Gamers Nexus says it’s about $70 more than self-built. (for the 512GB model)
So, you’re paying $70 for a small form factor PC in a custom case, with SteamOS. Another thing is that you can choose to buy a Steam Controller for $20 less than buying the controller by itself and you also don’t have to wait in the pre-order line for the standalone controller (which is currently extended into 2027).
The hardware shortage makes it not a great time to buy a gaming PC, but in the current market it’s priced competitively and you get to jump the line buying a Steam Controller as well.
It’s a console-like form factor, and is pretty powerful. Most people I know, especially the ones interested in the steam machine, are intimidated by / don’t feel they have the time and knowledge needed to build a PC yourself.
I see this less as a device intended for PC users/power users, and more targeted towards people leaving console ecosystems. It seems like a really good device for that, too.
Help me out, is “it’s small” the only reason to get this if you have a microcenter near you? Seems one could do much better with a mediumish SFF case
Gamers Nexus says it’s about $70 more than self-built. (for the 512GB model)
So, you’re paying $70 for a small form factor PC in a custom case, with SteamOS. Another thing is that you can choose to buy a Steam Controller for $20 less than buying the controller by itself and you also don’t have to wait in the pre-order line for the standalone controller (which is currently extended into 2027).
The hardware shortage makes it not a great time to buy a gaming PC, but in the current market it’s priced competitively and you get to jump the line buying a Steam Controller as well.
It has CEC too which you can’t get from a standard PC build.
It’s a console-like form factor, and is pretty powerful. Most people I know, especially the ones interested in the steam machine, are intimidated by / don’t feel they have the time and knowledge needed to build a PC yourself. I see this less as a device intended for PC users/power users, and more targeted towards people leaving console ecosystems. It seems like a really good device for that, too.
Yes. You can build a more powerful system for the same or even slightly less, but it will be larger.