Linus Tech Tips's Valve Steam Machine Review

Valve · Gaming · Reviewed by Linus Tech Tips · Published 2026-06-22

Rating 4/5Source quality 75/100Evidence 15Claims 9Q&A 6Pros 11Cons 7GamingSponsored

Based on a review by Linus Tech Tips (accessed 2026-06-22).

This page converts Linus Tech Tips's review of the Valve Steam Machine into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.

Product Evidence hub pending. This is currently the only analysed source for this product. A full evidence hub becomes available once a second qualifying source is processed.

Sponsorship & disclosure

Sponsored: this source is sponsored by the brand.

Brand relationship disclosed as: sponsored

Source verdict

The reviewer concludes that the Steam Machine is the 'best solution' for bringing PC gaming to the couch, praising its polished SteamOS and seamless living room integration. However, he finds it to be a 'premium price' for what is not a 'premium product,' particularly given its struggles with 4K gaming and ray tracing in newer titles, and its higher cost compared to the PlayStation 5.

About this source

This review evaluates Valve's Steam Machine after two weeks of use, focusing on its ability to bridge PC performance with console convenience. It examines the SteamOS experience, living room integration via HDMI CEC, raw gaming performance, ray tracing capabilities, network speeds, power consumption, thermals, repairability, peripheral compatibility, and overall value proposition, including a comparison with the PlayStation 5.

Review notes

The Valve Steam Machine offers a highly polished SteamOS experience and excellent living room integration, making it a compelling console alternative for PC gamers. While its 4K gaming performance with newer titles is often disappointing, frequently requiring low settings and aggressive upscaling, the device excels in convenience with features like suspend/resume and HDMI CEC. The semi-custom Zen 4 CPU and 16GB DDR5 RAM, combined with 8GB dedicated VRAM, provide decent performance for older games and lower resolutions. If you prioritize seamless couch PC gaming and a console-like user experience, this machine is a strong contender. However, if cutting-edge 4K 60 FPS performance in new AAA titles is your primary goal, you will likely be underwhelmed by its raw horsepower.

What the reviewer liked

  • Unbelievably polished SteamOS experience
  • Perfect integration with home media setup via HDMI CEC
  • Ability to suspend and resume games quickly like a console
  • Open approach to hardware, allowing installation of any OS
  • Most Windows games run surprisingly well on SteamOS via Proton
  • Nearly silent and compact design (about half the size of a real console)
  • Solid download speeds (close to full gigabit wired, half over Wi-Fi 6E)
  • Low average power draw (175W heavy load, 66W lighter games)
  • Cool and quiet operation (CPU 68°C, GPU 66°C under load)
  • Highly repairable and serviceable, with iFixit guides and parts
  • Open approach to peripherals, accepting various devices

What the reviewer criticised

  • Disappointing performance in the latest titles, especially for 4K gaming
  • Costs more than reviewers hoped, and Valve acknowledges this
  • Newer titles often require low settings and FSR ultra performance (upscaling from 720p to 4K)
  • Ray tracing is largely a non-starter, even with dedicated cores
  • Performance in newer games falls short compared to a 6-year-old PS5 in some tests
  • SteamOS UI can become laggy when a game is suspended (though expected to be fixed)
  • Chips resemble 2023 laptop chips, not typically expected for a dedicated 4K machine

Structured claims

The Steam Machine offers perfect integration with home media setups and seamless operation for a couch gaming experience.

reviewer_claimstrong

SteamOS is an unbelievably polished Linux-based operating system, optimized for gaming, allowing Windows games to run surprisingly well via Proton.

reviewer_claimstrong

The Steam Machine's raw gaming power leaves a fair bit to be desired, resulting in suboptimal performance in the latest game titles.

reviewer_claimstrong

The Steam Machine's cost is higher than anticipated, and it presents a premium price for what the reviewer considers not a premium product, especially when compared to competitors like the PlayStation 5.

reviewer_claimstrong

The Steam Machine struggles to consistently achieve 4K 60 FPS in newer titles without significant graphical compromises and aggressive FSR upscaling.

measurement_claimstrong

Despite having 28 ray tracing cores, RT is 'pretty much a non-starter' on the Steam Machine, with very low frame rates observed in games like Cyberpunk.

measurement_claimstrong

The Steam Machine maintains cool operating temperatures and quiet acoustics even under heavy load, comparable to the PS5.

measurement_claimmoderate

The Steam Machine is designed to be easily opened, allowing for RAM and SSD upgrades, and Valve's partnership with iFixit provides repair guides and replacement parts.

reviewer_claimmoderate

The Steam Machine supports a wide range of standard PC peripherals, including various mice, keyboards, and Bluetooth accessories.

reviewer_claimmoderate

Evidence items

Polished SteamOS and Home Media Integration

reviewer_claimpositivet=0:09–0:14

The Steam Machine offers an unbelievably polished experience of Steam OS, along with perfect integration with home media setups.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Performance in Latest Titles is a Weakness

reviewer_claimnegativet=0:15–0:17

Performance in the latest titles is identified as a significant 'lower light' or drawback of the Steam Machine.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Higher-than-Expected Cost

reviewer_claimnegativet=0:19–0:23

The Steam Machine costs more than the reviewer had hoped, a sentiment Valve itself reportedly confirmed.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Compact and Quiet Design

visual_inspectionpositivet=0:37–0:41

The device is a nearly silent cube that is about half the size of a typical console.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Windows Games Run Well on SteamOS via Proton

hands_on_demopositivet=1:58–2:08

Almost any game made for Windows runs surprisingly well on SteamOS thanks to Proton, offering a seamless 'press the button and play' experience without driver conflicts.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Console-like Suspend and Resume Feature

hands_on_demopositivet=2:29–2:34

A favorite feature is the ability to suspend software and resume at the push of a button, similar to a console.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Quick Game Resume Time

measurement_testmixedt=2:38–2:49

While sometimes taking longer, resuming a game is usually very quick, often around 5 seconds, which is a significant advantage over typical PC startup and game loading.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Functional HDMI CEC Integration

hands_on_demopositivet=3:55–4:09

Valve built custom software and a motherboard for HDMI CEC, allowing the Steam Machine to seamlessly turn on all connected devices and select the correct inputs with a single button press.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Raw Gaming Performance Lacks

reviewer_claimnegativet=4:23–4:27

The raw gaming performance of the Steam Machine leaves a fair bit to be desired, according to the reviewer.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Shadow of the Tomb Raider 4K Performance

measurement_testpositivet=5:56–6:00

The Linux port of Shadow of the Tomb Raider exceeded Valve's targets, achieving over 120 FPS at 4K.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Most Other Games 4K Performance

measurement_testnegativet=6:05–6:08

The majority of games tested in the suite produced average frame rates between 40 to 50 FPS at 4K.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Poor Ray Tracing Performance (Cyberpunk Example)

measurement_testnegativet=7:24–7:34

Ray tracing is 'pretty much a non-starter' on the Steam Machine, exemplified by Cyberpunk averaging 15 FPS at 1080p Ultra with RT enabled.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

God of War Ragnarok Comparison with PS5

comparisonnegativet=9:26–9:51

In God of War Ragnarok, the PS5 (upscaling from 1440p to 4K) achieved 75-78 FPS, while the Steam Machine (mostly medium settings, FSR quality) landed in the 60-63 FPS range in the same scene.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Solid Download Speeds

measurement_testpositivet=10:45–11:03

The Steam Machine demonstrated solid download speeds, achieving close to full gigabit speeds wired and slightly less than half of that via Wi-Fi 6E, attributed partly to its four dedicated antennas.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Efficient Power Draw and Good Thermals/Acoustics

measurement_testpositivet=11:08–11:34

The average power draw was 175 watts under heavy load and 66 watts for lighter games, contributing to a cool and quiet experience. CPU averaged 68°C and GPU 66°C, comparable to the PS5 for acoustics.

Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tI1SoMj5vg

Quick answers

  • Is the Steam Machine good for 4K gaming? While older games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider can hit over 120 FPS at 4K, newer titles generally achieve only 40-50 FPS.
  • What is the Steam Machine's price? The 512GB storage version is priced at $1,050 US, and the 2TB version is $1,350 US.
  • Can I use my existing PC peripherals with the Steam Machine? The Steam Machine is designed with an open approach to peripherals, playing nicely with every mouse, keyboard, or headset the reviewer plugged in, including various Bluetooth accessories.
  • How does the Steam Machine compare to the PS5 in performance? In God of War Ragnarok, the PS5 (upscaling from 1440p to 4K) achieved 75-78 FPS, while the Steam Machine (mostly medium settings, FSR quality) managed 60-63 FPS.

Buyer questions answered

Is the Steam Machine good for 4K gaming?

While older games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider can hit over 120 FPS at 4K, newer titles generally achieve only 40-50 FPS. To reach 60 FPS at 4K, low settings and aggressive FSR upscaling from 720p are often required, making games 'pretty ugly.'

What is the Steam Machine's price?

The 512GB storage version is priced at $1,050 US, and the 2TB version is $1,350 US. The reviewer notes that while this might be reasonable given Valve's component costs, it feels too high for the performance compared to alternatives like the PlayStation 5.

Can I use my existing PC peripherals with the Steam Machine?

The Steam Machine is designed with an open approach to peripherals, playing nicely with every mouse, keyboard, or headset the reviewer plugged in, including various Bluetooth accessories.

How does the Steam Machine compare to the PS5 in performance?

In God of War Ragnarok, the PS5 (upscaling from 1440p to 4K) achieved 75-78 FPS, while the Steam Machine (mostly medium settings, FSR quality) managed 60-63 FPS. The reviewer indicates that despite theoretical parity, the PS5 performs better in practice.

Is the Steam Machine easy to repair or upgrade?

The Steam Machine can be easily opened to upgrade both the RAM and SSD. Valve has also partnered with iFixit to provide guides and replacement parts, making it a very serviceable machine.

How does the Steam Machine integrate into a living room setup?

The Steam Machine features an 'unbelievably polished' SteamOS experience and perfect integration with home media setups, thanks to custom hardware and software supporting HDMI CEC. This allows it to turn on all devices and select inputs automatically when the Steam Controller is pressed, providing a console-like convenience.

Specs mentioned in this review

Quick Game Resume Time
While sometimes taking longer, resuming a game is usually very quick, often around 5 seconds, which is a significant advantage over typical PC startup and game loading seconds
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 4K Performance
The Linux port of Shadow of the Tomb Raider exceeded Valve's targets, achieving over 120 FPS at 4K FPS
Most Other Games 4K Performance
The majority of games tested in the suite produced average frame rates between 40 to 50 FPS at 4K FPS
Poor Ray Tracing Performance (Cyberpunk Example)
Ray tracing is 'pretty much a non-starter' on the Steam Machine, exemplified by Cyberpunk averaging 15 FPS at 1080p Ultra with RT enabled FPS
Solid Download Speeds
The Steam Machine demonstrated solid download speeds, achieving close to full gigabit speeds wired and slightly less than half of that via Wi-Fi 6E, attributed partly to its four dedicated antennas gigabit speeds
Efficient Power Draw and Good Thermals/Acoustics
The average power draw was 175 watts under heavy load and 66 watts for lighter games, contributing to a cool and quiet experience watts

Not covered in depth by this source

  • Not covered: Ride Feel
  • Not covered: Durability
  • Not covered: Traction
  • Not covered: Breathability

Why this source is included

75/100 source quality

  • • Independent of the brand
  • ✓ Hands-on demonstration
  • ✓ Specific testing or measurements
  • ✓ Clear sponsorship / relationship disclosure

Transcript summary

The Steam Machine offers a polished SteamOS experience and excellent living room integration with features like quick suspend/resume and functional HDMI CEC. While it handles older games well at 4K, it struggles with newer titles, often requiring low settings and aggressive upscaling to achieve 60 FPS. Ray tracing performance is notably poor. Despite these performance caveats, the device boasts solid download speeds, efficient power consumption leading to cool and quiet operation, high repairability, and broad peripheral compatibility. The main drawback is its high price point, making it a challenging value proposition against more powerful consoles like the PS5.

Full transcript is not redistributed here to respect the original creator’s rights.

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