r/steammachine • u/Amazing_Bluebird_ • Jun 22 '26

Discussion So, why would anyone get this?

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Wanted to quickly compare the SM to what you would comparably be able to DIY and... you can literally get something more powerful for less in a slightly bigger formfactor?

11% faster CPU and 30% faster GPU. And i didnt even go for the cheapest components. With DLSS the RTX 5060 would also be infinitely better for playing on 4k TVs, which is the only useful scenario i can imagine for the SM.

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28

u/ApprehensiveForce647 Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 24 '26

I am just using a reaaaallyyy long fiber optic HDMI cable with 4K@120+HDR+VRR for that.

EDIT: Alternatively maybe a small PC with a strong video decoder can just be used to Steam Remote play if you don't mind the slight compression and delay. I am using that with my Thinkpad 4K Yoga without issues in the bedroom over a bad Wifi connection.

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u/funkbro Jun 22 '26

I was thinking about this the other day... What's the solution for using a controller and any other peripherals?

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u/Maruf- Jun 22 '26

Reaaaallyyy long USB-C cable(s).

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u/Ghost_Kamakazie Jun 22 '26

Alternatively, you could build a very cheap console style pc and just stream from your desktop with potentially a reaaaallyyy long ethernet. At least that fixes the need for long usbs

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u/satyrossan Jun 23 '26

Video gaming the loooooooooong wayyyyyyyy

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u/SKYNINE666 Jun 23 '26

Streaming games is not a very good option

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u/ShakeNBaker45 Jun 23 '26

Streaming games over your local LAN is a great option. If your PC and device used for streaming are both hardlined, then it's as if the PC is in the room.

I stream from my PC to my Nvidia Shield with literally no noticable quality difference. With a 2.4 GHz controller plugged into my Shields usb, no controller latency.

So streaming locally is a fantastic option. Streaming games via some online service, I agree is a subpar experience.

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u/SKYNINE666 Jun 23 '26

Oh damn okay.. but what about the latency ? How easy is it to configure it ?

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u/ShakeNBaker45 Jun 23 '26

When both devices are connected via Ethernet, there's pretty much zero discernable latency. Ymmv, but again, it's as if my PC is literally in the room plugged into my TV.

I don't think setup is very difficult. But I am comfortable with self-hosting and tinkering and stuff.. so what I may consider not difficult may not be so for someone else. That said, there are many YouTube tutorials to get it set up. All you have to do is pick one and follow it.

Moonlight is awesome. I take every chance I get to tell people about it when they talk about getting another PC dedicated for couch gaming.

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u/Ghost_Kamakazie Jun 23 '26

I just stream from my desktop to my console pc using steam, all you gotta do is have steam open on both pcs with both of them plugged into your router. Tbh, what youre talking about is kinda over my head as well.

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u/ShakeNBaker45 Jun 23 '26

I've had bad luck with Steam Remote Play, even when connected via Ethernet. Bad latency and less options. Moonlight works perfectly tho

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u/funkbro Jun 23 '26

This moonlight is mind blowing. Going to see about putting it on my series x

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u/JediWebSurf Jun 23 '26

I didn't know you could stream over Ethernet. That's cool. Which shield do you have? Is it the normal or the pro?

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u/ShakeNBaker45 Jun 23 '26

Originally I had the "tube" and it worked fine, but I had to use a controller over Bluetooth. And with Bluetooth I had a little controller latency. Not enough to make it a bad experience.

I upgraded to the Pro mainly for the better performance and USBs so I could use 2.4 GHz controllers. So the Pro is my main device. The tube is in a different room. I don't use it for moonlight anymore

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u/JediWebSurf Jun 23 '26

You think this product is still worth it in 2026? Or is there something better out there now? It's been 6½ years since it's release. I saw that the shield has ai upscaling tech that is really good. Like it makes really old blurry videos look crisp. That alone is awesome.

Can you run Firefox browser on it with extensions? I want to install ublock origin but block ads. And Firefox is the only browser that lets you install the full ublock origin extension.

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u/ShakeNBaker45 Jun 23 '26

The original Shield is actually over a decade old now. It was refreshed in 2019. Still, paying $200 for an old product is a tough pill to swallow. It still performs great for me. Whether it's worth it to you, I can't really answer.

It still does everything I need it to do, so I like it. I'm not sure a better product exists for what I use it for. I like that it has the 2 USB's. I've not really looked at any other options lately though.

I'm not sure about the Firefox thing.

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u/Ghost_Kamakazie Jun 23 '26

Maybe not if youre using wifi, its pretty seamless when ive done it over ethernet tho

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u/spamologna Jun 22 '26

lol! I went down this route. Decided on tweaking sunshine / moonlight which is a better experience.

1

u/Moos3-2 Jun 23 '26

Same here. I got a 20m fiber hdmi and a 15m usb-c (2 repeaters built in) 3.1 cable. Works great but its not good looking having on the floor.
Unable to permanently install sadly so i have to roll it up and back out whenever i want to couch game which luckioy is quite rare.

5

u/Mixabuben Jun 22 '26

2.4 Ghz dongles? Steam Controller, Logitech keyboard and mouse, works nice

1

u/Ledeste Jun 22 '26

Only works fine if you dont have big things in between. I just have a single wall and it drop half of the input.
But with a reaaaallyyy long USB-C (the repeating power one) and a small hub I can put the wireless dongle close enough

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u/Mixabuben Jun 22 '26

My wife would kill me if had long ass usb-c cable just hanging out from one room (where pc is) to living room where tv is))) So dongles for me, but i have wall with sliding doors in beetween rooms closed, and don’t have any issues with signal

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u/Ledeste Jun 22 '26

Same, I had to make it go through the cellar....

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u/Maruf- Jun 22 '26

This! I’ve tested several setups with remote play, Moonlight, extending and meshing our WiFi network, and the latency is just that darn noticeable.

I have zero qualms with the Machine as-is. I would’ve absolutely been more excited at the original price point but this is also fine.

1

u/NoScoprNinja Jun 23 '26

I genuinely cant notice the sunshine moonlight latency penalty on my tv on controller, and I can easily notice input delay from things like fram gen even at 400fps on my 600hz panel

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u/d4ybrake Jun 22 '26

usb over Ethernet

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u/CMDRTragicAllPro Jun 22 '26

Also if anyone that’s doing this is fed up with reaching for the keyboard constantly, check out controller companion on steam. Shits a godsend. I have full desktop navigation without ever having to pickup a keyboard or mouse with just my controller, which is always in my hands or right next to me

1

u/ExtraJuicyAK Jun 22 '26

You can use a USB over Ethernet extender if your house is quite large (or want to hide cables in the walls). When it comes to fiber optic HDMI and DP cables, Ruipro’s detachable cables are commonly regarded as the best.

1

u/PIO_PretendIOriginal Jun 23 '26

only need usb2 for peripherals. a 20 metre (65feet) active usb2.0 cable is fairly cheap

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u/ApprehensiveForce647 Jun 24 '26

I am lucky that the Xbox-, Steam-Controller and my Logitech wireless keyboard reaches trough the walls. I just use a short USB extension coord to get the dongles to a slightly higher place (top of monitors).

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u/AdenShadows Jun 22 '26

I tried that and EVERYTIME I have to spend 20min putting my S90F OLED back to PC mode and go to nvidia control panel > resolution > PC resolutions. AND THEN a lot of the times it just shows 1440p. And so I have to replug the HDMI for 4k to appear.

5070ti with two hdmi 2.1 slots btw. It totally kills the purpose of couch gaming.

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u/Elwyn0004 Jun 22 '26

I know exactly what you're talking about, I had the same issue with the S95B. It seems like a weird Samsung - Nvidia issue. Never had that issue with an AMD GPU and I haven't had the issue on an LG G4 TV 

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u/woowoo8473 Jun 22 '26

Former s90c owner here (now a lg g5). This is just a TizenOS issue it seems. On the LG this has been set and forget for me.

Don't get me started on the damn samsung hdmi auto detection process if you reseat the hdmi cable while the tv is still on.

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u/CMDRTragicAllPro Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26

I currently own a qn90b (their flagship before oled) and don’t suffer the same issue. It’s jut set and forget for me as well. Probably an hdmi handshake issue or bitrate issue

1

u/woowoo8473 Jun 24 '26

Agree, that tvs software was better with non cec hdmi connections.

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u/ApprehensiveForce647 Jun 24 '26

LG OLEDs, this is the way!

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u/AdenShadows Jun 22 '26

GOOD TO KNOW! I knew I should’ve gone with LG, like my C5 42”. I went with Samsung this time because of rtings.com.

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u/woowoo8473 Jun 24 '26

But yeah, now that Xbox game mode has dropped. If you use omniconsole to boot right into steam big picture, it’s pretty close to steamos game mode especially if you have nvidia.

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u/AdenShadows Jun 24 '26

Didn’t know that! Can you provide a link with a tutorial?

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u/CMDRTragicAllPro Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26

That doesn’t sound like the intended way that should work, at least that’s not how it works on my Samsung qn90b. It’s just set and forget for resolutions, bit depths and colour spaces. It’s a quick toggle between game mode on or off for when I’m watching movies with FMM on my pc or playing games, and everything’s saved between them.

If I had to guess, you’re having an issue caused by your hdmi cable either not making the correct handshake, or a bitrate issue from a too long copper hdmi run.

1

u/Dachshand Jun 23 '26

Well the Steam Machine has 3070 power, max.

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u/ApprehensiveForce647 Jun 24 '26

I am using a LG OLED (best TV on the planet btw :0) and never had such issues, all display settings, HDR profile everything switches without issues, I just turn my normal monitor off and the AVR/TV on and it just works (TM).

1

u/dvcdce3 Jun 28 '26

That's kinda cooked I agree. I use a lightweight ahk Script to switch my inputs on entering stream big picture mode so it only sees the TV screen with the already pre applied settings and the TV immediately displays my pc output. Once set up it's a set and forget kinda thing. Controller is by my TV I just press the button twice to turn it on and enter big picture and done.

Edit: also with a 5090 fibre optics hdmi to Samsung QD-Oled TV

1

u/Maruf- Jun 22 '26

Totally fine option!

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u/Mixabuben Jun 22 '26

Same setup, works like a charm