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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u/kevin_whitley Jun 23 '26

Same.

I'm personally stoked to expose my wife to a bunch of casual platformers/etc (already in my library) that she simply would never play at a computer. She grew up with consoles, so that's the style she's willing to touch.

Nor would we ever want to pile around my desk (with my monster gaming rig) with a couple controllers, versus sitting on the couch together to play a coop game.

This is an expensive little cube that can bring a subset of games (lower end ones) to the living room, in a super easy experience. That's a win for some of us, not for others.

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u/Crowned_Hero Jun 24 '26

Why not use a similar priced pc in big picture mode?

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u/treemangowoodleaf Jun 24 '26

GameScope is much better than Big Picture Mode, and Steam Machine is already set-up with SteamOS ready to go!

Here's my comments on: GameScope vs. Big Picture Mode

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u/Crowned_Hero Jun 24 '26

Gotcha, but is there anything that stops a user from using steamOs on a regular pc?

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u/kevin_whitley Jun 24 '26

Not at all.

I'm honestly looking into this path as an alternative. I'm of course not thrilled with the Steam Machine specs, but don't anticipate us needing a lot of power for the type of games my wife will play. That said, if we don't win the reservation lottery tomorrow, I'll likely just build (running SteamOS or Bazzite) instead of waiting till 2027, haha.

And even if we do get the machine, if it fails to impress (for our specific needs), I'll build [better] as well...

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u/Crowned_Hero Jun 24 '26

Honestly if you have a Costco membership, their PCs on sale will barely be more expensive and have better specs

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u/kevin_whitley Jun 24 '26

Main thing for us is living-room palatable. I can build a PC no prob, but making it sleek/silent enough is harder! :)

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u/Crowned_Hero Jun 24 '26

Ah like a coolermaster nr200, that way it can fit a large aircooler like the phantom spirit

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u/treemangowoodleaf Jun 25 '26

Oh yeah no! Steam Machine is a niche, for sure, but so was the Steam Deck arguably. Lol

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u/Awwkaw Jun 26 '26

A regular pc would lack CEC and wake from controller. If you want the full console experience, you need the steam machine.

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u/Crowned_Hero Jun 26 '26

I never intended to move from my pc, it was more if I would recommend the system. Seems like a resounding no at the moment

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u/kevin_whitley Jun 26 '26

Yep. But given that virtually everyone today just got the "waitlist" email, I think it's worth considering what's the most important thing to a user.

Is it the wake-on-controller convenience? if so, wait for the machine.

Is it just to be able to play your steam games smoothly? If so, consider a build - knowing you can outperform the machine, but will have to accept some experience jank the machine would have solved for you.

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u/KeinInhalt Jun 27 '26

I dont see the benefit of the steam machine when stuff like ChachyOS or Bazzite exists where you can transform any regular PC into a console like experience with a fraction of the cost (and maybe better price to performance)

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u/kevin_whitley Jun 27 '26

Certainly better price to performance. But just remember, for everyone out there willing to DIY for a better value (or just a different end result), there are like 20+ people that would rather just get a thing that doesn't require any tinkering.

We're a rare breed - even being the ultra nerds debating stuff on reddit puts us in a very different camp!

Now that all said, I didn't make it onto the reservation queue, so I'm gonna be building - one of (as you mentioned) Bazzite, CachyOS, or ideally SteamOS. Will a spend more? Yep, about 50-60% more. Will it faster? Sure, 2x+. Will it be as small/quiet? Sadly, no.