Finally upgraded my steam machine… to a steam machine!
Quite the upgrade if i don’t say so myself!
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u/Hanfos 1d ago
nice, also upgraded my dads PS4 to a Steam Machine recently
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u/roadb90 1d ago
Nice that will be a big improvement
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u/Hanfos 1d ago
yeah luckily he can continue to play with his playstation war thunder account on it
the loading times went from like sure a minute to a few seconds
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u/roadb90 1d ago
I dont play war thunder haha
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u/Shishjakob 1d ago
I don't know why you're getting downvoted, you're right
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u/Rothuith 1d ago
i don't like coconut water
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u/dogman_35 PC 1d ago
hey, while we're all confessing to crimes against humanity, I fucking hate zucchini
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u/yourallygod 1d ago
Not a fan of asparagus honestly taste buds never really aqquired it :T
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u/VernTheSatyr D20 1d ago
I think beats are awkward to eat but worth it for the vitamins
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u/platoprime 1d ago
Beats aren't very good headphones. Although beets aren't any better.
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u/Asteroth6 1d ago
I think it was the very AI like vapid response + pointless haha.
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u/Montigue 1d ago
I didn't downvote him, but in comment sections you don't need to reply to comments that are replies to you. Their comment didn't really add anything to the conversation
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u/morpheousmorty 19h ago
Is it a big improvement? I thought the Steam Machine is around the power of a PS4 Pro.
Did you mean steam itself is nicer? I'm just wondering.
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u/darkfall115 1d ago
Why not a ps5? Honestly interested
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u/Hanfos 1d ago edited 1d ago
actually multiple reasons:
- he doesnt need his tower PC then anymore so more space in room, one HDMI port less occupied and lower electricity bill cuz the Steam Machine is also a PC so he can also surf the web and write documents with it etc.
- PS5 is too expensive on long term cuz he would need to subscribe to PS+ to be allowed to use the online multiplayer feature of the non F2P online games he bought + cloud save feature (on PC both is free) and also the games are much more expensive in the Playstation Store than on PC
- cuz of Steam Family Sharing he can play all games I bought on Steam without having to buy them again as long as we dont want to play the same game at the same time
- much more games to play and he also still has dozens of PS1, PS2 and PS3 game discs he cant play anymore since the PS4 (our first gen PS3 could run PS1 and PS2 discs too) and with the Steam Machine he can run them again
- if one of us already downloaded the steam game or steam game update from the internet the other one doesnt need to download it too because it automatically gets transferred from my PC to his PC trough the local network (Steam feature) so my internet throttles less and games get worlds faster installed and updated
- and the steam machine is as big as the controller so he can even more hassle free take it with him if he goes on vacation
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u/kitliasteele 1d ago
It's absolutely amazing how much more pro-consumer/pro-gamer the entirety of the Steam platform is compared to what it competes against, and the competition keeps shooting themselves in the foot. Just makes Valve's job easier
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u/pudding_90 1d ago
Because fuck Sony I guess :D
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u/darkfall115 1d ago
Oh yeah, it's a valid reason now
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u/Hollownerox 1d ago
Besides that I guess there is also variety of games?
PS4 had an insane catalog, but the PS5 has been pretty sparse by comparison. It's pretty good if you're really into the type first party game lineup Sony emphasizes. But besides that the genres for exclusive PS5 games is pretty limited tbh.
For variety gamers I don't see too much reason to go for a PS5 unless you're already invested in the ecosytstem there. So I can see why some folks don't see value in making the jump when they already have their PS4s.
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u/beefcake8u 1d ago
Noice still waiting for my damn steam controller I pre ordered
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u/roadb90 1d ago
Its awesome!! Big upgrade over the og too
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u/Mr_YUP 1d ago
I loved the original but understand why people didn’t like it.
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u/shinobi441 1d ago
a little bold to remove joysticks as the main input source for the touch pads. you lose the feedback of the spring force that a joystick provides. it was enough to make me feel a little detached from the game
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u/Mr_YUP 1d ago
The left joystick was still there for movement but setting the right touchpad to be a trackball made the camera feel a lot better to control especially in Bethesda games.
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u/Troldann 1d ago
I’ll still pull it out for Elden Ring over the new Steam controller.
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u/supersimpsonman 1d ago
I washed it to be better for me, but only having one physical stick is what makes me not use mine. I think if they kept the prototype physical ring around the center of the touchpad it could maybe work, but we’ll never know.
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u/oilpit 1d ago
I love the idea if the Steam Controller, and those little touch pads okay for when you're in desktop mode and need to use the mouse, but they are worse than both a normal mouse/keyboard and a regular controller with gyro controls
I tried so hard to love that controller, but it never felt comfortable or intuitive.
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u/Moneyshot_ITF 1d ago
Ya i rate is as the worst controller I've ever tried
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u/CleverNameStolen 1d ago
I rate it as the best I've ever had and I'm so sad it broke. The new one just doesn't have the same charm.
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u/Soopah_Fly 1d ago
I wanted to buy one but the actual price when it came out was just ridiculous.
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u/AIgoonermaxxing 1d ago
I really wish this had released with a better price, it would've been so cool if this thing was successful and grew the market for PC gaming.
At $800 (maybe $600 pre memory crisis) I think this would've been a genuinely viable product. But the price is almost impossible to justify unless you absolutely need the form factor and HDMI CEC capability.
For those who just want a plug and play experience, the base PS5 comes in at almost half the cost with a more powerful GPU and more storage. Sure, online is free with the Steam Machine, but it's going to take over half a decade of PS Plus for the PS5's cost of ownership to close the gap with the MSRP of the Steam Machine.
For those who don't mind a more PC like experience, countless prebuilts are available below or near the MSRP of the Steam Machine that offer far better value and performance. Far better longevity and upgradeability too. Those who are comfortable with a bit of tinkering can also easily install SteamOS on one of these and give themselves a console like experience while saving themselves a ton of money.
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u/Gregus1032 1d ago
If it ever goes on sale for less than 1k, I'll seriously consider it.
That's what I did with the steam deck. Went on sale and I grabbed one.
That basically turned into a console for me. It's plugged into my TV and I do remote play for more demanding games.
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u/AIgoonermaxxing 1d ago
If the 2 TB model went below 1k it'd be a genuinely solid deal. I already have a gaming PC so I wouldn't pick one up myself, but I'd recommend it to all my friends without PCs or aging PCs.
Sadly, I think these prices will stay where they are until 2030 at the absolute earliest. The memory crisis isn't stopping anytime soon.
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u/Gregus1032 1d ago
I have a gaming PC also, but as a gamer dad, it's just more convenient to be able to play on the TV and having options to some multiplayer games on steam is a plus.
The deck does a decent job as acting like the console, but I do have to do remote play for more demanding games. I would like a press on and play option.
I might go with a steam roller from MetaPCs or something equivalent. At least then I can upgrade as I want.
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u/Fun_Impression_2578 1d ago edited 1d ago
The point of steam machine wasn't just a machine to plug and play. İt was it's ability to let you use your steam account and library which no other console allow you to get money out of you. It was huge a money saving way for most if not for it's price
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u/happy-cig 1d ago
So what can this do that my PC can't do if not for the plug and play convenience?
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u/chypchop 1d ago
The big thing it does is the sleep/resume like a console. Its the only thing that is exclusive to it I think. Its a really nice feature on my steam deck, id love it on a mini pc for my tv but the price is questionable for me.
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u/AIgoonermaxxing 1d ago
The big thing it does is the sleep/resume like a console. Its the only thing that is exclusive to it I think
Actually, you can do this on any PC that's running SteamOS. You just need to enable a certain thing in your BIOS to get it working, but once that's done it'll work as well as it does on the actual Steam Machine.
The thing that's actually exclusive to the Steam Machine is HDMI CEC functionality. This basically means that when you hit the power button on your controller, it also turns your TV on/off.
But given how much more expensive the Steam Machine is compared to prebuilt PCs that are comparable in power, I don't know, I think I could live with picking up a TV remote and pressing the power button whenever I wanted to play.
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u/ManiacalShen PC 1d ago
I love Steam, and I don't see a point in haranguing them about prices since it's obvious component prices are what fucked the price point here, but this is an odd comment. You can use Steam on anything but a console. The Steam machine is the most console-like, plug-and-play option, and that IS its strength. But you can even buy handhelds that run SteamOS these days.
Heck, I have a Legion Go that runs Windows, but I have it set to load Steam in Big Picture Mode upon boot. If I dock it to my TV, boom, I basically have the console experience, except I can also take the whole thing on a plane and play it there.
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u/AIgoonermaxxing 1d ago
Yeah, I'm not sure what point they were trying to make with that comment. Against consoles, Steam does bring the Steam Library with it, but it's almost double the price when compared to the cheapest option and comes with less storage.
Against actual PCs, it offers a small form factor and HDMI CEC, but even with component prices being as fucked as they are, it still gets smashed in terms of performance and upgradeability by prebuilts comparable in price. And you can install SteamOS on those if you want.
It has advantages over each set of systems, but it's priced way too high to even be remotely competitive with either of them.
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u/80m63rM4n 1d ago
Maybe Valve will have better luck with Steam Machine 3.
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u/Mattorski 1d ago
Valve doesn’t do 3rds buddy
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u/angry_wombat 1d ago
in 20 more years you can get version 3
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u/Preston0050 1d ago
Valve doesn’t do 3’s
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u/Jumpierwolf0960 1d ago
Really wanted one of those alienware steam machines as a kid.
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u/roadb90 1d ago
same its why i got one! i think frankieonpcin1080p or jackfrags did a video on it and i became obsessed aha
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u/AlfredKrupp 1d ago
Thats a name I havent heard in ages. I used to bingewatch his dayz videos. Whats he upto nowadays? Didnt he become a lawyer?
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u/7-CC 1d ago
Frankie occasionally streams on Twitch. He messes around on some modded community servers in DayZ and was playing Wardogs last time I saw him live. Frankieshideout is his channel name.
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u/Wyzzlex 1d ago
The last couple of days I used the original Steam controller while playing Age of Wonders 4 while sitting on the couch. It’s still an amazingly capable piece of hardware.
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u/ultratorrent 1d ago
The GabeCube timeline is weird.
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u/landblord 1d ago
Wonder if we'll get GabeBox or GabeStation next time
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u/redd142 1d ago
Is the steam controller worth it without the steam machine? Could you compare it to another option? I have one on pre order but I really am unsure of the "analog sticks"
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u/roadb90 1d ago
Yeah i got it after it arrived, originally i was just using the xbox one controller. If you care about using desktop mode an the sm as a pc id say its 100% worth it cus of the mouse controls etc and better typing with trackpads. If you wont use desktop mode an xbox controller is perfectly fine
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u/redd142 1d ago
That makes sense. But I was asking in the opposite fashion. Is the steam controller worth it without the steam machine?
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u/roadb90 1d ago
sorry is misread, i would say probably not then, i still use an xbox controller on my main gaming pc
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u/redd142 1d ago
No worries! I appreciate the honesty! I can see value in what the other commenter mentioned as well in desktop mode. But I'm really trying to be more choosy about my tech upgrades atp
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u/l3uddy 1d ago
If you want to use it with consoles it’s not great as most consoles won’t support the trackpads out of the box and that’s really the only unique thing about the steamdeck. If you’re going to be using it to play games through steam though… oh boy it’s the most innovative controller I’ve ever used (I started gaming on an original gameboy for reference) the trackpads don’t have to just be mice. Think about all the gestures we use on trackpads for Mac’s. Pinching, multiple fingers, etc. the same type of utility is up for grabs but with your thumb. Tab can be different from press. Tapping or pressing different parts of the touchpad can be different actions. Swiping different ways are other actions. You can get like 15 key binds out of a single trackpad and it feels great once the muscle memory kicks in
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u/Shpaan 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah this is something that people often miss, you can bind insane amount of things to the Steam controller and if you delve into action layers etc you could probably bind the whole keyboard five times to it.
Even if you just made a simple radial menu with 10 inputs you could then set every back button to enable different layer so you could have 50 buttons on one track pad, let that sink in...
Edit just for fun: if you used both track pads as radial menus and put the maximum of 20 inputs to each and then set all 4 backbuttons to layers, you would have 40x5=200 buttons. That's 200 more binds without sacrificing single standard controller button.
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u/WrappedStrings 1d ago
My steam controller showed up about a week or two ago and i use it all the time without the steam machine... but i DO have my PC running an HDMI to the tv. So im on the couch a lot. Its great for that specific use case.
But i also think the extra buttons and track pads are nice for gaming. For example, ive been playing project zomboid (on the couch) and i am using its native controller support + the trackpads and back buttons to emulate mouse controls. Its great for fine detailed stuff and it feels natural.
The biggest downside of it for me is the grips. They run very parallel compared to other modern controllers and its not amazing on your wrists. Analog sticks feel fine to me, but i know some people are more sensitive to that kind of thing.
Hope that helps a little.
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u/2ByteTheDecker 1d ago
If you do anything in a desktop environment or play any mouse and keyboard heavy games the trackpads are clutch. If not a regular controller is fine
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u/Troldann 1d ago
I have a controller with no machine. I like it fine, though I find my palm gives false inputs to the touchpad (especially my right for some reason). I either have to be careful to avoid it or just disable it, neither feels like a great option.
The sticks feel and perform as well as any controller I’ve used (Xbox One and Series and OG Steam Controller). I may not be worth listening to there as I don’t have a strong preference or notice much difference.
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u/Lucario576 1d ago
I believe the first problem got fixed in a controller update already
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u/Troldann 22h ago
I was having the problem on Sunday, has there been an update since then?
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u/kidenraikou 1d ago
If you're on Linux, Steam Controller is definitely worth it for OS controls alone. On Windows, it's only worth it if you think you're interested in using the touch-pads for PC games that don't play well on Controller.
As long as it's open in the background, Steam already lets you set up any controller to navigate Windows, by letting you map keyboard/mouse buttons to joysticks and controller buttons. It works well and switches back as soon as you open a game or hop into Steam Big Picture. But you'll occasionally have issues with Windows pop-ups, where you'll be forced to break out a mouse/keyboard anyway, but that's a Windows issue and Steam Controller has the same problem.
So aside from the touch pads, Steam Controller doesn't actually give you any more utility than another controller designed for PC, on Windows.
You can get much nicer controllers for the same price as Steam Controller, or similar quality for significantly less. Check out the "8BitDo Ultimate 3c" for the best budget option at $40. Or the "Gamesir G7 Pro 8K PC" for a Premium controller that still undercuts Steam's at $80.
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u/2ByteTheDecker 1d ago
I have a pair of 2cs that I got a couple years ago that I'm still entirely happy with for my occasional controller gaming. Very solid for the price.
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u/scootbert 1d ago
Absolutely amazing controller, highly recommend.
I use it for my windows desktop computer and a SteamOS computer connected to a livingroom TV
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u/Old_Leopard1844 PC 1d ago
Depends on if you want Steam Deck like controls on PC, namely trackpads and back buttons
If not, then probably not, gamepad part of gabepad is perfectly average and thus kinda overpriced (namely my pads right stick became uncentered and thus started drifting slightly), 8bitdo will do you better and cheaper
But you won't get absolutely dope trackpads and in general Steam Decks combination of controls
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u/Arroz-Con-Culo 1d ago
I want a steam machine, but i been thinking maybe i just need a steam deck docking station.
And a steam controller.
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u/Hanfos 1d ago
I did that for my sister almost 2 years ago but with a Rog Ally instead.
From my experience If I would be you I would ask myself if im actually gonna use it in Handheld mode or not.
If yes go for it but check first if the games u plan to play in docked mode on ur 1080p monitor or 2160p TV(?) run in high enough fps and graphic settings for you cuz the games normally run on max 800p (if AAA titles often lower cuz of use of upscaling).
And if no better get a Steam Machine cuz it has much more power.2
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u/Early-Potato-6124 1d ago
you could do what ive done and rust run a long ass hdmi cable to your tv, works pretty good. got some long USB c cables for peripherals so no lag really. I need to get a better tv mine is old
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u/Villentrenmerth 1d ago
Is Steampad 2 as good as Steampad 1?
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u/Filtaido 1d ago edited 1d ago
It doesn't prioritize the trackpads as much as the first one did, and those were the strength of the first one. Of course the tech inside is a lot better now, but having the trackpads be a lot smaller and farther out of the way slightly hinders the capabilities of the trackpads. Also, the removal of dual-stage triggers for the second one is like a pretty big downgrade in my opinion.
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u/burglehurgle 1d ago
Much more usable as an actual controller at the cost of less emphasis on the uber-customization. Which is still present, it just exists alongside the traditional controller instead of replacing parts of it like the original trackpads. A bit of a bad buy if you want a TMR stick Dualshock layout controller (there's cheaper options), a great one if you get use out of Steam Input.
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u/EVPointMaster 13h ago edited 3h ago
If you like using the trackpads, the original Steam Controller is leagues better.
The original Steam Controller is built around the trackpads, while the 2026 one just slapped trackpads on a traditional controller with no regard for ergonomics or usability.
It takes maybe like a week or so to adjust to trackpad focused controls, but after that you just don't want to use sticks anymore. Trackpads are so much more precise and responsive and clicking trackpads while using them works a thousand times better than clicking sticks while using them. I love using that in Souls games where clicking the left trackpad is the dodge/run button. This reduces inputs from a stick + a button into a single trackpad and feels completely natural while doing away with the claw grip. This leaves more fingers for other actions.
Same with the original Steam Controllers dual Stage triggers. Instead of hold Y + pressing one of the shoulder buttons to two-hand a weapon, I use the quick full pull to two-hand, again reducing inputs from two fingers to one finger.
The unusual shape of the original Steam Controller makes it comfortable to use your index fingers on the bumpers and middle fingers on the triggers, which I can't say about any other controller.
So with the thumbs positioned for the trackpads, all inputs on the original are reachable from where your fingers already are. On the 2026 controller they wanted it to be more accessible and didn't change much from established controllers, but if you want to use the trackpads you have to shift your grip on the controller every time you want to use any of the other inputs on the face of the controller.
The best way to sum it up is probably that the original Steam Controller is aimed at power users, while the 2026 one is more for casual players.
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u/Villentrenmerth 3h ago
Thank you for insanely comprehensive comment! You put a lot of thought into it!
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u/Nettysocks 1d ago
Curious how often you used and which games still ran well on well on your old steam machine
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u/ATotalFuckingMoron 1d ago
Can you upgrade my old rig to a steam machine also?
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u/CycleZestyclose1907 1d ago
sadly, my current PC has better stats than the new Steambox, and while I find touch pads in a controller intriguing, I don't think they're worth the asking price over the controller I already use.
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u/voodoomouse420 1d ago
I love my old steam controller, but dang I wish they went with a legit dpad on it sometimes.
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u/kmhikaros 1d ago
my old alienware steam machine was the i7 version but one day the power button just started blinking yellow and it was tied to a cmos issue that i didnt wanna bother with and just never used it again was a cool lil machine used it for league of legends or osrs mainly
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u/FeeBudget1048 1d ago
The OG steam machine was actually my first “real” gaming PC boy was it a gateway haha
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u/daveMUFC 1d ago
I loved the idea, but cost was far too much when I already had a gaming PC, PS5, Switch 2 and Strix Halo handheld.
Decided to get a barebones GMKtek K12 for under £200, bought 16gb RAM and transferred my spare 1TB SSD over. Installed SteamOS on it and it's pretty much plug and play now.
Not as powerful but I mainly use Geforce Now on it so just run everything max.
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u/Architarious 1d ago
How would you rank the steam controller to the Xbox controller? Those touchpads seem like they'd be kinda clunky or hard to use in most cases.
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u/moto_dweeb 1d ago
I imagine they're the same as the pads on the deck. And if they are, then they're actually really really good. Super sensitive and responsive
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u/HuskyyPL 1d ago
As someone that owns both the Steam Deck and the Steam Controller the controller trackpads are better. They are around 2mm wider (i know not much) but the best change is that they are a bit tilted which makes them more comfortable to use.
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u/ravagedbyelderly 1d ago
I can confirm that the new steam controller feels great. Once I received it and used it, I haven’t even touched any other controllers. I find myself using the trackpads all the time because of the elite customization. The tactile feedback from them is great too. And no, they haven’t gotten in the way for me at all. Literally my favorite controller ive ever owned.
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u/thomasrat1 14h ago
The steam controller is the best controller I’ve ever used.
It’s legit like 3 high end controllers combined together, feels multiple generations ahead of PlayStation and Xbox
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u/Character-HaHa 19h ago
I'd still rank the Xbox controller higher for pure comfort, but the Steam controller does things Xbox controllers can't.
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u/Sharpie1993 1d ago
The steam controller is way better than an Xbox controller.
Xbox controllers (even the elites) are missing the most basic shit like gyros. The steam controllers biggest downside (for me at least) is its feather light, the track pads are amazing and can be used for so many different things, I use mine for weapon wheels and such things depending on the game.
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u/wickeddimension 1d ago
How on earth is a gyro 'basic shit' to when the vast majority of controllers don't have it and the vast majority of users don't use it.
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u/tht1guy63 1d ago
People actually use the gyro functions? Outside some switch games that are built for gyro ive never felt a need for them.
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u/Frequent_Opportunist 1d ago
That's one of the first things I turn off in video game settings so that my PlayStation controller doesn't do anything stupid. Gyros, active triggers and vibration get turned off right after that stupid visual filters.
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u/EarlyXplorerStuds209 1d ago
Ergonomics wise, xboxes are better than any other controller design. Hardware is a whole other conversation which wouldn’t affect most users.
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u/Sharpie1993 1d ago
I’d say gyros are pretty basic and have been for a while, they’ve been in every Playstation controller since the dual shock 3, then it’s pretty common for most controllers around the price of a standard Xbox/ps controller to have gyros.
The fact that an elite controller doesn’t have them at their price is imo ridiculous and unacceptable.
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u/Ninja-Kitten497 1d ago
Are you still using SteamOS on those or did you convert them into standard windows rigs?
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u/vc0ke 1d ago
How did you like the old controller? It looks useless for anything that needs two sticks.
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u/Livid_Instruction449 1d ago
And what are your impressions? Is there a big difference in the spec? I don't recognise the exact model on the left.
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u/Frozencold19 1d ago
from one overpriced underpowered machine to another, congrats!
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u/Special_Yogurt_2823 1d ago
11 years ago I created the worlds fastest alienware alpha gen 1. Its nice to see they are still being used.
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u/AGuyWithoutABeard 1d ago
Ignore the miserable redditors who wish they could afford one (me)
Happy for you OP!
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u/transracialHasanFan 13h ago
What's with all the schizo posting in the comments?
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u/CokBlockinWinger 1d ago
I still have the originals in the box. I don’t know why, but I never had the time to get into them. I wish I had.
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u/id_crisis 1d ago
I wish I could find my old steam controller, I want to try ripping it apart and using the pads for a cyberdeck
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u/Thalia_All_Along 1d ago
you definitely dug that thing out of a dusty closet for this post, didn't you?
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u/Gradedcaboose 1d ago
How’s the controller? I’m on the waitlist for sometime in 2027, definitely looking forward to it as I’m tired of using elite controllers for pc
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u/Jesterace77 1d ago
How's the performance compared to the old Steam machine?