The new Steam Machine was officially presented on Monday (22) and has already received the first evaluations, revealing the potential of the hardware configured by Valve. According to expectations based on specifications released months ago, the mini PC with console characteristics delivers processing power equivalent to that of the PlayStation 5, which makes it a complex option due to its high price.
Among the most prominent analyzes is that of Digital Foundry, a YouTube channel recognized for its detailed technical observations. The summary of the team’s conclusions places the GPU of Valve’s new computer at a performance level between the Radeon RX 6600 and RX 7600 cards.
Considering the device is sold as a “living room machine”, direct comparison with Sony’s ecosystem is inevitable and exposes significant flaws in the design. According to the group of experts, one of the main weaknesses of the Steam Machine is the use of single-channel memory, using a single 16 GB module instead of two 8 GB modules.
This peculiarity is further aggravated by the brand’s apparent practice of using dual-channel in some units, which would impact performance results. Communication on the subject is still not clear, given the different responses obtained by vehicles such as Gamers Nexus, indicating the need for further clarification.
There are other hardware limitations: its RDNA 3 GPU, with 28 Computational Units (CUs), only accesses 8 GB of memory. In contrast, the PlayStation 5 employs an “RDNA 1.5” architecture, which is a slightly simplified version of RDNA 2, with 36 CUs and a considerably more versatile shared memory system.
According to Digital Foundry’s observations, although the platforms exchange leadership in different scenarios, the Sony console stands out in most situations. The standard PS5 outperformed Valve’s mini PC in games like Black Myth: Wukong (with an advantage of around 3%), Alan Wake 2 (with an increase of 9%) and Crimson Desert (up by 17%). Also noteworthy is Forza Horizon 5, where the PlayStation’s dynamic resolution ensures 4K at 60 FPS, a feature not identically replicable on Valve’s machine.
On the other hand, the Steam Machine reacts and gains ground when the processor is the performance bottleneck. In dense areas of Crimson Desert and Baldur’s Gate 3, the PlayStation 5’s older Zen 2 CPU struggles, allowing Steam’s competitor, with its more modern Zen 4 architecture, to gain the upper hand. The scenario may even be more favorable for the new device with the future implementation of FSR 4.1, but the current conclusion is a technical draw.
Despite all the performance reviews, the mini PC’s main deterrent is its cost. While the PlayStation 5 Digital with 825 GB is sold for 599 euros (approximately R$3,540), Valve’s small computer has an additional cost of 440 euros, offers less storage (only 512 GB) and requires the separate purchase of a controller. The situation becomes even more unfavorable if the comparison is with the top-of-the-line version of the Japanese console.
To reach the PS5 Pro’s 2 TB of storage and include a controller, the Steam Machine costs 1,428 euros (around R$8,440). This amount places it 529 euros (approximately R$3,130) above Sony’s Pro version, which still delivers visibly superior graphics performance. The original concept of Steam Machines aimed to popularize PC gaming in living rooms with competitive prices; However, this new version, with its high cost and specifications that still seek a balance, is positioned, in the current scenario, as an option for an audience of enthusiasts who value the flexibility of the PC ecosystem, moving away from the initial objective of a device accessible to the general public.