When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. You can 3D print your own design supplied by a Valve superfan, complete with magnetic front plates and 512GB or 2TB capacities. Choose wisely, imaginary SSDs are expensive these days. The Steam Machine is an adorable little gaming PC (or console, depending on the angle), but its pricing is its biggest problem . One 3D printing fan decided that if they couldn't afford four figures for Valve's underwhelming game cube, they could at least get the same home decor vibes.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Considering Valve's living-room PC? Here's how it really compares to a PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and a traditional gaming PC. The Steam Machine brings PC gaming into the living room -- compact, quiet, and connected to your TV. Read on to find out what Valve's new device can do, how it stacks up against the PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X/S, and a traditional gaming PC, and whether it's the right choice for you -- though one of our colleagues is rather disappointed with his new Steam Machine . What is the Steam Machine?

PCWorld's The Full Nerd podcast explores PC cleaning dilemmas, weighing cheap handheld air blowers against expensive ESD-safe devices for maintaining computer performance. The discussion highlights risks of electrostatic discharge when cleaning PCs, as handheld vacuums and compressed air can generate static electricity or cause damage. The episode also covered AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D reviews, Valve's Steam Machine sales figures, and rising memory prices affecting PC builders.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Can't get a Steam Machine? The Steam Machine costs more than a grand, and is hard to find even if you can afford it. A cheap mini PC, loaded with the free SteamOS, makes more sense for most people. Welcome to Boost Mode, my weekly PCWorld newsletter focused on PC gaming, enthusiast hardware, and other geeky stuff centered around your desk and desktop.

Great for indie darlings, but Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo remain kings of TV gaming. Linux-based desktop is clean, accessible, and intuitive. Fundamentally cannot deliver 4K quality gaming. Immediately feels like it needs an upgrade. From the moment it was unveiled, the new Steam Machine has been a captivating proposition for gamers.

PCWorld explores custom DIY PC builds as superior alternatives to Steam Machines, with builds starting at $1,050 despite current high component costs. Custom builds offer better value and personalization compared to Steam Machines, featuring gaming-focused and streaming-optimized configurations with various price points.

Plus, the Steam Summer Sale is under way. Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. If you're looking for something new to play this weekend, we have several options for you to check out. We've also got news to bring you about upcoming games, including one with sword-wielding dinosaurs. Despite already having more games in my various libraries than I can ever conceivably play, I'm sure I'll at least pick up a few things from my wishlist.

Valve's Steam Machine finally has a price, and it's a high one. But if you're handy with a screwdriver, you can roll your own for a lot less.

PCWorld examines MSI's $1,800 Claw 8 EX AI+ gaming handheld alongside Valve's $1,049 Steam Machine, highlighting escalating costs in PC gaming hardware. Rising component prices and console increases like Xbox Series X jumping to $799 signal affordability concerns for gaming enthusiasts. Testing shows DIY alternatives can save nearly $200 while matching performance, though high storage and memory costs remain challenging. I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time it was so expensive to surf the cutting edge of PC hardware. I've been thinking about the ongoing pricepocalypse engulfing the computing industry all week, because here at PCWorld we've been testing the remarkably fast (and remarkably expensive) MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ in order to see how it stacks up against other handheld gaming PCs.

PCWorld reports that Valve's Steam Machine ships with a single 16GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM, leaving one memory slot empty and causing a 10% performance loss compared to dual-channel configurations. Users can upgrade to 32GB by adding another 16GB SODIMM for around $200, but the process requires complex disassembly as demonstrated in teardowns. The Steam Machine's high price combined with its single-stick RAM limitation makes it a questionable value proposition for gamers seeking optimal performance. Valve will sell you a Steam Machine starting today, at least if you signed up earlier this week and you have a little bit of luck. Early supplies are expected to be extremely limited, as Valve is dealing with the same hardware issues as the entire industry. It comes with just 16GB of RAM, which is a little light for a gaming desktop. But there's something you should know about it that isn't on the spec list. The Steam Machine is using semi-standard parts, at least for RAM and storage, including familiar SODIMM sticks that go into laptops.