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[Tallahassee]

"Valve just quietly redefined what PC gaming can be"
"4K 60fps with FSR"

rdna 3
8gb vram
16gb ram

 

[coffinbirth]

Ok.....docked Steam Deck in the living room isn't a great experience at any price really though. If you are going to spend that much, might as well spend a couple hundred more for Steam Machine. There really isn't much in the mini PC market that is comparable to this so the pricing is difficult to nail down.

Again, the context was price and you just said "spend a couple more hundred dollars", lmao.
He is specifically talking about playing games with a KB&M in this scenario.

And what do you even mean by "great experience" it works perfectly fine.

 

[Mister Wolf]

"Valve just quietly redefined what PC gaming can be"
"4K 60fps with FSR"

rdna 3
8gb vram
16gb ram

Don't forget Steam Big Picture Mode.

 

[Bert Big Balls]

To all moaners: Cope. And. Seeeeeeethe.

 

[ShadowkillXNA]

Deep,
He's done.

 

[Durin]

I think people are overestimating this

It's really great how Valve is working now, and I'll buy for sure. But let's not get crazy how things are turning, because it's not that different from what some people are doing for years, with Valve itself making this possible when they created the Steam OS. Remember, it's a fucking PC. Form factor and how they are updating their Linux are really great, but again, it's a mini PC

Chill the fuck out, guys

They probably are overestimating it, but the response is because this is the form-factor product people have wanted to exist. The Steam Deck largely because of SteamOS as software is the most like a console I've seen a PC feel, but it has the limitations of being a battery-powered device.

Even if you use Steam Big Picture mode on Windows, you still can't change basic PC settings without going back to the desktop, you don't have a suspend state that saves where you are in the game, etc. That is fixed with this device, and it does kind of indicate a next step.

Even if you don't care about VR (I don't), that headset running ARM just means it's a manner of time before people's existing Steam libraries work on Android, so you do have this neat mix of form-factors to play your existing games.

 

[Topher]

Again, the context was price and you just said "spend a couple more hundred dollars", lmao.
He is specifically talking about playing games with a KB&M in this scenario.

And what do you even mean by "great experience" it works perfectly fine.

I said "ok" and then added my own point. So what?

What games are you playing and what TV are using with that docked Steam Deck? 4K?

 

[djjinx2]

Struck a nerve with you huh Jez? Every single reviewer outside of Windows Central basically called FSE half baked. Either you have been living under a rock or under Nadellas balls. Windows is a turd, PC gaming is great despite it, not because of it.

It is half baked, but still functions as intended. It's very barebones, with alot of updates promised, so you know maybe it might improve in the next 400+ days until release of the Hybrid PC. Maybe not you may be right. But we won't know for a year so shit talking about something we know fuck all about seems pointless.

My name's Roy not Jez btw.

"But Magnus is the same niche device except 2x more expensive with a much worse software experience when it comes to being "console like"

Your talking like you have used it and it released already.
Anyway this discourse won't go anywhere so ye.


I may buy one of these if the price right (Steam Machine), be a good emulation station

 

[Mister Wolf]

They probably are overestimating it, but the response is because this is the form-factor product people have wanted to exist. The Steam Deck largely because of SteamOS as software is the most like a console I've seen a PC feel, but it has the limitations of being a battery-powered device.

Even if you use Steam Big Picture mode on Windows, you still can't change basic PC settings without going back to the desktop, you don't have a suspend state that saves where you are in the game, etc. That is fixed with this device, and it does kind of indicate a next step.

Even if you don't care about VR (I don't), that headset running ARM just means it's a manner of time before people's existing Steam libraries work on Android, so you do have this neat mix of form-factors to play your existing games.

What basic PC settings would you need to change that aren't already available in the settings of just about 99% of PC games. Vsync? Resolution? Frame Limit?

 

[coffinbirth]

I said "ok" and then added my own point. So what?

What games are you playing and what TV are using with that docked Steam Deck?

So that would exceed his budget..again, context.

Indies.

 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

It is half baked, but still functions as intended. It's very barebones, with alot of updates promised, so you know maybe it might improve in the next 400+ days until release of the Hybrid PC. Maybe not youay be right. Bit we won't know for a year so shit talking about something we know fuck all about seems pointless.

Hey Jez!! I will shit talk Microsoft all day brotha. We can go round 2 when Magnus is out

 

[reinking]

Steam Machine will be by far a better PC gaming experience in the living room than a Steam Deck and a dock.

As someone who has tried to dock the Steam Deck to a 4K TV. It is ass. I can get by on a 24" 1080p monitor though. This is why I am interested in the Steam Machine. It does not have to give me PS5 Pro quality but it can't be that bad.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

It's hilarious to me how against this device some of you people are.

What's more funny is people thinking they know better then Valve engineers.

Oh and the decision makers at Valve that have access to so much data giving them insights into what works and what won't.

 

[Mister Wolf]

It's hilarious to me how against this device some of you people are.

What's more funny is people thinking they know better then Valve engineers.

Not against it. Just not impressed by it.

 

[Hero_Select]

It's hilarious to me how against this device some of you people are.

What's more funny is people thinking they know better then Valve engineers.

I don't think anyone is against this existing. The hyperbole of it "redefining" PC gaming is pretty nonsensical and silly though.

 

[SScorpio]

What basic PC settings would you need to change that aren't already available in the settings of just about 99% of PC games. Vsync? Resolution? Frame Limit?

Anything released to the OS itself. Steam OS makes that all accessible to the controller interface. Windows makes you use a mouse.

Steam OS isn't perfect and there are rough edges. But it feels much more like a console versus a generic PC.

 

[coffinbirth]

Anything released to the OS itself. Steam OS makes that all accessible to the controller interface. Windows makes you use a mouse.

Steam OS isn't perfect and there are rough edges. But it feels much more like a console versus a generic PC.

You can just use Joytokey. You can do everything in Windows with a controller except turn it on.

 

[Topher]

So that would exceed his budget..again, context.

I'll try to be clearer. My point was separate, in general, not specific to anyone. Moving on...

As someone who has tried to dock the Steam Deck to a 4K TV. It is ass. I can get by on a 24" 1080p monitor though. This is why I am interested in the Steam Machine. It does not have to give me PS5 Pro quality but it can't be that bad.

I've done the same and didn't care for it. Handhelds were not made for higher rez output. Some games can get by I guess. Steam Machine will get you as close as you are going to get to a PS5 with a mini PC from what I can tell. The benchmarks should be interesting.

 

[SScorpio]

You can just use Joytokey. You can do everything in Windows with a controller except turn it on.

Or easily login. Still having to use a controller with a mouse is a major pain in the ass. Try Steam OS. It's just like a console to manage things in the stock environment. You can choose diplay resolution, pair controllers, manage storage, etc. All from a controller driven menu. This is very different from a keyboard and mouse driven interface. Is it impossible to navigate with a controller? No, with extra tools. But in Steam OS it's not terrible to do, and it's designed from the ground up to not need the extra tools.

 

[coffinbirth]

I'll try to be clearer. My point was separate, in general, not specific to anyone. Moving on...



I've done the same and didn't care for it. Handhelds were not made for higher rez output. Some games can get by I guess. Steam Machine will get you as close as you are going to get to a PS5 with a mini PC from what I can tell. The benchmarks should be interesting.

It was unnecessary information.
You decided to chime in on a conversation with very specific details, price point, kb&m mouse RTS games that run on a potato and hooked to a small monitor...with arguments that simply do not apply.

Outside of those parameters I would NEVER suggest using a docked Deck.

 

[Topher]

It was unnecessary information.
You decided to chime in on a conversation with very specific details, price point, kb&m mouse RTS games that run on a potato and hooked to a small monitor...with arguments that simply do not apply.

Outside of those parameters I would NEVER suggest using a docked Deck.

You done?

 

[Mister Wolf]

Or easily login. Still having to use a controller with a mouse is a major pain in the ass. Try Steam OS. It's just like a console to manage things in the stock environment. You can choose diplay resolution, pair controllers, manage storage, etc. All from a controller driven menu. This is very different from a keyboard and mouse driven interface. Is it impossible to navigate with a controller? No, with extra tools. But in Steam OS it's not terrible to do, and it's designed from the ground up to not need the extra tools.

Now the question is how much extra are you willing to pay for that vs just getting a prebuilt with equal or better specs around the same price and using Steam Big Picture Mode like the rest of us.

 

[coffinbirth]

You done?

 

[Topher]

Exactly how I feel about our conversation as well. Good. We agree on something. Let's try that "moving on" thing again.

 

[SScorpio]

I've done the same and didn't care for it. Handhelds were not made for higher rez output. Some games can get by I guess. Steam Machine will get you as close as you are going to get to a PS5 with a mini PC from what I can tell. The benchmarks should be interesting.

The Steam Deck in particular is a 720p system with scaling games are upscaled from 480/540p. So blowing that up to a large screen looks horrible.

All the people complaining about the Steam Machine which will do 1080p and some 1440p upscaled to 4K make the suggestion to just dock a Deck all the more funny. Especially when the PS5's "good" looking games are generally upscaled 1440p and some are all the way down to 720p.

Now the question is how much extra are you willing to pay for that vs just getting a prebuilt with equal or better specs around the same price and using Steam Big Picture Mode like the rest of us.

So far I spend $370 for a mini PC that does run as fast as the Steam Machine does and put the official Steam OS image on it. I'm enjoying the experience much more than my main gaming system with a 3080ti that's on a different TV.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Not against it. Just not impressed by it.

Yep. They just upgraded their old Steam Machines/made a more powerfull Steam Deck without screen and battery... "Wow redefined PC gaming".

 

[Deerock71]

Gabe got a tan. AND shed some pounds!

 

[Durin]

What basic PC settings would you need to change that aren't already available in the settings of just about 99% of PC games.

I can think of a few examples (these are on the top of my head).

1. Plenty of games don't even let me change my audio output. So if it's getting late, I'll switch to my headphones from my speakers. On SteamOS, it's hitting the Steam Button, and going down to audio will let me change the audio output + volume, along with my mic output + volume. Big Picture Mode on Windows gives me one audio option: enable UI sounds.

2. If I want to load Spotify while playing a game, I can just add it as a non-steam game, and run it in the background with a game. If I hit the Steam button, it will show at the top of the menu next to my game, and with one button press be back in Spotify changing whatever.

3. If I need to add a new bluetooth device, like another controller, some wireless earbuds, a mic, it has a full bluetooth menu to find, pair and put in passwords for just using a gamepad easily. Same with wi-fi if I take the device to another house.

4. Plenty of games don't offer frame limits (especially older games), and in SteamOS I can just per-game force one. In Windows, I'm using Rivatuner or Nvidia Control panel for that, neither I can easily navigate with a gamepad.

Big Picture Mode does a lot already, but any kind of OS system settings, or interactions with other devices SteamOS does a good job baking more of that into menus using the Steam/3-Dot button using a pad, instead of needing to navigate a mouse+keyboard driven interface in Windows. Also, there is Decky Loader with a host of free plugins that expand what things you can do in the Steam interface.

 

[LectureMaster]

You done?

 

[Mister Wolf]

So far I spend $370 for a mini PC that does run as fast as the Steam Machine does and put the official Steam OS image on it. I'm enjoying the experience much more than my main gaming system with a 3080ti that's on a different TV.

So lets say this thing ends up over $500. You would advise someone that wants to get into PC gaming and has general use experience with windows to take this device over a similarly priced prebuilt that has more RAM and a better GPU because of those conveniences? Me personally, I never would. 100% of the time I would tell them to get the higher specced PC if price range is equal.

 

[Topher]

Where the hell you an hour ago when I made the mistake of replying to mr. grumpy pants?

 

[LectureMaster]

Where the hell you an hour ago when I made the mistake of replying to mr. grumpy pants?

I was OMW..

 

[SScorpio]

So lets say this thing ends up over $500. You would advise someone that wants to get into PC gaming and has general use experience with windows to take this device or a similarly priced prebuilt that has more RAM and a better GPU because of those conveniences? Me personally I never would.

Are they looking to use it connected to a TV like a console, or in a general desk setup like a regular computer?

$500 is also a difficult price for a computer. Prebuilts would just be APUs while have worse performance. Something with a regular GPU is used parts for that price range. It's $700-800 that you can start putting together a system with new parts. This is why the price is critical. You might find a deal on a mid-range gaming laptop. But a $500 price would be a sweet spot that's very difficult to beat. It's also one of the reasons I could see it costing more.

 

[Mercador]

GabeCube...

You just sealed the deal for what I will refer to this as, forever. Thank you.

It's not from me, it was widely used on Reddit within the first hour. Still, I'll keep that name forever as well. It fits so well.

 

[mckmas8808]

I agree with you there. In a segment where there are hundreds of options to the point where the single most popular GPU only captures single digit market share, this is not a device that is going to move mountains by any stretch. Goes back to why this PC gamer article is bullshit. Nothing is being redefined here.

That PC Gamer article shows everything that's wrong with video game media today.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Xbox is a shite brand and is worthless to the industry other than their spending prowess. Stein speaks for itself and welcome their actually innovations and breakthroughs in OS.

 

[Kacho]

 

[Montauk]

Love the insertion of the classic 'X did Y quietly' cliche. Terrible writing, completely overused phrase.

 

[bender]

Exactly how I feel about our conversation as well. Good. We agree on something. Let's try that "moving on" thing again.

 

[Bert Big Balls]

We're hitting autism levels that shouldn't even be possible.

 

[Bert Big Balls]

.

 

[Bert Big Balls]

 

[Kumomeme]

meanwhile i starting to see flood of PR movement bots on twitter about how Playstation is the one in same position and celebrating Steam Machines like it is another product from Phil Spencer. same accounts that do PR propaganda related to Xbox is everywhere and Playstation is doomed last week.

 

[Boss Mog]

Lets see it run anything demanding

On paper it's already slightly weaker than the base PS5, but the gap is actually much bigger since PS5 games are coded specifically for PS5 hardware whereas the Steam Machine will run standard PC games. Sure some devs will optimize for it but it won't make as big of a difference as coding it specifically for that hardware. FSR4 could've helped close that gap but with only the not so great FSR3 available (for now anyway), it won't really help.

Let's see the price for this 8GB PC.

$499 should be the max if this thing has any hope of not flopping, but $399 would be the ideal price that would make it a compelling device.

 

[Hydroxy]

So many people predicting $499 and $599 but it will definitely be more expensive. Be ready to be disappointed.

 

[Boss Mog]

So many people predicting $499 and $599 but it will definitely be more expensive. Be ready to be disappointed.

Then Valve should be ready for this to flop. You can't sell something that is weaker than the base PS5 for more than the price of the base PS5. The people this is aimed at want a console experience and if they can get a better and cheaper one by buying a PS5, this thing has no chance.

 

[Crayon]

Love that it exists, but with the specs, it's only really exciting at $600 or less.