Valve's Steam Machine mini PC can't beat PS5 on price or performance
Valve's mini PC hits PS5 performance in some games, misses in others — at a much steeper price
IGN ran four head-to-head game tests between Valve's new Steam Machine mini PC and the PS5 in Performance mode (targeting 60 fps). The Steam Machine matched the console in some titles but lagged in others, all while costing significantly more.
The review doesn't specify which games failed to hit parity, but the conclusion is clear: if you're starting fresh with no Steam library, a PS5 or Xbox Series X makes more sense. The Steam Machine's price is steep for what you're getting — IGN calls it "extremely expensive for the level of performance."
This is Valve's second swing at living-room PC gaming after the original Steam Machines flopped in 2015. The new box is a mini PC form factor, not a handheld like the Steam Deck. It's aimed at users who want a console-sized box that runs their existing Steam games, but the value proposition is shaky when consoles deliver similar frame rates for hundreds less.
If you're weighing a Steam Machine purchase, run the numbers on what your current rig can do before dropping cash on hardware that might not beat what you already own.