TECH NEWS – Gabe Newell’s new device is attractive and compact. However, it’s worth taking a look under the hood.

A look at the “compact” computers on the market reveals tremendous progress in this segment, driven by architectural updates from companies like AMD and product innovations from integrators. The new generation of Steam Machines may be similar. This machine’s GPU is a semi-custom model, meaning it incorporates AMD IP and has been fine-tuned for Valve’s device. It resembles the AMD Radeon RX 7600 in that it has the same amount of VRAM but slightly fewer CUs (computing units) and a relatively low TDP of 110W.

Valve claims this is a 4K@60FPS device thanks to AMD’s FSR technology. However, the GPU alone will only be sufficient for 1080p gaming. When Nvidia unveiled the RTX 5050 and AMD unveiled the RX 9060, the industry criticized the 8 GB VRAM capacity as unfair to gamers, given the high demand for AAA games. The Steam Machine also has 8 GB of VRAM; therefore, its graphics performance for modern AAA titles would be subpar. It may not provide a smooth gaming experience as it would limit texture quality.

Treating the Steam Machine as a console, its main competitors are the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X, as the Steam Machine’s GPU is not very competitive. The only significant improvement to the device is the upgraded RDNA 3 architecture, while its competitors have the upper hand in all other parameters. In the console segment, the Steam Machine will not be an attractive choice for gamers looking for high performance.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity may help gamers with older GPUs remain somewhat “relevant,” as Valve can influence developers to ensure their devices can run their games. Developers can tailor their games’ requirements to ensure compatibility with the Steam Machine’s VRAM capacity. This means that even GPUs with limited VRAM will have games that support them, which ultimately benefits budget-conscious gamers.

However, Valve needs to ensure the device is priced appropriately; otherwise, the first-generation Steam Machine story will repeat itself (weak hardware, high price, failure).

Source: WCCFTech