Hi everyone!

I had been a Playstation user since the first one and I own the fifth one.

After using Linux for years on weak computers for my admin, I decided to try Linux gaming in 2025 and bought a used LCD Steam Deck.

While I’ve been enjoying the Steam Deck, it hurts my neck and isn’t powerful enough for sim racing games.

Naturally, I was happy to learn that the Steam Machine was coming and was willing to invest up to CHF1000.- (~$1236) to get it.

Sadly, it’s not available to order in my country, Switzerland.

So now I have to choose between finding ways to order a Steam Machine or buying a prebuilt computer since I don’t want to source components to build something myself.

My priority would still be the Steam Machine, but I’d be open to alternatives.

What are your advices, what would you do if you’re in the same situation?

Thanks in advance for your help.

  • grueEnglish
    162·
    20 hours ago

    The only real reasons to get a Steam Machine are if:

    1. You really want your computer to be a 6" cube
    2. You really want HDMI CEC support
    3. You really want to give your money to Valve instead of some other company

    Otherwise, something else will be cheaper and/or faster, at the cost of being a more normal desktop size and shape.

    I haven’t had a prebuilt desktop since I was 15, so I would definitely build my own. (In other words, if the thing stopping you is being nervous about screwing it up, don’t be because it isn’t actually hard.)

    Otherwise, I don’t have any specific prebuilt brand recommendations for you, but I’ll echo the advice to get something with a Radeon 9060 XT (or better). Alternatively, if you think you might want to do AI things with it too instead of just gaming, consider a small-form-factor PC with a fast APU and a lot of unified memory (e.g. like the Framework Desktop or Minisforum MS-S1 Max) or a Radeon RX 7900 XTX (with 24GB RAM), but be aware that those would be a lot more expensive right now.

    • FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafeEnglish
      31·
      14 hours ago

      Not op but to give my perspective, I’m not a computer person, and I’m on the waitlist for a steam machine for a few reasons:

      1. I’m terrified of breaking the expensive computer parts if I tried to build my own computer. That’s potentially a lot of money to waste
      2. I don’t even know enough about computers to know which parts are good. I’ve looked into it, and I could probably create a decent grocery list for myself, but I have no personal sense of what’s good or bad
      3. I want to switch to Linux gaming and the steam machine offers Linux gaming in a prebuilt package. I don’t have to download Linux or proton myself, or pick which distro I want to use. I want to just boot up the steam machine and have things work. (I got Kubuntu for myself on my laptop to try Linux but even that was scary for me. Progress takes time and the steam machine offers an easier learning curve)
      4. I get valve support if something doesn’t work or needs fixing

      I’d like to one day get to the point where I can build my own computer and be confident on Linux. But for now, the steam machine offers an ease of access that I’m willing to pay more for. Hopefully the steam machine can inspire people who’ve never even considered trying Linux to give it a go on their other devices as well

      • grueEnglish
        4·
        11 hours ago

        I understand being intimidated. Under normal circumstances I’d say maybe try building a cheap computer for your first time, but there kinda aren’t any right now. That said, my first one was a reasonably high-end machine for the time, and it turned out fine.

        I feel like the biggest sticking point is actually #2, not #1. I was the kind of kid who was obsessively reading tech magazines/websites/newspaper ad flyers and knew exactly what I wanted and where to get the best deal on it. So yeah, I definitely recommend doing your research first.

        But good news: you’ve got it easy these days with YouTube showing you what to get and how to assemble it instead of having to read. The parts themselves are easier these days, too: no jumpers to set, and almost everything is keyed to only fit one way. Short of being really inept/careless and bending CPU pins or snapping the edge connector off a PCB or something, you’re not going to hurt anything.

        The bottom line is, if you want to do it eventually you might as well do it now, because there really isn’t that much to it.

      • nevyn@slrpnk.netEnglish
        1·
        10 hours ago

        Building a pc is no doubt scary if you are not used to it. It does make sense to own a pre-built first, just so you can become more familiar with the parts, but once you build, you are very unlikely to want a pre-built, and will also look at the specs of the steam machine and wonder why anyone would even consider it. Gaming is very easy on linux due to steam, you just install it and play games. Distro selection… well everyone has an opinion. I use Manjaro KDE because it is very user friendly.