Digital Foundry Direct Weekly DF Direct Special: Hands-On With Steam Machine: Valve's Beautiful PC/Console - Specs, Impressions And More
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Nov 12, 2025 Dive into the excitement of Valve's Steam Machine, a next-gen PC/console hybrid. Discover its impressive specs, including a powerful six-core Zen4 CPU and RDNA3 GPU. Hear firsthand impressions of gaming performance from demos at Valve HQ. The new Steam Controller boasts enhanced ergonomics and connectivity features. Learn about the device's design for living room use, and the implications for the gaming landscape. Plus, insights on potential third-party options and the device's future in the Steam ecosystem!
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PC Power In A Console Form
- Valve designed the Steam Machine as a console-oriented PC that runs SteamOS and feels like a living-room device.
- Oliver McKenzie says it validates the Steam Deck idea placed into a dedicated console box.
Strong CPU, Laptop-Style Memory
- The machine uses a 6-core Zen4 CPU (≈4.8GHz) and 16GB DDR5 to target 60 FPS TV play.
- Oliver believes the CPU should be sufficient for console-style gaming workloads.
GPU And VRAM Are The Key Limits
- GPU is a semi-custom RDNA3 part with 28 CUs, likely a cut-down Navi 33 with 8GB GDDR6.
- Oliver flags 8GB VRAM as the critical constraint for modern AAA games.