You don’t need to wait for the Steam Machine — you can build your own today

Valve just lately introduced the Steam Machine, and like just about everybody else, I used to be immediately excited. It feels like the proper “console killer”. However as soon as the hype settled a bit, I had a really apparent realization: I already use Linux for gaming … so what’s truly stopping me from constructing my very own Steam Machine proper now?

With all of the hypothesis round pricing, and reminiscence costs capturing up once more for completely no good motive, ready till 2026 for Valve’s field to drop didn’t really feel price it. As a substitute of sitting round in limbo, I made a decision to take issues into my very own palms. And truthfully, you possibly can too.

The Steam Machine’s {hardware} isn’t so simple as you assume

It’s not simply “off-the-shelf” PC elements

Credit score: Valve

Contemplating the bizarre Frankenstein that the Steam Machine is, it is principally a mix between a console and a PC. The simplest solution to clarify it’s that you simply’re getting PC-class {hardware} wrapped in a console-like expertise because of SteamOS. I am going to get into the software program facet later, however first I wish to clear up a typical false impression I hold seeing floating round on-line.

Lots of people assume the Steam Machine is constructed from off-the-shelf PC parts, and that is not true. However not for the explanations you would possibly assume. In line with the specs, it is utilizing {custom} AMD silicon, so that you’d think about it is some form of hyper-specialized console-style chip. In actuality, it is extra of a semi-custom cell chip, not completely bespoke however not one thing you should buy on Newegg both.

Should you take a look at AMD’s lineup, the closest match to what Valve is transport is definitely the Ryzen 5 7540U, which is a CPU primarily solely utilized in laptops and some mini-PCs. It has the identical variety of cores, similar structure, similar TDP, and solely a tiny 0.1Ghz distinction in enhance clocks. In different phrases, it is principally the identical chip.

The GPU follows the identical sample. The closest equal is the Radeon RX 7600M, which is once more a cell chip. Although it runs at a barely decrease TDP—by round 20W—all the opposite specs match up actually intently.

And that is precisely why the “off the shelf PC parts” argument does not maintain up. They are not desktop elements in any respect. They’re cell chips, the sort you will solely discover by way of OEM channels.

Now, I wouldn’t fear concerning the Steam Machine utilizing cell chips or assume that makes it weak. By the point this factor truly ships, Valve can have squeezed each drop of efficiency out of it. We’ve already seen what they’ll do with the Steam Deck, a tool that performs approach higher than its specs recommend — and the identical stage of tuning will completely apply right here.

However nonetheless, I went digging to see what the closest desktop equivalents have been, and later realized you don’t must construct a clone of Valve’s {hardware}.

You do not have to repeat Valve’s precise construct

Construct one thing sooner, or cheaper

The closest desktop-based construct I may put collectively that resembles the Steam Machine is within the desk under. I’ve solely included the CPU, GPU, and reminiscence since the remainder of the internals are nonetheless considerably of a thriller, however this could get you in the best ballpark. However as you will see later, constructing your individual Steam Machine with these precise specs does not even matter, anyway.

Now after these parts and realizing you’d should spend actual cash on this economic system, the place RAM costs have actually greater than doubled just lately and GPUs are nonetheless type of out of attain—what if I instructed you that you simply would possibly have already got a “Steam Machine” sitting someplace in your home?

You need not exit and purchase a completely new PC. You’ll be able to repurpose virtually something you personal and get the identical software program expertise simply by hooking it as much as your TV with a controller. That would imply constructing a super-cheap sub-$300 SteamOS field for older titles, or going all-in with a $2000 monster that utterly outperforms Valve’s {hardware} in each attainable approach.

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Heck, you possibly can even flip your previous laptop computer right into a Steam Machine. So long as you may have a machine that may boot a reasonably fashionable Linux distro, it could possibly turn into a Steam Machine.

After all, it isn’t so simple as slapping SteamOS on any machine and calling it a day. I am going to get into the hardware-compatibility quirks later, however you’ll lose out on some good quality-of-life options, like HDMI-CEC, which lets your TV management your PC (and vice versa) utilizing the controller, similar to a console.

The true magic is within the software program, not the {hardware}

Something is best than Home windows at this level

When you consider it, the entire “Steam Machine” thought is not particular due to the {hardware}. It is SteamOS that turns it right into a proper-living-room console. You simply cannot get the identical couch-friendly expertise on Home windows, irrespective of how arduous you attempt.

And that is the perfect half. You’ll be able to set up SteamOS by yourself {hardware}, and get virtually the very same expertise, with just a few exceptions.

Whereas Valve does provide a SteamOS restoration picture you possibly can flash like every other Linux distro, it isn’t universally appropriate. Proper now, SteamOS principally works on AMD {hardware}. I actually installed it on my ROG Ally (sure, Valve truly optimized SteamOS for it), and it has been just about flawless.

However if you happen to’re on Nvidia or Intel {hardware}, issues get a bit trickier. You’ll be able to’t set up SteamOS cleanly on these techniques. However you continue to have choices.

There are a number of Linux distros like CachyOS or Bazzite, that embody the very same SteamOS interface and are constructed to work throughout a a lot wider vary of {hardware}. After testing a bunch of them, I actually cannot inform the distinction, as a result of it is actually the identical Steam Huge Image Mode session operating on high of a unique base distro.

On the finish of the day, it truly is that straightforward: set up a Linux distro on any gadget you may have, and also you principally have your individual Steam Machine. The one factor that modifications is the {hardware}. In the meantime, the complete console-like movement comes from the software program.

So … is that this the “PC 2” everybody joked about?

The humorous factor about SteamOS is that you simply’re not boxed into the standard console limitations in any respect. If you would like the sofa expertise, seize a controller, and also you’re set. However if you happen to ever must, you possibly can simply plug in a keyboard and mouse, and also you’re proper again in a full desktop session, free to put in no matter apps you need and use the machine nevertheless you usually would.

That’s what makes this complete setup so good. It’s genuinely the perfect of each worlds. I get a correct console-like expertise once I’m on the TV, and with a fast swap of peripherals, I’m again to a daily PC workflow with out shedding something. Nothing is locked down, nothing will get in your approach, and you are able to do all of it on {hardware} you already personal.