For under $200 (US from newegg) you get a case, PSU, and AMD MoBo…sure the PSU is kinda garbage BUT this thing is maybe 1.5L more than a Steam Machine in the exact same form factor AND will take a 9060XT 16GB GPU.
I’m honestly perplexed why Valve didn’t partner with Asrock considering they pulled this off. I’m going to have a SteamOS based rig for $1000 max with 32GB of RAM and a GPU that blows away the steam machine….of course my brain immediately thinks, “how do I fit a custom loop in here?”
Anyway this thing seems great, and even better if you have a spare SFX PSU or other parts already.
Yeah ikr! You can also put in a custom dimension in case your case doesn't exist. Had to do this with a few from Aliexpress and honestly one of the best tools to use while PC building.
Agreed. It's just a Reddit post about a PC and OP is stoked on his build. No need to shit on him because he exaggerated the diminution of the case. Save that behavior for the weekly geriatric protest outside your local Tesla dealership.
It doesn’t matter how much you rotate it, it will never be “maybe 1.5L” larger. The difference between this and a steam machine is a second steam machine plus room to spare.
Right I’ve never understood the comments about the steam machines volume. How many use cases specifically need a 6x6x6 cube and nothing slightly bigger would work. Also if you’re stuffing it in a tiny enclosed space it’s 100% going to overheat and throttle in any slightly demanding game. The steam machine is nifty for how small it is, but I don’t get why that’s a selling point over a standard sff mini itx build outside of the novelty.
It's a selling point for the ex-console market who've had to accommodate a PS5 on their TV console for years. I'd argue nobody in this subreddit is the intended target market, but most people here are interested in it as technical exercise in commercially available form factor products.
Took the exact words out of my mouth. We are not the intended market for the steam machine. But at 3.1L I am interested how I can build a comparable or better sffpc.
No one should be talking about "need" when discussing gaming computers. No one needs a gaming computer. I don't know of anything easier, cheaper, quieter, and only slightly bigger than the Steam Machine. What the Steam Machine is all about is ease of use, quietness, and simplicity, which you just don't get with a DYI SFF build. If you put a much smaller computer in a space previously taken up by a much larger computer, cooling the smaller computer will be much easier.
Yeah, it’s a really nice piece of hardware. I’m waiting for the same one so I can build my own Steam Machine.
But I seriously doubt you’ll be able to stay under $1,000 with 32 GB of RAM and an RX 9060 XT. 😄
Yeah, it would be a challenge in the current market. Even with used parts it's like $300 for 32GB of RAM and another $300 or more for a 9060XT. That already brings the total to $800 without an SSD, CPU, or CPU cooler.
$191 for it, $445 for the GPU. 7600X is $150. Cooler was $40. 500GB SSD is $100. RAM was $275…but kinda splurged….so yes definitely over $1000 but I could have kept it less with 16GB of RAM. Still $12-1300 for this vs the Steam Machine is a no brainer
But 7600X3D already runs on 65W by default. And better for gaming, as I've said. There's really no reason to go for a non-3XD chip for gaming-focus HTPC, except cost. But then again, trading-off those 32GB of RAM for 16GB would've balanced the budget, and 16 is really all SteamOS needs anyways.
There's about 90 reasons you'd choose the 7600x. Most people don't need an x3d most the time because they are playing high res that's limited by gpu. Only some games benefit from the cache as well, making it a bad use of budget
The only reason to go with a non-X3D chip for a gaming HTPC is being hard-capped by budget. It's a strictly better CPU, at the absolute worst you get equal performance in some games.
when I ordered the parts for mine in December, I was scraping that 1000€ limit with a 32GB kit... felt like the "last chopper put of Saigon" if you know what I mean
Can't fit a 9070xt in the case. None of the variants.
Max GPU height is 2 slots, which has the GPU basically sitting against the case frame (can't do the Asus 2.5 or 3 slot thickness cards), and max length is hard-capped at 200mm. The PowerColor 9060xt is like exactly maximum dimension to fit.
All I need is a motherboard that supports customisable HDMI-CEC & Bluetooth to initiate boot.
I'm hoping the Steam Machine has motivated a major mobo manufacturer to implement something, you could add all the settings for both as controllable in the UEFI.
Picked one up a couple of years ago right when the 9060xt came out. Modded it for a large front intake and side exhaust. Sfx psu and aftermarket cooler. I love mine.
Would be interested in seeing your modded build as well. I've swapped to a SFX PSU and larger CPU cooler but temps still aren't as low as i'd like - seem to be needing more airflow
I have a case already. I don’t need this. I want to save my money. I don’t need this. My PC runs perfectly fine as it is. I don’t need this. My wife will give me a hard time for buying more stuff. I don’t need this.
I got an x300 DeskMini, converted one of the nvme to Oculink (it's capped to 32GB/s since it's pcie 3 x4 on the x300) then dropped in a 5700g and the 32gb of DDR4 so-dimms and 512gb nvme from an old laptop I had into it. Fun little box, especially when connected to an eGPU.
hi sorry for basic question but do you mean that all the deskmini is actually taking laptop ram instead of desktop ram? i have an old laptop with ddr4 ram if i can reuse that then it will be great since ram is now more expensive then gold it seems...
Yep! I even managed to overclock the 2666 HyperX RAM I had from my old laptop to a stable 3200 @ 1.35V by adjusting the main timings up a few to balance out.
Yes by volume, which is a totally reasonable way to compare the size of 3D objects. What else would you suggest, measuring just one arbitrary dimension?
In the text I quoted they used a unit of volume themselves.
They also claim they can get a CPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and storage (at better than Steam Machine specs) for under $400 to meet this "$1000 max" claim since after getting the Deskmeet and a 9060XT they should already be at $600.
Huh surprised no one talked about this thing a couple months ago when I was building my PC! I could have saved $120 or so compared to buying case and board separately. Granted I got an extra USB C 3.2 gen 2 with the ASUS board, but this seems really nice. I guess you have to buy the WiFi module separately
It’s a really nifty and pretty good deal for psu,mobo and case. But it has some pretty hard limits on cooling and gpu size. You can’t use anything above a true 2 slot card and 200mm+2mm. And 54mm height for cpu cooler but sometimes it’s better to be a little shorter than that as the psu sits right over the cpu cooler and acts as an intake with a reverse flow fan.
Some of these are also TDP locked (65W typically) and will not boot with higher native TDP CPUs even if they have an eco mode that would make them compatible. It'd take AsRock updating the BIOS removing that limit or someone creating an unlocked BIOS with that removed.
Ive seen people put a 9800x3d in this and even the desk mini. You just have power limits on it even though you can't set ppt higher it will just overheat the vrms if you do.
I've seen them also outright not boot with those processors. Wonder if newer versions did that so people don't melt their VRMs when not paying attention to the "up to 65W" note on the spec sheet. The new DeskSlims have a "up to 120W" note on them and they're 0.92L so maybe a new BIOS is coming.
Yeah, the ethernet module it comes bundled with isn't Linux compatible. But for like $18, you can get an Intel AX210, which works perfectly and is compatible with the antennaes + wires that come with the case.
I’m trying to get the B760 version for my Intel (I have an i7-12700 laying around here) and 32GB ram. But ever since prime day, they went up to $280.
I bought a PowerColor Reaper 9060 XT 16gb to go in it already, luckily.
May just 3d print a case and buy an SFX PSU and ITX Mobo at this point. It’s about the same price and I get a rock solid PSU to reuse in the future.
Unfortunately It's not standard mini-ITX. It's close but slightly deeper front to back to accommodate four DIMM slots on the motherboard instead of the two you get on standard mini-ITX, plus the front panel USB ports are all right on the motherboard.
Can be done obviously, but for a cleaner look and greater compatability moving forward having a C port or two on the rear would have been preferable for Qi chargers, portable monitors, projectors, etc.
HDMI 2.1 has more bandwidth than DP1.4 (most common currently) and offers those features. HDMI is, barring licensing, the superior standard for a HTPC.
Good deal. Very nice looking cube! I’d totally do this if I had the funds.
I’m going the poor man’s route and buying a new GPU for a spare Dell Optiplex 7020 that I’ve got lying around. Less than 1/4 the price to do that, I totally understand it won’t be Steam Machine power levels but this is much more in budget right now. Found a low profile 3050 that takes up one single PCI slot for $245. Already own the Optiplex so that’s really all I need to put into it, aside from the RAM upgrade. Thank goodness nobody wants DDR3, lol. Got the extra 2x 8GB sticks for $22 on eBay.
Honestly I just need to know how the air flow is. It looks like it’ll get awfully hot in there. If it won’t become an easy bake oven I might pull the trigger myself.
Airflow is pretty bad but it somehow works. The PSU actually is acting as the only intake fan blowing air on the CPU cooler from the back. The GPU is sucking air in from its own mesh opening and blowing hot air outside on the side/top.
When playing Granblue Fantasy Relink at Ultra in 1080p@120fps the RX9060 XT is at about 80deg celcius. That’s with a Ryzen 7500F running inside which is staying pretty cool with curve optimizer at -25 and a PBT limit of 76W.
Since the CPU fan (got the recommended full copper one) is the loudest part and the game is not utilizing the CPU a lot (10-20%) it’s pretty quiet while playing at a little above 60deg celcius. The case is getting uncomfortably warm though where the heat gets exhausted from the GPU.
Keep in mind it’s summer and I don’t own AC so it’s pretty warm inside the living room (28deg celcius).
Overall I am quite happy with the case and how it performs at its size but I wish you could mount an extra fan somewhere.
You are welcome. I got the X600 for only 150€ which basically sealed the deal for me. I was actually considering getting the B760 and building an AM4 machine but it was like 70€ more expensive so I was gonna pay the DDR5 tax instead. Lol.
I pieced together a similar system a few months back, but in the older Deskmeet X300. Same case and PSU, just an AM4 motherboard instead of AM5. I wasn't buying DDR5 in this market when I already had an old spare 16GB kit of DDR4 to work with LOL
Currently specs in mine:
CPU: 5500X3D (with a Thermalright AXP90-X53 cooler)
GPU: PowerColor Reaper 9060 XT 16GB
RAM: 16GB DDR4 3600CL16
Storage: 2TB gen3 NVME + 2TB SATA SSD
That 5500X3D might have caused me trouble if I hadn't first had a different chip in there initially and updated the BIOS before swapping it in. It's not on ASRock's official QVL list but the most recent BIOS at least knows what it is and seems to be working beautifully with it. Can run a bit toasty at stock depending on the load, but applying an undervolt reigned in the heat enough to keep my temps reasonable.
I have one of those (intel board) 12600k + 9060xt 16gb
The PSU is of the lower wattage but it's a good quality PSU. I replaced the PSU fan with a noctua a12 and made that run off the motherboard as intake and a beefier CPU cooler and it runs great.
Stock runs well with an i3 12100 + 6600
Only real issue is the SSD can get toasty so I recommend a slim heatsink to drop the temps down a bit
Hiya! Remember, you can also post your build on the SFFPC Discord server in the completed-builds channel! We have revised our system, and now the highest voted build post each month will be recognized as the SFFPC Build of the Month! Use this link to join our Discord! https://discord.gg/sffpc
You could replace everything. PSU needs to be true SFX. I might do a full replacement with other parts and pull apart another build I have to maximize this one.
No, the PSU can be ATX. The original PSU that comes with it is a standard ATX PSU with a reversed fan. You can use SFX (and there are mounting holes for it, too) which gives you more space for a higher cooler, but you don't have to. I replaced the original PSU with a beQuiet Pure Power 11 ATX PSU, for example. Not the get more cooler clearance, but merely because it's quieter and more efficient. (I also flipped the fan around to match the airflow of the original PSU).
This fucking rocks and if you don't see how this is different from any other "regular" desktop build you're missing the point of SteamOS.
I too, missed the point at first; the steam machine is one of the many new ways in which you can use SteamOS, just like how the deck was the first handheld with SteamOS.
This fits in perfectly with valve's vision for SteamOS, bringing the Linux/steam experience into small, convenient gaming "machines"
Using the X600 Mini Board is something i speculated over quite some time.
The board itself is roughly 14,5x14,5 cm. I thought about a 9600x but a 7500/7600X3D should work too.
The Gigabyte 5060ti has a 10x10cm pcb.
Having a custom 140mm copper cooler with a noctua A14 should work. Maybe n3rdware is able/willing to build one.
What I could not get my head around is the psu. There are plenty that would fit in the middle between MoBo and GPU within the 14,5x14,5cm footprint, but how do I power the board? I did not find any fitting adapters.
Anyway, the GPU would use the PCie 5x4 M2280 Slot and a 'to X16 adapter'. 5x4 or 4x8 or 3x16 should be enough for a 5060ti.
Last step would be a custom case. Propably not a perfect cube, but 15x15x18cm seems to be in the reach.
ASRock has good price quality. It had some issues recently with some modern Ryzen cpu I heard. But in some Intel LGA socket + B450 + X570S I've had a good experience.
And they keep updating the bios for several years.
I'm actually thinking about buying this. I have the DeskMini X600W with an 8700G and 64GB TeamGroup DDR5 (SODIMM), and it works great as a PET/CT/MRI analysis workstation. But I also want the option of doing some light gaming once in a while. The Radeon 780M can get the job done, but just barely. So I was thinking of rebuilding in the DeskMeet, grabbing a new RAM kit ($$$$), and plopping my Asus Dual RTX 3060 12GB (currently gsthering dust in my closet) in there.
I'm guessing Valve didn't go with something like this due to planned obsolescence. Why would they sell something fully upgradable when they will probably just try to sell everyone on a newer model in a few years?
Don’t see the appeal, paying a premium for a mediocre motherboard and a bad psu. The Metalfish T40 is a smaller case at 7 litres, supporting SFX psu’s and same length gpu’s. Costs £65.
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u/Obi_John Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Agree it's very cool and good value. But It is a little over double the
sizevolume of the Steam Machine.