MaHeJo

IT Supporter playing Basketball while I'm steaming my own underwear.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

This build is a classic example of why a lot of “just build it yourself for less” suggestions don’t really hold up when you look closer.
First of all, the RTX 5050 is simply too weak if the goal is to compete with the Steam Machine. It’s an entry-level card and will struggle in modern AAA titles compared to the semi-custom RDNA3 GPU in the Steam Machine.
The cooler choice (Thermalright AXP90-X47) is also questionable in a small case like the Jonsbo C6-ITX. While it’s fine for very low-power CPUs, the Ryzen 5 8400F can run warmer under load, and in such a compact chassis you’ll likely end up with higher noise levels or have to heavily limit performance to keep temperatures and fan noise down.
At around $1000, this is a budget Mini-ITX build - not a premium small form factor system. You’re getting weaker GPU performance, more potential noise and heat issues, and you’ll have to deal with all the usual DIY hassle (cable management, thermals, driver troubleshooting, etc.). On top of that, you lose official support and the out-of-the-box optimization that the Steam Machine has.
The Steam Machine is more expensive per raw performance, but it’s a factory-built and tuned system designed specifically for its small size. It’s quieter, better integrated, and offers a true plug-and-play experience with official support. This DIY build might look cheaper on paper, but it comes with noticeable compromises in both performance and user experience.
In short: it’s neither cheap enough to be a real budget alternative, nor good enough component-wise to feel like a meaningful upgrade over the Steam Machine.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@radhika886 @TheKomassy @henk34640291 @Mappy6984 There was no chicken harmed in this video...

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@RoyalRooterSox I once used a Raspberry Pi 3b to stream steam BigScreen to my tv. It worked fine for singleplayer games.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

I don’t personally need a Steam Machine. I already have a desktop PC and I’m comfortable building and maintaining my own hardware. So this isn’t coming from someone defending a product I want for myself.

That said, a lot of the criticism seems to come from a place of elitism, even if it’s not always intended that way. Comments like “just build it yourself” often assume that everyone has the time, interest, knowledge, and desire to research parts, build a system, deal with potential issues, and optimize performance and thermals. For many people that simply isn’t the case.

According to Valve’s latest Steam Hardware Survey, the majority of Steam users are still running RTX 30-series GPUs or older. RTX 40 and 50-series cards combined only make up roughly 25-30% of the user base. When people argue that you can easily build something much better for less money, they’re often speaking from an enthusiast perspective rather than reflecting what most Steam gamers actually have or want.

Building something meaningfully better than the Steam Machine in a similar small form factor is also more expensive than many seem to realize. A realistic Mini-ITX/SFF build with a RTX 5070 Ti or 5080, 32GB DDR5, good cooling, and a quality SFX power supply currently sits in the $1900–2300+ range in parts alone. Small form factor components carry a premium, and current GPU and memory prices make high-performance compact builds noticeably more expensive.

Recent testing from Gamers Nexus showed that the Steam Machine can handle most modern AAA titles reasonably well at 1080p and 1440p with sensible settings and FSR upscaling. It only really struggles in demanding ray tracing workloads. For what it is - a compact living room PC - that level of performance is perfectly usable for many people.

It’s also worth noting that the Steam Machine has reportedly already sold out in Japan, even though official sales numbers aren’t available yet. Japan tends to value small form factors and living room gaming, so early sell-outs there indicate real demand for this type of device.

The Steam Machine isn’t trying to be a high-end custom gaming PC. It’s a finished, compact system with official support, designed for people who want easy access to their Steam library on the TV without having to build or optimize anything themselves. That comes with clear compromises in raw performance and upgradability, but it also removes a lot of the hassle that comes with building and maintaining a small form factor PC.

For the right person - someone who values convenience, size, and simplicity over maximum performance per dollar - it makes sense. For people who enjoy building and already have a capable desktop, it’s probably not the right choice. Both can be true at the same time.

[Pawel @plagpawel]

@jstock37 Most people play 3 games per year, and even then rarely finish half of them. PS5 is a clear pick for 80% of gamers. Only top hardcore gamers might consider PC but they already have beefy PC with RTX5070Ti - and two consoles (switch + another one) on top of that.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@dev_ziro Uh.. great idea. I haven't thought about gaming in bed. Thank you.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

I still use Windows 11 Pro mainly because I’m quite dependent on VoiceMeeter. I haven’t found a Linux alternative that works as well for what I need.
I have ME/CFS and auDHD, so I don’t have much energy right now to set up and stabilize a full Linux installation on my main machine. I’m self-taught and actually got a lot of credit for my Linux knowledge when I took my IT Supporter education, so it’s not that I’m against Linux. I’ve used it quite a bit in the past, and I still tinker with Raspberry Pi projects. I just don’t have the capacity to go through the process of switching my daily driver at the moment.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@Black_D_Gamer1 Agree
https://t.co/Fec55BzErm

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

I don’t personally need a Steam Machine. I already have a desktop PC and I’m comfortable building and maintaining my own hardware. So this isn’t coming from someone defending a product I want for myself.

That said, a lot of the criticism seems to come from a place of elitism, even if it’s not always intended that way. Comments like “just build it yourself” often assume that everyone has the time, interest, knowledge, and desire to research parts, build a system, deal with potential issues, and optimize performance and thermals. For many people that simply isn’t the case.

According to Valve’s latest Steam Hardware Survey, the majority of Steam users are still running RTX 30-series GPUs or older. RTX 40 and 50-series cards combined only make up roughly 25-30% of the user base. When people argue that you can easily build something much better for less money, they’re often speaking from an enthusiast perspective rather than reflecting what most Steam gamers actually have or want.

Building something meaningfully better than the Steam Machine in a similar small form factor is also more expensive than many seem to realize. A realistic Mini-ITX/SFF build with a RTX 5070 Ti or 5080, 32GB DDR5, good cooling, and a quality SFX power supply currently sits in the $1900–2300+ range in parts alone. Small form factor components carry a premium, and current GPU and memory prices make high-performance compact builds noticeably more expensive.

Recent testing from Gamers Nexus showed that the Steam Machine can handle most modern AAA titles reasonably well at 1080p and 1440p with sensible settings and FSR upscaling. It only really struggles in demanding ray tracing workloads. For what it is - a compact living room PC - that level of performance is perfectly usable for many people.

It’s also worth noting that the Steam Machine has reportedly already sold out in Japan, even though official sales numbers aren’t available yet. Japan tends to value small form factors and living room gaming, so early sell-outs there indicate real demand for this type of device.

The Steam Machine isn’t trying to be a high-end custom gaming PC. It’s a finished, compact system with official support, designed for people who want easy access to their Steam library on the TV without having to build or optimize anything themselves. That comes with clear compromises in raw performance and upgradability, but it also removes a lot of the hassle that comes with building and maintaining a small form factor PC.

For the right person - someone who values convenience, size, and simplicity over maximum performance per dollar - it makes sense. For people who enjoy building and already have a capable desktop, it’s probably not the right choice. Both can be true at the same time.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

I understand your point completely.. I myself already have a PC at my TV alongside me primary gaming PC at my desk.
And I can only say thus. The Steam Machine is not for you. You are not being forced to buy it. It is for those who don't want the hazzle of building on ore want the form factor of it. At the moment there is no other PC that gets close to what valve did.
But it's not for you and me. But your comparison was apples and bananas.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@grok @alphafox Would DIY also match the noise level and the support?

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@Grummz I have one word... Airflow...

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@LupintheI Go ahead and show it. But include CPU/GPU temps and actual noise levels under load with those power limits. That's what actually matters in a small form factor.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

While the DIY build looks stronger on paper, achieving similar thermals in that small form factor requires heavily power limiting both the CPU (~20W) and GPU (~70W). This typically results in a performance loss of around 30-45% compared to running the parts at normal power levels.

In addition, a DIY build offers no official support. If something goes wrong - whether it's hardware compatibility, driver issues, or general troubleshooting - you're on your own. This is something the average gamer is not capable of, nor interested in doing.

The Steam Machine, on the other hand, comes with official support and is designed as a complete system that works properly out of the box without the user having to make those kinds of compromises.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@nuhre_ https://t.co/480B9KsBqc

[Book of Elna. @Thirteenthsteps]

You aren't beating valve on quality components.

You'll be locked to ddr4 architecture to even try and compete on quality and size.

You're coping.
Now fuck off.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@Johnny_the_Vet @gothgirl_ihope @tomthepirate @valvesoftware You’re missing the entire point - the form factor.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

People forget that there's a significant price difference between the platforms. The DIY version uses an older and cheaper DDR4 platform (Ryzen 5500 + B550), while the Steam Machine uses a newer Zen 4 platform with DDR5.
You can't just drop DDR4 into the Steam Machine - it's built for DDR5. So when people say 'you can build the same thing for $700', they're not comparing like for like. The platform itself is simply more expensive on the newer generation.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

People forget that there's a significant price difference between the platforms. The DIY version uses an older and cheaper DDR4 platform (Ryzen 5500 + B550), while the Steam Machine uses a newer Zen 4 platform with DDR5.
You can't just drop DDR4 into the Steam Machine - it's built for DDR5. So when people say 'you can build the same thing for $700', they're not comparing like for like. The platform itself is simply more expensive on the newer generation.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@_____dig @ryzla_hq @kazhua89 @cyberathlete @Dexerto You've gone from discussing to personal attacks. That says more about you than the argument. Good day.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

You're missing the point. The Steam Machine isn't a console. It's a compact PC running SteamOS that you can use in the living room or as a regular desktop.
Just because it markets itself well for couch gaming doesn't make it a console. It's the same as saying a Microsoft Surface is just a tablet because it can be used with touch. It's a hybrid - a real PC with console-like convenience. That's the entire selling point.

[MaHeJo @_MaHeJo]

@_____dig @kazhua89 @ryzla_hq @cyberathlete @Dexerto lol no.. Taken directly from Steam.
If that is what you think, then it shows you have not payed attention to what it is..