For business Forum ✈ TG
Log in
🕹 Platforms & services

Steam Machine 2026: specs, price, performance and how Valve's console differs from a gaming PC

The Steam Machine is Valve's compact SteamOS gaming computer, announced on November 12, 2025 alongside the new Steam Controller and the Steam Frame VR headset; invitation-based sales began on June 29, 2026. Inside are a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.8 GHz) and RDNA 3 graphics with 28 compute units at 2.45 GHz, 16 GB of DDR5 and 8 GB of GDDR6. It starts at $1,049 with a 512 GB SSD and $1,349 with 2 TB. Valve's target is "up to 4K" at 60 FPS with FSR upscaling.

Steam Machine 2026 · Valve console · Steam Machines · Valve Steam Machine · SteamOS console

📅 Updated 👥 FPSHQ Team · methodology

PlayStation 5 (RDNA 2)PlayStation 5 (RDNA 2)36 CUSteam Machine (RDNA 3)Steam Machine (RDNA 3)28 CUROG Xbox Ally X — Z2 Extreme (RDNA 3.5)ROG Xbox Ally X — Z2 Extre…16 CUSteam Deck (RDNA 2)Steam Deck (RDNA 2)8 CUPlayStation 5 (RDNA 2)PlayStation 5 (RDNA 2)36 CUSteam Machine (RDNA 3)Steam Machine (RDNA 3)28 CUROG Xbox Ally X — Z2 Extreme (RDNA 3.5)ROG Xbox Ally X — Z2 Extreme (RDNA…16 CUSteam Deck (RDNA 2)Steam Deck (RDNA 2)8 CU
GPU compute units: Steam Machine vs handhelds and PS5 Valve, AMD and Sony specifications; CUs of different architectures (RDNA 2/3/3.5) compare only roughly

Key figures

From the FPSHQ database, as of Oct 15, 2026

47,530games in the catalog
2,028GPUs in the catalog
456CPUs in the catalog

Steam Machine specs

It's essentially a small PC in a cube-shaped case with its own cooling and the SteamOS operating system. The 6-core Zen 4 CPU is architecturally Ryzen 5 7600-class; the 28-CU RDNA 3 GPU sits between a Radeon RX 7600 (32 CUs) and mobile graphics, with its own 8 GB of GDDR6 separate from the 16 GB of system DDR5.

Ports: DisplayPort 1.4 (up to 4K 240 Hz), HDMI 2.0 (up to 4K 120 Hz), USB-C and four USB-A, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and Gigabit Ethernet. The NVMe SSD can be swapped for a larger one. Windows isn't preinstalled, but the device is an ordinary x86 PC.

SpecSteam Machine (2026)Steam Deck OLED
CPUZen 4, 6 cores / 12 threads, up to 4.8 GHzZen 2, 4 cores / 8 threads
GPURDNA 3, 28 CUs, 2.45 GHzRDNA 2, 8 CUs
Memory16 GB DDR5 + 8 GB GDDR616 GB LPDDR5 (shared)
Storage512 GB or 2 TB NVMe512 GB or 1 TB
Price$1,049 / $1,349—

What performance to expect

28 RDNA 3 CUs at a high clock is roughly last-generation budget discrete GPU territory. Modern games at 1080p high settings are generally playable; Valve promises 4K 60 FPS with FSR upscaling, and not in every title. To compare with your own card, use FPSHQ's "which GPU a console equals" section: on raw units the Steam Machine is weaker than the PS5 (36 CUs), but its Zen 4 CPU is faster than the console's Zen 2.

The main limitation is 8 GB of video memory: heavy 2025–2026 games with high textures already exceed it (see VRAM). The other is compatibility: games run through Proton, and titles with kernel-level anti-cheat (some online shooters) don't work on SteamOS.

  • 1080p high settings — comfortable in most games
  • 1440p/4K — with FSR and medium settings
  • 8 GB VRAM — a limit in new AAA games
  • Online games with kernel anti-cheat won't run on SteamOS
2013Valve announces Steam Machines, SteamOS and the Steam Controller (September)2015First partner Steam Machines go on sale (November 10)2018Steam Machines section removed from the Steam store (April)2022Steam Deck launches on SteamOS 3 (February)2025New Steam Machine, Steam Controller and Steam Frame announced (November 12)2026Invitation-based Steam Machine sales begin (June 29)
Timeline: Steam Machine

Is it worth it instead of a gaming PC

For $1,049 you can build a PC with a stronger graphics card (say RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB or RX 9060 XT 16 GB class), but it'll be bigger, louder and need Windows setup. The Steam Machine wins on size, quietness, a console-like mode and a single Steam library with cloud saves — especially if you already own a Steam Deck.

To check whether a specific game will run, use FPSHQ's "Can my PC run it": plug in an RX 7600-class GPU and a Ryzen 5 7600-class CPU as a close proxy. Also check the game's compatibility rating on Steam.

FPSHQ

On your PC

Enter your GPU (and CPU) — we calculate the effect of "Steam Machine" with the unified FPSHQ model using Cyberpunk 2077 as the example.

Save your PC in the account · Detect hardware with the app · Unified FPSHQ model estimate, not a measurement.

Where to use this on FPSHQ

Steam Machine: gaming FPSSteam Deck: which games runWhich GPU a console equalsCan my PC run itHandheld gaming PCsSystem requirementsGame errors and crashes

Forum discussions

No topics with this term yet — be the first to ask.

Ask about Steam MachineAll forum discussions
In short

What is Steam Machine?

The Steam Machine is Valve's compact SteamOS gaming computer, announced on November 12, 2025 alongside the new Steam Controller and the Steam Frame VR headset; invitation-based sales began on June 29, 2026. Inside are a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.8 GHz) and RDNA 3 graphics with 28 compute units at 2.45 GHz, 16 GB of DDR5 and 8 GB of GDDR6. It starts at $1,049 with a 512 GB SSD and $1,349 with 2 TB. Valve's target is "up to 4K" at 60 FPS with FSR upscaling.

games in the catalog
47,530
GPUs in the catalog
2,028
CPUs in the catalog
456
updated · source: Wikipedia: Steam Machine (2015 Steam Machines and 2026 Valve Steam Machine), The Gadgeteer: Steam Machine — $1,049 price, specs and how to buy, FPSHQ model estimate

FAQ

What is the Steam Machine?
Valve's compact SteamOS gaming PC, announced in November 2025 and on sale since June 29, 2026. It works like a console but remains an ordinary x86 computer.
How much does the Steam Machine cost?
$1,049 with a 512 GB SSD and $1,349 with 2 TB; bundled with the Steam Controller, $1,128 and $1,428.
What hardware is inside the Steam Machine?
An AMD Zen 4 CPU (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4.8 GHz), RDNA 3 graphics with 28 CUs at 2.45 GHz, 16 GB of DDR5 and 8 GB of GDDR6.
Can the Steam Machine run games in 4K?
Valve promises "up to 4K" with FSR upscaling, targeting 60 FPS. In heavy games, 1440p or 1080p at high settings is more realistic.
Can I install Windows on the Steam Machine?
It ships with SteamOS, but it's an AMD x86 PC, so installing Windows is technically possible — for example, for games with kernel-level anti-cheat.

Sources

FPSHQ Team · methodology · methodology · Updated

✏️ Found a mistake? Suggest an edit

Edits are moderated. Say what to fix and, if you can, add a source (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel docs, the game developer).

Get the FPSHQ app — it detects your hardware and shows FPS in your games.

💻 Windows app