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Steam Machine |OT| There Are Dozens of Us. Dozens!

I put my name in for a 512 with controller. Not a good deal obviously, and I have a powerful PC but I dig the form factor.
 
I have Steam Deck, I like Valve, I hope the dozens buying it will enjoy it, but I just cannot for the life of me accept how weak/underpowered it is. To me it would be a bad buy even for 700 euros, but for 1400 it comes across as a troll or a joke. I sincerely hope that one day there will be a Steam Machine that will actually provide good performance and be price competitive against consoles though. I wanted this to be that, but...sadly no.
 
Might pick one up if the price lowers to a reasonable level. I've already got a PC that runs circles around it, and a deck too.

There's no way I'm paying the asked price for one, but I love the overall idea of the Steam Machine so good luck to those wanting one.
 
Just a heads up to pick an option now for the lottery, if you're even slightly interested. Otherwise, you'll be put at the end of a waitlist.

You've got a few more hours 🙂

What if I don't sign up before June 25 at 10am Pacific?
After that one-time randomization, anyone signing up afterward goes straight to the back of the waitlist.
Click to expand...
 
One thing some people are missing that say "well I already have a machine that runs circles around this" is that you can very easily stream games from your main PC to the Machine, especially if you have a wired network between them. At which point the Steam Machine's local performance (or underperformance) is a total non-issue when you want to play a more demanding game.

And again, sure, you can set up a Steam Link like device for way less than $1,000. You can so just dock a Steam Deck and stream, if you have that option. But having a local small form factor with enough juice to run most indies and older games that can also stream more demanding games from your PC with dedicated graphics - kinda sweet.
 
jshackles said:
One thing some people are missing that say "well I already have a machine that runs circles around this" is that you can very easily stream games from your main PC to the Machine, especially if you have a wired network between them. At which point the Steam Machine's local performance (or underperformance) is a total non-issue when you want to play a more demanding game.

And again, sure, you can set up a Steam Link like device for way less than $1,000. You can so just dock a Steam Deck and stream, if you have that option. But having a local small form factor with enough juice to run most indies and older games that can also stream more demanding games from your PC with dedicated graphics - kinda sweet.
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Oh man, all I need to do is pickup an Ethernet switch and I can have a hardwired setup between my 4090 and the Steam Machine in the bedroom.

I didn't think about this at all. Thanks for the heads up!

Now I just gotta convince my wife to let me use one of these in the bedroom:

drive-simulator.gif
 
My internet is never good enough for streaming. I need local machines. The only problem here is that I think I'd almost rather a PC handheld because I do have more free time to game on the go opposed to sitting down which is why I've been dying for a Playstation handhedl but they're taking too fucking long which makes me want to cosnider another device instead.

If I can finance the steam machine over 2 years, I'd probably buy one right away, TBH.
 
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FudgeIt said:
My internet is never good enough for streaming.
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If both devices are in your house, then the streaming doesn't use the internet. It just uses your local network (again, wired is better). Even if one device (like your PC) is wired and the other is wireless, it should still be decent enough to be unnoticeable. If both your PC and Machine are wirelessly connected to your network though, yeah it'll be a bad experience.

If they're somewhat physically close to one another, you can just buy a cheap unmanaged gigabit network switch and a long enough ethernet cable to connect them both.
 
DarkShadowXI said:
These are probably going to be in very limited quantities during RAMageddon.

For those that simply want a Steam Machine and you don't care how you get it, I'd recommend reserving all four models to increase your chances. The lottery is pretty wonky if you read the rules below.
Click to expand...



Do we know how this works yet?
I'm interested in the Frame, and it'll probably be the same lottery system.

If I want to buy the Enthusiast kit but would also like to reserve the other versions just for better chances - in case I win the lottery - will a kit be selected for me at random, or will I be allocated the highest-tier model?
 
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jshackles said:
If both devices are in your house, then the streaming doesn't use the internet. It just uses your local network (again, wired is better). Even if one device (like your PC) is wired and the other is wireless, it should still be decent enough to be unnoticeable. If both your PC and Machine are wirelessly connected to your network though, yeah it'll be a bad experience.

If they're somewhat physically close to one another, you can just buy a cheap unmanaged gigabit network switch and a long enough ethernet cable to connect them both.
Click to expand...

My internet provider keeps telling me they can't move the modem upstairs where my devices are and everything to have it hard-wired seems like I need to make holes and run cables against walls. I am not that handy and I am not sure who else would do this for me.
 
Kupfer said:
Do we know how this works yet?
I'm interested in the Frame, and it'll probably be the same lottery system.

If I want to buy the Enthusiast kit but would also like to reserve the other versions just for better chances - in case I win the lottery - will a kit be selected for me at random, or will I be allocated the highest-tier model?
Click to expand...

From what I understand, you're assigned a random spot for each item you choose. That's why I chose all 4 models. I just want a Steam Machine and am afraid they only manufactured a very limited amount.

Since I chose all 4, a scenario could look like this:

512GB: ✅ I won a spot
512GB w/controller: ❌ I didn't get a spot
2TB: ✅ I won a spot
2TB w/controller: ❌ I didn't get a spot

In this case, I would get a 2TB model and would be removed from the 512GB spot so someone else can get it.

There's a chance everything could be a ❌ and I think I'd be put on a waitlist for whatever had the best number.

Here's what their site says:
Do I have to pick a specific model?
You can sign up for multiple models. Each model has its own randomized list (June 25, 10am). If you land a queue spot for more than one, you're automatically allocated the highest-end model and removed from the others. If you don't land a spot for any, you're placed on the waitlist for whichever model you were closest to qualifying for.
Click to expand...
 
DarkShadowXI said:
From what I understand, you're assigned a random spot for each item you choose. That's why I chose all 4 models. I just want a Steam Machine and am afraid they only manufactured a very limited amount.

Since I chose all 4, a scenario could look like this:

512GB: ✅ I won a spot
512GB w/controller: ❌ I didn't get a spot
2TB: ✅ I won a spot
2TB w/controller: ❌ I didn't get a spot

In this case, I would get a 2TB model and would be removed from the 512GB spot so someone else can get it.

There's a chance everything could be a ❌ and I think I'd be put on a waitlist for whatever had the best number.

Here's what their site says:
Click to expand...
Wish you luck!
 
FudgeIt said:
My internet provider keeps telling me they can't move the modem upstairs where my devices are and everything to have it hard-wired seems like I need to make holes and run cables against walls. I am not that handy and I am not sure who else would do this for me.
Click to expand...
I had a similar situation when I used to live in a townhouse and I could never find a solution that would work well. Sorry to hear you're in that spot 😕

You can maybe look for some internet installer contractors in your area. The guy that mounted my TV on the wall was handy with internet stuff and connected ours for us in this house, but the house was pre-wired already.

I have no idea how much it would cost to upgrade a place to be hardwired. I'd imagine it would be one heck of a project.
 
DarkShadowXI said:
I have no idea how much it would cost to upgrade a place to be hardwired. I'd imagine it would be one heck of a project.
Click to expand...
I've currently got some TPlink aero mesh access points, two in my house and one in my detached shop. The coverage is great, but the throughput is pretty bad. Not terrible, but like 200mbps between meshed access points. Luckily these all have 4 ethernet ports on each access point that doubles as a gigabit switch, so for example the AP in my office I have my PC, PS5 Pro, Switch dock, and Nvidia Shield all with wired connections to each other at least.

Next month I'm planning on installing CAT6a ethernet between my office and the living room (where the other AP is), and then running underground fiber optic cable to my shop (where my servers are). 10G backhaul between locations. Like you said, it's going to be "one heck of a project" but the end result will be faster and more reliable connectivity between my wired devices, and the wireless ones will still use the APs to connect but have less interference.

I manage data center-scale networks for a living, so setting up and tuning a home network is small potatoes for me. The hardest part is going to actually be doing the physical labor of getting under the house, fishing wire, all that fun stuff.
 
jshackles said:
The hardest part is going to actually be doing the physical labor of getting under the house, fishing wire, all that fun stuff.
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That's the part that always boggles my mind lol

When you're building a house, sure that's much easier. But doing all that work in an existing build! We're fortunate to live in a pre-wired build.

That sounds awesome though, man. There's nothing like having a blazing fast wired setup 😁

Hope the project goes well!

We asked Spectrum if 2 gig was available in our area yet and no dice. We're on 1 gig, which is amazing, but our upload is 30-40 Mbps.

The 2 gig plan will have 1 gig upload 🤯 I upload large files for my job and it'll be a game changer.
 
DarkShadowXI said:
That's the part that always boggles my mind lol

When you're building a house, sure that's much easier. But doing all that work in an existing build! We're fortunate to live in a pre-wired build.

That sounds awesome though, man. There's nothing like having a blazing fast wired setup 😁

Hope the project goes well!

We asked Spectrum if 2 gig was available in our area yet and no dice. We're on 1 gig, which is amazing, but our upload is 30-40 Mbps.

The 2 gig plan will have 1 gig upload 🤯 I upload large files for my job and it'll be a game changer.
Click to expand...
I bought this house six years ago (thanks COVID for low interest rates, I guess) and have been slowly renovating it since. It is a solid structure but was essentially in an unlivable condition when we moved in, and hadn't been lived in for 8 years prior. Replaced all the floors, replaced the windows, new roof (and new roof on the shop), new water main, new hot water heater, new appliances, total reno on both bathrooms, SEVERAL coats of paint everywhere, tons of electrical work. I sometimes wonder if it would have been cheaper to just build from scratch lol. I'm finally to the point where I can start thinking about projects like network wiring.

Anyway, with the Steam Machine - does the lottery close in 1 hour? When the Summer Sale starts?
 
jshackles said:
I bought this house six years ago (thanks COVID for low interest rates, I guess) and have been slowly renovating it since. It is a solid structure but was essentially in an unlivable condition when we moved in, and hadn't been lived in for 8 years prior. Replaced all the floors, replaced the windows, new roof (and new roof on the shop), new water main, new hot water heater, new appliances, total reno on both bathrooms, SEVERAL coats of paint everywhere, tons of electrical work. I sometimes wonder if it would have been cheaper to just build from scratch lol. I'm finally to the point where I can start thinking about projects like network wiring.

Anyway, with the Steam Machine - does the lottery close in 1 hour? When the Summer Sale starts?
Click to expand...
Wow! Hopefully the projects start slowing down lol

Lottery closes in exactly one hour 👀
 
adamsapple said:
Valve has changed some of the wording on the official store page.

Before - After

image.png
Click to expand...

This should've been the messaging since day one. The 4K 60FPS claim made them shoot themselves in the foot. Lots of YouTubers are only showing 4K testing, which looks pretty bad, while the ones showing 1080p and 1440p are showing decent results.

Steve Holt said:
I really wish this had better specs, and a better price. This timeline :messenger_pensive:
Click to expand...
Me too. I'm still buying this thing, but me too :messenger_anguished:
 
Anyone win the lottery here?
 
Not getting one- not at this price point. Just wanted to say nice OT. Hopefully the prices come down in time. I'm still VERY interested in a replacement for my super old minisforum SFF. But I can't justify $1049 for a device I'm probably barely going to use with a potential steam deck 2 on the horizon for 2028 (hopefully).
 
If you get selected you don't need to obsese about checking your email. They provide a generous window for purchase of the hardware if you are selected.

I am hoping I have enough time to grow back my kidney so I can put a down payment on the Frame...which at this point has to be close to $2k
 
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Miyazaki's Slave said:
If you get selected you don't need to obsese about checking your email. They provide a generous window for purchase of the hardware if you are selected.

I am hoping I have enough time to grow back my kidney so I can put a down payment on the Frame...which at this point has to be close to $2k
Click to expand...

Yeah but I want it now
 
Themacabre said:
You know, that's a good point, feeding the inbox to Claude to parse the incoming emails to trigger a webhook watchdog and an Arduino with a relay and an airhorn was probably a bit much.
Click to expand...
Spoken like a man who would have no problem building his own Steam Machine
 
My B850E motherboard showed up today. I think if I wasn't building my own and I had no idea where to start. I'd probably buy this just for that Valve logo. Then again, Costco has RGB gaming rigs out there for a little over a grand. I saw one flashing purple on my way inside.

Hopefully people who got one here enjoy it. Paying a grand for a PC isn't easy when it's not a console because you get so many choices. You can build a beast of a machine if you really wanted to. Obviously this is a no brainer for some. I purchased the Steam Controller and Steam Link and the coolest thing about them were their boxes with the Valve logo. I rarely used either one, but I wanted to own something from Valve so bad. I also really enjoy my Steam Deck, so I'm sure people will have a similar appreciation for PC games with the Steam Machine.
 
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