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| A screengrab of the Steam Machine's large heatsink on top of its I/O and PSU units |
The popular hardware reviewer puts Valve's compact living room console through its paces, revealing surprising repairability and upgrade potential
In the world of PC gaming, few names carry as much weight as Valve, and their latest Steam Machine has been generating significant buzz since its announcement. Now, popular YouTuber and hardware reviewer ETA Prime has finally gotten his hands on the compact living room console, conducting a comprehensive teardown that reveals just how repairable and serviceable this SteamOS-powered device really is.
The base model ETA Prime examined was the $1,428 2TB variant of the Steam Machine, bundled with a Steam Controller and powered by Valve's custom-designed hardware. But true to form, the reviewer didn't stop at simply examining the stock configuration – he pushed the system to its absolute limits with some serious upgrades that would make any PC enthusiast's wallet wince.
The $3,247 Question: Is It Worth It?
Starting with the base console, ETA Prime invested in some premium upgrades that transformed the Steam Machine into a storage and memory powerhouse. The upgrade components included:
- 4TB Kingston Fury Renegade NVMe SSD ($999) – delivering blistering read/write speeds up to 7,300 MB/s
- 64GB Crucial DDR5-5600 SODIMM memory ($820) – two 32GB modules for maximum capacity
When combined with the console's $1,428 price tag, the total investment came to approximately **$3,247** – a figure that raises eyebrows but also demonstrates the Steam Machine's impressive upgrade potential.
Inside the Steam Machine: A Detailed Teardown
In his comprehensive teardown video, which you can watch here, ETA Prime began by listing the base specifications. The Steam Machine ships with 16GB of system RAM and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, though he quickly noted that "the VRAM isn't user-upgradable" – an obvious limitation given that it's powered by an AMD RDNA 3 Navi 33 graphics processor with 28 compute units. Valve has described this CPU-GPU combination as "semi-custom," suggesting a tailored approach to console-style performance.
The teardown process revealed thoughtful engineering from Valve. To access the internals, ETA Prime needed to:
- Remove two T8 screws on the rear panel
- Extract another four screws embedded in the rubber feet
- Pop off the front shroud using a rubber spudger
The motherboard presented the biggest challenge, being sandwiched between a substantial copper-and-aluminum heatsink and the power supply unit. Multiple Wi-Fi and antenna lines had to be unclipped, and several I/O boards required unscrewing before he could finally separate the components.
RAM Upgrade: Surprisingly Accessible
One of the more pleasant discoveries was the accessibility of the RAM slots. Unlike many compact systems where memory upgrades require removing the CPU cooler and dealing with thermal paste, ETA Prime found he could access the memory modules without disturbing the heatsink. The RAM was conveniently situated at the bottom of the motherboard, facing the PSU.
Valve ships the Steam Machine with a single 16GB DDR5-5600 module (CL47) installed in one slot, meaning the system operates in single-channel memory mode by default. However, the extra RAM slot allows for dual-channel support – exactly what ETA Prime took advantage of by installing two 32GB Crucial DDR5-5600 SODIMM sticks.
He described the 64GB upgrade as "overkill" for the Steam Machine, but for users who want maximum performance and future-proofing, the Crucial RAM kit represents the absolute ceiling of what the system can support.
Storage Upgrade: Simplicity at Its Finest
When it came to the SSD, Valve made things remarkably straightforward. ETA Prime noted: "The SSD is easy to remove, and Valve has left enough room inside the chassis for a full-size 2280 M.2 SSD, making future storage upgrades much easier."
Accessing the storage required removing just a single panel, after which he installed the 4TB Kingston Fury Renegade NVMe SSD into the M.2 adapter. Rather than reinstalling SteamOS on the new drive, he cloned the original drive containing the operating system – a smart time-saver that maintained all system configurations.
After reassembling the system, SteamOS correctly reported 62GB of usable system memory (some reserved for system functions) and the full 4TB NVMe drive capacity.
What This Means for Steam Machine Owners
The teardown reveals several important takeaways for potential Steam Machine buyers:
- The system is genuinely upgrade-friendly – Valve designed the console with accessible RAM and storage slots
- Dual-channel memory delivers better performance – upgrading to matched pairs of RAM provides significant speed benefits
- Storage upgrades don't require reinstalling SteamOS – cloning the drive works seamlessly
- The cooling solution is robust – the massive copper-and-aluminum heatsink suggests Valve prioritized thermal management
The Verdict on Repairability
While the Steam Machine is compact and console-like in its physical footprint, ETA Prime's teardown demonstrates that Valve has prioritized repairability and upgradeability – a refreshing approach in an era of soldered components and disposable electronics.
Watch ETA Prime's full teardown video here to see the entire process in detail, including the careful disassembly techniques and upgrade procedures that make this possible.
Final Thoughts
The Steam Machine represents a compelling option for PC gamers who want a console-like experience without sacrificing the flexibility of a traditional computer. With the ability to upgrade RAM and storage to enthusiast-level specifications, it bridges the gap between console simplicity and PC customization.
At $3,247 for the fully upgraded configuration, it's certainly not an inexpensive proposition, but for gamers seeking a future-proof living room gaming solution, the Steam Machine offers a level of customization that traditional consoles simply cannot match.
All prices mentioned are based on current market rates and product availability. Specifications and pricing may vary by region and retailer.