The Newell Nucleus: Steam Machine LTT Companion Article

By Nikolas H.

It is a great feeling to finally get our hands on the Steam Machine, especially since it represents another mainstream gaming device that ships with Linux pre-installed.

The Steam Deck previously brought Linux to a massive audience, transforming the idea of ditching Windows from a ~~joke~~ niche experiment into a viable reality for many. Having recently explored various gaming-centric distributions, it's clear that the current state of Linux gaming is quite robust. Valve is doubling down on this ecosystem with the Steam Machine, and it appears their gamble is paying off.

Physical Design & Aesthetics

From a hardware perspective, there is plenty to admire. The device features a compact, charming form factor that the community has already dubbed the "GabeCube."

Customization: The front plate is magnetically attached, allowing for easy removal or swapping.
Innovation: Valve has demonstrated several plate options, including one featuring an e-ink display.
Openness: Given that Valve provided CAD files for the Steam Deck to encourage modding, we anticipate they will do the same for the Steam Machine.

Hardware Behind the Software

While the shell is appealing, the internal components tell a different story. For a device launching in mid-2026, the platform is somewhat underwhelming.

"The trouble with the Steam Machine is that software is only as good as the hardware behind it, and the Steam Machine’s platform disappoints for a mid-2026 release."

The Processor (CPU)

The heart of the machine is a semi-custom Zen 4 chip.

Specs: 6 Cores / 12 Threads with SMT.
Critique: While functional, it would have been preferable to see Zen 5c cores (similar to those in Strix Point mobile CPUs). However, for a device targeting resolutions from $1080p$ to $4K$ , the CPU is rarely the primary bottleneck.

CPU Comparison Table

Feature	Steam Machine CPU	Ryzen 5 7500F (Desktop Equiv.)
Architecture	Zen 4 (Semi-Custom)	Zen 4
Boost Clock	$\approx 5.0\text{ GHz}$	$5.0\text{ GHz}$
Power Draw	$\approx 32.5\text{ W}$	$65\text{ W}$
Performance	High Efficiency	High Power

Our previous tests showed the 7500F performing nearly as well as a 9800X3D at $4K$ and remaining competent at $1080p$ . Even at half the power, this semi-custom chip should suffice for a gaming-centric build.

The Graphics (GPU)

The real "scandal" is the GPU. While 8 GB of VRAM in 2026 is questionable, the bigger issue is the aging RDNA3 architecture.

Compute Units (CUs): 28
Sustained Clock: $2.45\text{ GHz}$
TDP: $110\text{ W}$

The closest comparison is the RX 7600 8GB, though that card actually has more power (32 CUs and up to $165\text{ W}$ ). Back in 2023, the RX 7600 provided "adequate" performance but was never a $4K$ card, even with the FSR available at the time. Valve claims this machine can hit 4K 60 FPS (via FSR), but we entered testing with significant skepticism.

Gaming Results

To ensure accuracy, we tracked the specific software environment used during our benchmarks:

Proton Version: Proton Experimental
Mesa Version: 26.1.2

The following terminal output confirms the environment:

( 127 )( deck@steamdeck ~ ) $ glxinfo | grep Mesa
OpenGL core profile version string: 4.6 (Core Profile ) Mesa 26.1.2 ( git-18b3910ac0 )
OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile ) Mesa 26.1.2 ( git-18b3910ac0 )
OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.2 Mesa 26.1.2(git-18b3910ac0)

1080p Performance

We utilized Mangohud (with a logging interval of 0) to capture frame data, as Presentmon was unavailable. Our goal was to hit a stable 60 FPS.

Testing Checklist:

Maximum Settings (Initial Pass)
Medium/Low Settings (Optimization Pass)
Native vs. Proton builds (Shadow of the Tomb Raider)

Results at 1080p:

Highest Preset:
- Cyberpunk 2077: $\approx 60\text{ FPS}$ (Respectable)
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: $\approx 60\text{ FPS}$ (Respectable)
Adjusted Presets (to reach 60 FPS):
- Forza Horizon 6: High
- Anno 177: Pax Romana: Medium
- DOOM: The Dark Ages: Low

Key Takeaway: While the Steam Machine can deliver a pleasant $1080p$ experience, you cannot simply "crank" everything to maximum. You must trade visual fidelity (specifically shadows, lighting, and textures) for performance, or rely on FSR.

2160p Upscaling

To test Valve's claim of a playable $4K$ experience, we moved into upscaling tests...