this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2026
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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
It has CEC too which you can't get from a standard PC build.
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.
Yes. You can build a more powerful system for the same or even slightly less, but it will be larger.
Genuienly, I'd love to see your build, your parts and prices.
I can't figure out how to do it, out of stuff you can actually buy retail.
If you can figure out an SFF build for under $1150, that can run RDR2 at 75 fps on high/ultra, at 1440p, without using any upscaling, let me know.
Both GamersNexus and LTT have you covered
Ok then, fine.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/BcXPJw
There, that's the closest I can get to GN's part list.
Can't find any 7400F's, so 7500F instead.
Can't find any SFX PSU around ~$35, so... ATX MSI MAG A550BN?
Rosewill has a 550W PSU that's $7 cheaper, but isn't even Bronze rated.
Also, couldn't find the A-Tech RAM, went with Crucial.
But I did get the price pretty close to GN, $982, pre-tax. I would need to double/triple check all power draw tolerances... and whether or not all this shit can actually physically fit in the case, as an ATX PSU is chonky compared to an SFX PSU, and its possible the giant CPU cooler might not reasonably fit.
EDIT:
Ah, the Case apparently does not actually come with the two front 120mm fans in the pictures, so basically add ~$15 to ~$25 onto the price for those.
Great success!
These internals will fit in that case to get ya more for similar monies.
https://www.microcenter.com/product/699677/powerspec-g528-gaming-pc
While I would say that's a pretty good and decent amount of computer for $1000, I would say that doesn't really qualify as 'SFF'.
But, that is a bit of a nebulous and inexact term, potato potato.
... still a decently powered potato for a grand tho, lol.
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.
Less powerful than current gen consoles, though.
I don't think that's necessarily an issue, it's powerful enough to play AAA titles. The price is the biggest issue at the moment, and it's not really valve's fault that pc parts are skyrocketing in price.