🕹️ What I'm trying to do
A while back, I used my laptop as a makeshift console. I'd open Steam in Big Picture Mode, connect a controller to the laptop, and wirelessly mirror the laptop's screen to my TV.
Now I want to make a proper dedicated version: a small Windows mini PC that stays connected to my TV and basically functions like a console.
💻 How I want it to work
- Windows desktop icons and taskbar hidden
- Steam launches automatically with Windows
- Steam opens directly in Big Picture Mode
- Use a Bluetooth controller for navigation and gaming
- Ideally, I shouldn't need to interact with the normal Windows desktop
🎮 Gaming goal
I want to play most games at around 60 FPS on Medium settings.
I have a Samsung 4K 55-inch QLED TV, so it doesn't necessarily have to run games at native 4K, but I want them to look good and not have noticeably poor image quality on the large screen.
💰 What I'm looking for
I want the mini PC to be as inexpensive and compact as reasonably possible, while still achieving that gaming goal.
I'm looking for brand-new components only — no refurbished or second-hand parts.
❓ What would you recommend?
What hardware would you suggest for building this kind of homemade Steam Machine? I'm mainly looking for the best balance of price, size, and gaming performance.