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That’s disappointing. However, being a mass produced, single spec device, it has to be cheaper than comparable self-built PCs. Otherwise, no one would buy it.
Consoles sell at a loss with the idea that they recoup it with game purchases.
Steam gets a 30% cut of game purchases and could do it also. Unfortunately/fortunately it’s also a functioning Linux desktop - so they can’t really sell it at a loss - because some companies might just purchase it for compute.
Doesn’t have to be a loss, just competitive with what a self-built PC would be.
Daniel Owen does good PC part breakdowns. Especially video cards. Here’s a cheap build he threw together using PC Part Picker to see what it would be like to build a PC using comparable parts to what the Steam Machine has, but a garbage power supply and case. It came out to $706.
(This link skips to 27:24. You have to rewind 2 minutes or so if you want to hear him talk about the bad power supply and case, which you definitely shouldn’t buy.)
If Valve can come in around $700 it will be a good deal. If it’s sub $600, it’s an outstanding deal. Especially because of the premium wifi, special Steam Controller antenna, small form factor, and stuff like that. SFF cases and motherboards have premium prices.
Which is a bummer imo, since I don’t think people already considering a lower midrange PC today are the target demographic, but I would love to be proven wrong.
“Expect a high enough price such that we couldn’t group it in with console prices.”
That’s disappointing. However, being a mass produced, single spec device, it has to be cheaper than comparable self-built PCs. Otherwise, no one would buy it.
Consoles sell at a loss with the idea that they recoup it with game purchases.
Steam gets a 30% cut of game purchases and could do it also. Unfortunately/fortunately it’s also a functioning Linux desktop - so they can’t really sell it at a loss - because some companies might just purchase it for compute.
Doesn’t have to be a loss, just competitive with what a self-built PC would be.
Daniel Owen does good PC part breakdowns. Especially video cards. Here’s a cheap build he threw together using PC Part Picker to see what it would be like to build a PC using comparable parts to what the Steam Machine has, but a garbage power supply and case. It came out to $706.
(This link skips to 27:24. You have to rewind 2 minutes or so if you want to hear him talk about the bad power supply and case, which you definitely shouldn’t buy.)
https://youtu.be/RTB-lP_qwc0?t=1644
If Valve can come in around $700 it will be a good deal. If it’s sub $600, it’s an outstanding deal. Especially because of the premium wifi, special Steam Controller antenna, small form factor, and stuff like that. SFF cases and motherboards have premium prices.
“Its the same power as 6 Steam Decks”
The answer has been in front of us the whole time…
It’s $2,400.
Which is a bummer imo, since I don’t think people already considering a lower midrange PC today are the target demographic, but I would love to be proven wrong.