A fair evaluation of the Steam Machine against other alternatives
Background: been using the Steam Machine now for 2 weeks in a TV setup on a 4k screen. I use both the Steam controller but also a wireless keyboard on the armrest and mouse on the couch. This is actually very comfortable, couch gaming doesn’t preclude mouse and keyboard!
- I already own a gaming desktop and 5070 ti gaming laptop (12gb vram and 32gb ram). The latter I used on TV as well.
- My reason for buying the steam is purely the form factor and that it’s virtually silent. SteamOS is nice but I am perfectly happy with gaming, and browsing on windows as well on a TV.
- A windows gaming laptop on a TV is a perfectly viable way go enjoy couch gaming, however in most cases it will not look as ‘clean’ as the Steam Machine. Some gaming laptops and mini itx builds can be noisy but mine has no such issue so the benefit isn’t huge.
So what so I think of the Steam Machins?
- Formfactor and noise are fantastic. This for me is what makes it special. - SteamOS is nice and I strongly support linux and KDE and Valve and SteamMachine are a positive for linux adoption and development, especially for basic users. But I think some people here overstate how great it is. For me windows 11 works perfectly fine and has better compatibility with the software I use, including certain games. I think we need to be happy with SteamOs but not implicitly or explicitly attribute characteristics to it as if these are exclusive. They are not.
- The hardware is underwhelming. I knew this beforehand. Smooth PC gaming in single player for me personally means 90fps. Not 60 or lower. 1080p is fine for me. 4k not a must. I come from 320 x 240 gaming in the 80s.. With current RAM and VRAM prices, the underpowered CPU and GPU are a bit of waste. You pay a large sum for the memory to pair it with subpar hardware. I upgraded to 32gb dual channel with a cheap 2nd hand sodimm with the same part number to squeeze the most out of it. I know the original price environment was much different, but at this stage an 8 core cpu with 12gb vram and one class higher gpu would have been a better match.
- Let’s be very honest: you can find new and second hand gaming laptops that will also connect to your TV and can be put put of sight and you will have a great windows or catchyOS or bazzite gaming experience on the couch for the same price or less with much more capable hardware. And maybe slightly more fan noise that you wont notice if its behind a tv and while gaming.
- Steam Controller feels great, but I am disappointed by the input latency. I prefer the Vader 5 pro for the select few games I use a controller / joypad. Most couch gaming I use mouse and keyboard.
As a last positive: with the established form factor, low noise and mature SteamOS software we may in a few years see a stronger Steam Machine in this elegant and silent package that has a bit more punch. Let’s hope in a year of three hardware prices and availability will at least stabilize. Don’t count on hardware ever being cheap again.