Steam Machine Hardware Spec vs PS5 and Xbox Series X, But It Misses The Point

Valve’s Steam Machine certainly has managed to stay atop the headlines ever since its reveal, and it’s easy to see why.

In the same vein as the company’s Steam Deck, it offers an alternative to PC gaming for those who don’t wish to purchase a full PC.

Not only can I personally see the appeal, I’ve given in to the appeal. Unfortunately for Valve, I didn’t opt for one of its products. But the ROG Ally X ticks that box for me of providing access to PC games without the bulk of that hardware.

The Steam Machine is very much that, shifting outside the handheld realm to something that more traditionally echoes a console. It’s perhaps why the Steam Machine has been so closely compared to both the PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X/S.

Already, competing specs for the three consoles have been floating around online. These were collated in a post by Reddit user avidrunner84, and I’ll recap some of the highlights for you.

Steam Machine

The Steam Machine offers a 28 CU GPU (140 Watt), whilst the PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X offer more powerful options of 60 CU (220 Watt) and 52 CU (220 Watt), respectively.

All three consoles boast comparable system storage, but the Steam Machine is outperformed when it comes to CPU.

Its six cores are easily rivalled by the PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X’s eight cores.

On paper, the Steam Machine looks like a less powerful bit of kit, but is that the point?

The Steam Machine Is a PC Alternative, Not a Console Alternative

I don’t see the Steam Machine as a competitor to machines made by PlayStation or Xbox; it’s an alternative to a PC. And that, I think, places the Steam Machine within a category occupied by very few other pieces of hardware.

As I alluded to earlier, the Steam Machine is only really comparable to the Steam Deck or a ROG Ally, albeit without the restrictions of being a handheld device.

Of course, to argue that the Steam Machine is its own beast, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be a success.

Filling a gap in the market is undoubtedly a clever move. In fact, I’d argue it’s what all good companies should chase because it’s there that you’re going to find an underserved captive audience.

You do, however, have to fill that gap with a product that appeals. The Steam Machine has the potential to do that.

It provides access to PC games you might not be able to enjoy anywhere else, likely running those at respectable frame rates with potential access to modding too.

That’s essentially why I ended up with a ROG Ally X. But the Steam Machine is only to succeed if it gets one thing right, its price.

Hardcore PC gamers will already own hefty PCs. Heck, if that PC breaks, they’re probably going to somewhat look forward to the thrill of building a new one with the latest parts.

That’s not to say that PC owners won’t purchase a Steam Machine, but it’s going to be an optional indulgence.

The Steam Machine has to appeal to those who don’t find a full PC appealing, but it won't do that if it’s just as expensive. With no confirmed pricing and a lack of an exclusive game line-up, the jurys still out on whether we’re looking at a bonafide hit or a flop.