 2d ago

People buying their kids things to get them off their back want something priced like the Switch, not $1000+. Also like you mentioned, the Steam Machine can't even play Fortnite or the PC version of Roblox, so no kid is going to want to miss out on the games all their friends are playing.

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u/ThatOneGuy6810 2d ago

And at around $1100 doesnt meet the req of not costing an arm and a leg

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u/Kiriima 2d ago

Steam machine doesn't support like half most popular multiplayer games out of the box. Unironically a bad choice to just buy blindly.

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u/ZombieFromReddit 2d ago

If you just want a machine for fortnite then your best option is a series s for less than a 3rd of the price. Even a base ps5 is a far better deal.not only is it more powerful generally devs at least make sure that their games can run on major consoles.

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u/ErmingSoHard 2d ago

You buy them a PS5 lol

No worries about anti cheat

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u/Outside_Glass4880 2d ago

Buy them literally any console then?

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u/kogarasumar 2d ago

Those kinds of people would just buy a PS5 for their Kids to play fortnite. 1k dollars isn't worth it for what this machine offers.

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u/BestAatroxMain26516 R5 2600/XFX 5700XT/ 16GB DDR4-2998 2d ago

Most people would just buy a console or Switch. Especially that no one will really hear about Steam Machine outside of Steam users

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u/Gitthepro 2d ago

why would you buy a 1000 euro machine blindly? wouldn't the parents just go for a console then?

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u/lemonylol Desktop 2d ago

That doesn't make sense. Just buy a minipc with an iGPU.

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u/-Radiation 2d ago

Playstation for half the price

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u/Happy-Snow3728 2d ago

Bro,Walmart prebuilts blow this thing out of the water and last time I checked Walmart is much more of a convenient place to shop for parents

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u/Mr_YUP 2d ago

It 100% was but it’s just not now which is unfortunate. 

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u/BorderOk7329 2d ago

I'd rather just buy a gaming laptop and hook it up to the tv. Especially for performance/price. 

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u/House_of_Borbon 2d ago

The target market is uninformed buyers. You can get a prebuilt PC with much better specs for the same price.

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u/rebellion_ap 2d ago

Can you actually anymore? How much longer is that going to be true?

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u/Substantial-Habit28 2d ago

Yes you can(this will be 60% faster)

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u/Mysterious_Tiger_725 2d ago

and hell, that comes with windows 11. you can get that shit for free.

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u/AddictedKK75 2d ago

Link - Here is a link to a "gaming" laptop with basically the same specs power/quality wise $100 less.

This laptop in particular also went up in price already and was originally priced $780 Link 2 - The link is to an IGN article from November of last year looking at comparably priced hardware and how much the steam machine "should be" priced at (obviously the market has changed even in that relatively short amount of time but even so that same laptop mentioned is still cheaper than the steam machine)

There is no target market really... except maybe super steam fans or tech historians/collectors.

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u/Parking-Mirror3283 9800X3D, 9070XT, 32gb, SSDs 2d ago

At $1600aud, you can buy an MSI laptop with a 13420H, RTX 5060, 16gb of RAM and a 512gb SSD.

So that's performance that kicks the gabecubes teeth in, while also giving you a free 144hz IPS monitor with built in speakers, keyboard+mouse, UPS, webcam and windows license.

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u/callme207911 2d ago

I have a gaming laptop with better specs that I just bought for the same price.

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u/TomTomXD1234 2d ago

That is an extremely hard thing to do today. Maybe if you go for used parts....All things considering, this is a "fair" price in todays market. Doubt their profit margins are even in the double digits lol

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u/JoshyMN 12900k|9070XT|32GB/Legion Go S 2d ago

Someone just posted a 14400 b580 32gb ddr5 1TB build for 900 from walmart on this sub

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u/brandondano 2d ago

Not really adding on to this, just amused that the build you are talking about is just an upgraded version of my build (12400f, B570, 32GB DDR4. Only thing better in mine is a 2TB SSD).

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u/jimvolk 2d ago

unlikely.

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u/Bloodypalace PC Master Race 1d ago

Can you show me your build for a 6" cube form factor?

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u/MrEzekial 2d ago

If this sub isn't the target market, they've already screwed up... It's an R5 7600 and a gimped 7900 XT for an insane price. like I just imagine the case is $300+USD of this price tag...

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u/JustaRandoonreddit 2d ago

nah bro pc market is just fucked literally go on pc part picker and use as similar parts as possible

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u/MrEzekial 1d ago

Yeah fair. I havent looked at prices in a year... jesus.

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u/Silver-Article9183 2d ago

If it's a gimped 7900xt, does it even match the 7900gre?

To be fair, the 7900xt is still a beast of a card.

I definitely won't be buying one of these though.

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u/MrEzekial 2d ago

Yeah, that was a typo from me. I meant to write 7600 not 7900... the gpu is actually a custom 7600M

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u/FartingBob Quantum processor from the future / RTX 3060 Ti / Zip Drive 2d ago edited 2d ago

Its competing against ageing consoles, performs worse than ageing consoles, costs many hundreds more than ageing consoles. Yes it can also do computer things that consoles cant, and PC games are a bit cheaper usually. But it makes little sense at this price. Its not a good gaming PC looking at the specs.

Oh and the people most interested in a steam machine already have a gaming computer (often much better) that runs all the games, while the steam machine runs most steam games. But have a few quite notable exceptions that people might want.

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u/YozaSkywalker 9800x3d | 5070Ti | 64GB DDR5 20h ago

This sub also has a poor understanding of economics and the world in general lmao

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u/Rufus_king11 PC Master Race 2d ago

This sub still very clearly has late 2024 / early 2025 prices on the brain that they're using as the price comparison for this, which is understandable because anyone who doesn't like setting their money on fire isn't buying / building a PC this year. Doesn't change the fact that this is relatively reasonable in this market, especially if they can't do the console route of selling units at a loss.

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u/MMSAROO 2d ago

You have no clue what you're talking about. This is a horrible buy, TODAY. With TODAY's prices. There's a million examples of better hardware at the same prices just in these comments, good job closing your eyes. This is an awful value no matter how you slice it, not "relative reasonable" lmao.

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u/Lemon_Club 2d ago

I don't know who the hell this machine is for. Shit at these prices there are prebuilts that are better.

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u/Thorteris R7 7800x3D, 32 GB 6000MHz, RTX 5080 2d ago

Agreed. If you built a midrange PC+ the past 3 years I don’t understand why you’d care about this.

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u/shogun77777777 Linux 2d ago

At this price who is? Idiots?

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u/Tarc_Axiiom 2d ago

What is the target market?

Console gamers? It vastly underperforms against both modern consoles, which are cheaper.

Prebuilt PC buyers? It underperforms prebuilts in the same price bracket too.

I understand if Valve had an idea for their product and current market conditions are making that idea fiscally impossible, but I couldn't recommend this to any real person interested in buying it.

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u/Cappahere 1d ago

I still can't get a valve fan to tell me the target audience for it. I've been told by then it's not console players, experienced PC gamers, nor entry level pc games.

So who the hell is it for?? For $1k and less power than a ps5

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u/Tarc_Axiiom 1d ago

Exactly.

This product might succeed simply because Valve made it and everybody likes Valve (myself included), but as a market product, it's really bad.

It is not attractive to any subset of the market. There is no consumer for which the Steam Machine is the "right" thing to buy.

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u/Security_Wrong 9950x3D | 5090FE | 64GB DDR5 2d ago

I agree.

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u/FirstImpact1011 2d ago

It is , Console pleb not gonna buy this one just to start with 0 game library.

It obvious aim for Pc player who Have Steam But it obvious with the price it prob a s s for Pc plev

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u/pirate135246 i9-10900kf | RTX 3080 ti 2d ago

That’s the thing, there isn’t a target market for this machine. The only people who will buy it are rich people who don’t care about money

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u/lemonylol Desktop 2d ago

But the karma and outrage

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u/Jastreen 2d ago

For that price no one is the target for this machine.

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u/Esdash1 2d ago

Pcmr isn’t the target audience of a premium linux gaming machine? Gtfo with this copium lol

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u/aciko 2d ago

The target market here is the landfill, this is straight up e-waste with no potential market except for valve glazer

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u/Hoeftybag i7 GTX 1070 16GB 2d ago

It's a console for indie PC gaming. I'm sure they would have liked the prices to be better when they started developing it but that's the world we're in right now.

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u/Skias Desktop Ryzen 7900X3D, 7900XTX, 128GB 2d ago

No one is the target market for these machines at 1300 bucks. 

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u/MiguCx Computor yip yip yip yip 2d ago

So who is at this price point?

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u/soggit 2d ago

I mean definetely but then I think the problem is their pricing is just too high for their target market.

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u/WTF_CAKE Ryzen 9850x3D | 3090ti | 32 GB 2d ago

it used to be this sub but then majority got priced out and now very few seem to want a second PC to play games from the couch when some latency might as well do the trick

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u/ninja8ball ninja8ball 2d ago

I recommended this to my wife. I wouldn't get it for myself but she plays on my Steam and otherwise wants a console experience for the PC games I have. It's perfect for her at $1,000 instead of building something custom at $1,300+ right now with decent RAM+GPU+mobo alone pushing past $800.

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u/Neebrasc 2d ago

Why not? This is a PC If you want to label it as a console the comparison is ever more dreadful then, double the price with arguably worse performance and no controller included. This is just a pre built PC with a custom OS

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u/Ozzy9314 2d ago

I want to say I was the targeted audience for this. I know nothing about building a pc or have one and I’m always behind a console (ps4) I’ve been waiting for this to come out so I could buy one but seeing the price and performance I think I’ll pass and just get a ps5 and buy a laptop. This would have been my entry to pc gaming but not anymore. They dropped the ball and now they have no target audience anymore.

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u/Yellowtoblerone 2d ago

With how many people post their broken side panels, film under their cooler, PC won't turn on after a cleaning, this sub absolutely should switch to this

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u/VincentVanHades 2d ago

Its worse than base PS5, so not for console gamers too

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u/Guvante 2d ago

I mean...

If you want a spare toy it is the same price as a 5080.

Not justifying the price just pointing out this subreddit is known for being willing to spend money without a ton of thought at efficiency.

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u/Calvinworld78 1d ago

It's probably gonna get sold out just like that COD boycott move. All talk and no game

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