Valve finally launched the Steam Machine earlier this week, starting from $1,049 for the cheapest 512GB storage model. It’s safe to say that many fans are disappointed by the price tag, though it was only inevitable when faced with memory and storage shortage-fueled price hikes. If you’re looking for a similar machine, but cheaper, we’ve put together a build worth checking out.

The Machine’s final cost is way above Valve’s original hopes, so we’ve decided to see if we can do it for any cheaper. It didn’t take long for us to sympathize with Valve while searching around for decently priced RAM or SSDs. While it’s easy to build a generic SteamOS gaming PC that rivals the Steam Machine, trying to emulate its compact form factor is much trickier – but possible.

Creating a DIY Steam Machine for just under $1,000

Putting this sub-$1K build together meant starting with the Mini-ITX Fractal’s Node 304 case. It’s not quite as small as the Steam Machine, and it’s more of a cuboid than a cube, but it’s probably the closest practical PC case you’ll find. On top of forcing you to cater to Mini ITX, it’s unfortunately still full price during Prime Day – so deals had to come in clutch elsewhere.

One of the next considerations was the PSU, as compact SFX models come with a premium price tag. Luckily, the Node 304 supports regular ATX power supplies, and a 22% offer during Prime Day on the MSI MAG A550BN stood out among the crowd. Its non-modular design, however, is a downside and will require some cable management. For a fully modular alternative, you may also consider the SAMA Black 650W, which is 21% off right now but a little pricier.

Fractal’s compact case supports GPU lengths up to 310mm, so the RX 7600 8GB will fit comfortably, measuring just 241mm long. We really wanted to fit in an RX 9060 XT, as it’s actually good value for money versus the 7000 series, but this inevitably took it over the $1,000 mark. Either way, it would be an easy GPU upgrade – something the actual Steam Machine doesn’t support.

As for the system memory and storage, we stuck with the same targets as the cheapest Steam Machine variant, offering a 512GB NVMe M2 2280 drive and 16GB of RAM. Importantly, we could manage to afford DDR5 RAM, which ensures our DIY model offers solid upgradability. The motherboard supports up to 96GB RAM, while the Steam Machine can support 64GB (32GB in both slots).

DDR5 hardware means an AM5 processor, and we selected the entry-level Ryzen 5 7500F. It’s important to note that we did have to opt for an OEM (tray) model to cut down the cost, though you may also go for a boxed version if you wish. Like with the GPU, we would have liked to use something more modern, like the 9600X, and that would be an easy upgrade further down the road.

Conclusion

We have to admit it was more difficult than expected to put this all together for a reasonable price, with some compromises along the way. Unsurprisingly, RAM prices proved to be a major bottleneck, and storage to a lesser extent. Overall, we think this is a solid Mini-ITX build that doesn’t stray too far from the cubed design, all the while offering similar performance and much more upgradability than the official Steam Machine. Its all-AMD hardware will also ensure it works well with SteamOS.

Prime Day comes to a close on June 26, so there’s not much time to waste.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.