Steam Machine is ridiculously expensive here are 5 PCs (and a $1000 laptop) that easily surpass Valves controversial gaming console

Date:
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:29:01 +0000

Description:
$1,049 for a 512GB customized mini PC with 16GB of RAM and an integrated APU is tough to swallow for many

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Valves Steam Machine has generated a lot of negative publicity because of its price tag. At just over $1,049, it is expensive for what is essentially a very, very powerful mini
PC. But are we being too harsh on Valve given that the timing of the launch sadly coincided with the worst component crisis weve witnessed over the last 20 years?

Amazon Prime Day provides us with a great window to check out how prices compare. My colleague Matthew Hanson has been looking at the component prices should you want to build your own Steam Machine-slayer console (loaded with SteamOS rather than Windows 11 ). Read his analysis .

The CPU on the Steam Machine is equivalent to an AMD Ryzen 5 7600 or a 8400F or an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H or a Core i5-14400T. Its GPU roughly matches an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060/RTX 5050 or a Radeon RX 7600M XT/S. Remember that the Steam Machine operates with a very strict TDP of 30W and its GPU has only 8GB VRAM.

The rest of the spec sheet is as follows: 16GB DDR5, 802.11ax, GbE Ethernet and Bluetooth 5.3. It also has a microSD card reader and a tiny form factor - a 16cm cube that can be customized. Lets get one fact out of the way: no Windows mini PC can match with the Steam Machines price-performance . Not
one.

You will have to check standard gaming PC and the odd laptop to find real alternatives to Valves cultural phenomenon. My choice Acer Nitro V Slim 16: was $1,299.99 now $999.99 at Best Buy AMD Ryzen 7 250 | RTX 5070 GPU | 16GB DDR5 | 512GB

There's no better laptop (or PC or console) right now. This Acer Nitro V Slim 16-inch laptop has the fastest GPU/CPU combination right now and nothing
comes close, including Valve's Steam Machine. Have some heat Acer! View Deal Prime Day sale quick links Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances
from $1.99 Apple : MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29 Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199 Choose your Steam Machine rival Abs Flux Ii Aqua Gaming Pc - Windows 11 - Intel Core 5 120 - Nvidia Geforce Rtx 5060 8gb - Dlss 4 - 32gb Ddr4 3200 - 1tb M.2 Ssd - Newegg.com $1,029.99 shop now 19% OFF CyberpowerPC Cyberpowerpc Gamer Xtreme Gaming Pc, Intel Core I5-14400f 2.5ghz, Geforce Rtx 5060 8gb, 16gb Ddr5, 1tb Pcie 4.0 Ssd, Wifi Ready & Windows 11 Home (gxivr8060a47) $1,049.99 $1,299.99 shop now 11% OFF Thermaltake Thermaltake Lcgs Quartz I1460 Gaming Desktop (intel Core I5-14400f, Toughram Ddr4 3600mhz 16gb Rgb Memory, Nvidia Geforce Rtx 5060, 1tb Nvme M.2, Wifi, Windows 11) S2qt-B760-560-Lcs $979.99 $1,099.99 shop now Acer Nitro V15 749 shop now Stormcraft Stormcraft Gaming Pc Viper Intel Core I5- 14400f Nvidia Geforce
Rtx 5060 Ti- 8gb 1tb Ssd 16gb Ddr4 3200mhz Rgb Windows 11 Home - Vi1440fbb-56tn1 - Newegg.com $999.99 shop now HOENGAGER Hoengaegr Panorama Gaming Pc - Amd Ryzen 7 5700x 3.4 Ghz, Intel Arc B580 12gb, 16gb Ddr4 Ram,
1tb Pcie Ssd, 11ac Wifi, 650 Psu,windows 11- Desktop Computer $1,039.99 shop now MSI Msi Codex R2 14th Gaming Desktop Computer $1,049 shop now 14% OFF Lenovo Lenovo Loq 15.6" Fhd Amd Ryzen 7 250 Nvidia Rtx 5060 Ai Gaming Laptop, 16gb Ram 512gb Ssd Luna Grey $1,078.99 $1,249.99 shop now Hasee Hasee S8 (15.6'', I7-13620h, Rtx5060), Gaming Laptop, I7-13620h 4.9ghz, 16g Ddr5 Ram, 1tb Nvme Pcie4.0 Ssd, Rtx5060 8g Gddr7, 15.6'' 165hz Ips Display, Backlit
Kb, Wf6,bt5.4, Win11, Desert Black - Newegg.com $1,059.99 shop now More Prime Day deals in the US Amazon Devices : Fire Sticks & Echo from $18 Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99 Apple : MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29 Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99 Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99 Headphones : 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199 Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186 Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99 Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing Vacuums : Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34 More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK Amazon Prime : sign up for a 30-day free trial Amazon Devices : Fire TV, Ring & Blink from 21.99 Apple : AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price Appliances : up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage Essentials : household goods from under 10 Laptops : from 149.99 Tablets : Samsung & Lenovo from 125 TVs : from 129.99 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/gaming-pcs/steam-machine-is-ridiculously-e xpensive-here-are-5-pcs-and-a-usd1000-laptop-that-easily-surpass-valves-contro versial-gaming-console


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