SFF.Network More Power for Less Money: Build Your Own Steam Machine

Image Credit – Valve
Article written by Christopher Moine, Senior Editor SFFN
 
Valve had a rough day yesterday. The Steam Machine came to market packing much less power than it should, and costing far more money than everyone  hoped. Admittedly, it’s not entirely Valve’s fault. The AI induced RAM and NAND crisis had a large part to play in the matter. Valve won’t say what they wanted to price the Steam Machine for originally, but $699 to $799 is what was originally rumored. Even at that price, with the specs it has, it wasn’t going to be an easy sell against established gaming consoles such as the PS5 and Xbox Series X; both of which can match the Steam Machine’s performance. The value of the Steam Machine was going to be in the freedom it gave users to decide how to use that...

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[Revenant]

All right...I put my design for a Steam Machine out there. Let's see what everyone else thinks would make a good unit. Post your specs and thoughts below!

 

[Phuncz]

Outside from the excellent article, this also shows there's a lack of nice SFF cubic cases for quiet SFF APU builds or I've not browsed the forum enough.

 

[Revenant]

Outside from the excellent article, this also shows there's a lack of nice SFF cubic cases for quiet SFF APU builds or I've not browsed the forum enough.

Thank you!

I have noticed that SFF cubes have become fewer and farther between. There was the Lazer3D LZX-8 is still around and available. That's a nice one. Silverstone has several cube and shoebox style cases. The nouvolo Borg is also a pretty nice cube design, and currently on sale.

Borg - SFF Desktop Cube PC Case

Minimalist, small form factor (SFF) PC desktop computer case. Its clean and highly symmetrical cube design also supports high performance computing with standard PC hardware. It is suitable for a wide range of uses including media creation, gaming, streaming, media center, and even for general use.

www.nouvolo.com

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

The nouvolo Borg is also a pretty nice cube design, and currently on sale.

Borg - SFF Desktop Cube PC Case

Minimalist, small form factor (SFF) PC desktop computer case. Its clean and highly symmetrical cube design also supports high performance computing with standard PC hardware. It is suitable for a wide range of uses including media creation, gaming, streaming, media center, and even for general use.

www.nouvolo.com

It is nice, but has the major disadvantage of all the I/O ports pointing to the bottom. This also may result in having to get adapter extender cables, eg. for display / HDMI ports. One would wish for some sort of extender to route ports to the horizontal plane.

Compared to that, the main advantages over eg. the SG13 or SG16 are: Almost no transfer of vibrations to surrounding spaces, eg. your desk or in my case, a kallax shelf. Apropos kallax: It fits perfectly into one, with enough room to spare to all sides so that air flow is still mostly unimpeded. Also, it allows for relatively large CPU coolers - I'm currently using an SI-100 + Arctic P12 Max, but its supposed to allow for up to 145 mm CPU coolers, so even an NH-D12L or the recently released Silverstone XED120S should fit.

cu, w0lf.

 

[Revenant]

It is nice, but has the major disadvantage of all the I/O ports pointing to the bottom. This also may result in having to get adapter extender cables, eg. for display / HDMI ports. One would wish for some sort of extender to route ports to the horizontal plane.

Compared to that, the main advantages over eg. the SG13 or SG16 are: Almost no transfer of vibrations to surrounding spaces, eg. your desk or in my case, a kallax shelf. Apropos kallax: It fits perfectly into one, with enough room to spare to all sides so that air flow is still mostly unimpeded. Also, it allows for relatively large CPU coolers - I'm currently using an SI-100 + Arctic P12 Max, but its supposed to allow for up to 145 mm CPU coolers, so even an NH-D12L or the recently released Silverstone XED120S should fit.

cu, w0lf.

I just went through that with the Raw S1. Good lord it's a pain in the ass to find quality right angle adapters. Soft extensions work better, provided they are also right angle.


Also, it's funny you mention the kalax because I have a SG05 in a kalax right next to me.

 

[samsonbl4]

I’m not a big fan of using off-the-shelf PC cases for a TV-based gaming setup. Small cube-shaped cases look nice, but when placed on a long, narrow shelf beneath the TV, they visually cut the space in half. Most console-style cases require air intake from both sides, meaning they can't be placed flush against the wall—plus, such a setup leaves cables hanging unsightly from the side. That's why I decided to design and custom-order slim cases for a flush-wall setup with downward-facing ports. It's a shame that such cases aren't available for purchase.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

I’m not a big fan of using off-the-shelf PC cases for a TV-based gaming setup. Small cube-shaped cases look nice, but when placed on a long, narrow shelf beneath the TV, they visually cut the space in half. Most console-style cases require air intake from both sides, meaning they can't be placed flush against the wall—plus, such a setup leaves cables hanging unsightly from the side. That's why I decided to design and custom-order slim cases for a flush-wall setup with downward-facing ports. It's a shame that such cases aren't available for purchase.

Well, technically speaking, there are some available, but maybe not in your region / country?

Also, what exactly do you mean with "both sides"? Most console-style cases I know of usually go for a "L"-shaped intake / exhaust option, so the 90° adjacent side may or may not have openings.

Also, if its specifically "hot box" design, eg. with only one opening, then the consumer market is the wrong place to look at. Chieftech and Inter-Tech got a few cases like that, but they'd probably be filed under "industrial PC cases".

cu, w0lf.

 

[Arboreal]

I just went through that with the Raw S1. Good lord it's a pain in the ass to find quality right angle adapters. Soft extensions work better, provided they are also right angle.


Also, it's funny you mention the kalax because I have a SG05 in a kalax right next to me.

I still have my original SG05 having had and parted with and SG05 and SG13.
It's running its 4th set of ITX components, this one an industrial board with 8th gen i5 and vertical DDR4 SODIMMS like a DeskMini

 

[samsonbl4]

Well, technically speaking, there are some available, but maybe not in your region / country?

Also, what exactly do you mean with "both sides"? Most console-style cases I know of usually go for a "L"-shaped intake / exhaust option, so the 90° adjacent side may or may not have openings.

Also, if its specifically "hot box" design, eg. with only one opening, then the consumer market is the wrong place to look at. Chieftech and Inter-Tech got a few cases like that, but they'd probably be filed under "industrial PC cases".

cu, w0lf.

I’m referring to console-style cases with layouts like the Fractal Ridge or Node 202. Placing a case flush against the wall requires a layout like that of the SFFtime or Lian Li PC-O5, but such cases are hard to find. I found it easier to design the case myself, given that metal fabrication services have become accessible and I have years of experience as a design engineer.
I didn't consider "hot-box" design cases; on the contrary, I’m always drawn to cases with maximum perforation in the right places.

 

[Revenant]

I still have my original SG05 having had and parted with and SG05 and SG13.
It's running its 4th set of ITX components, this one an industrial board with 8th gen i5 and vertical DDR4 SODIMMS like a DeskMini

SG05 was my first ITX build. It started as a Sandy Bridge Celeron and then to an Ivy Bridge 3550. It actually still is that setup because I use it as a retro XP machine.

 

[Arboreal]

My first ITX board was a Core 2 Duo MoDT board, then a Zotac 775 board that died, followed by an H81N that was great as it had an mSATA slot and was there for the longest time, until Win 11 meant an 8th get setup was needed.

Ironically the Ivy Bridge and Haswell setups (esp i5 and up), were still working well for basic tasks when I retired them.

My oldest setup currently is 6th gen i5 used for drive testing.
Long live retro kit, I haven't forgiven MS for making so much useable kit redundant, what a waste

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

BTW: For the PSU - the FSP 850 is okayish, but it has one of the worst cable sets I've ever seen with ANY type of PSU. Its like Seasonic SFX cables, but the absolute garbage version. You clearly see and feel - esp. when trying to build with them - where they saved money.

Looking up stuff on Amazon.com, I found the Asus Loki 750 going for 144 USD. Also, the goat SF750 can be had as low as 142 USD (reduced offer, may not apply for everyone). That sound sooo much better in general term.



cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

European version of this (without FSP Dagger, but Seasonic SGX 750, and random "looks good enough" MB):

a) AM5: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/user/fwolf/saved/rw9H8d - costs about 200 Euro more than the US version, mostly because there arent any ITX bundles I know of (mATX? come dozens a dime)

b) AM4: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/user/fwolf/saved/qNRtK8 - its about 100 Euro cheaper than AM5, but the CPU is also less powerful

c) Intel 1851: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/user/fwolf/saved/WyvGnQ - about 150 Euro more expensive than the US version, but with a vastly superior CPU (i5-245k, 169 EUR, almost identically priced to the Ryzen 5 9600X)

cu, w0lf.

 

[Revenant]

BTW: For the PSU - the FSP 850 is okayish, but it has one of the worst cable sets I've ever seen with ANY type of PSU. Its like Seasonic SFX cables, but the absolute garbage version. You clearly see and feel - esp. when trying to build with them - where they saved money.

Looking up stuff on Amazon.com, I found the Asus Loki 750 going for 144 USD. Also, the goat SF750 can be had as low as 142 USD (reduced offer, may not apply for everyone). That sound sooo much better in general term.



cu, w0lf.

The cables aren’t great. I mentioned that when I reviewed it a few years ago. I picked it for the price for power but if Corsair is an option in that price bracket, I would pick it as well.

 

[SaperPL]

I missed this topic, but here's some good info about the price and performance:



Aside from the fact that ram and storage raised the prices, note that some people are willing to pay more for the PC to be quiet and we have our own example of people buying 600W Flex ATX PSUs for 300W systems to not have the 40mm fan on it screaming under load.

 

[Revenant]

I missed this topic, but here's some good info about the price and performance:



Aside from the fact that ram and storage raised the prices, note that some people are willing to pay more for the PC to be quiet and we have our own example of people buying 600W Flex ATX PSUs for 300W systems to not have the 40mm fan on it screaming under load.

I've only done that...a few...dozen...times.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

The cables aren’t great. I mentioned that when I reviewed it a few years ago. I picked it for the price for power but if Corsair is an option in that price bracket, I would pick it as well.

I felt disgust about the same level as any shoddy case with "oh, we do all good BUT LOOK HERE: break-out PCIe slot covers! Saves moneyz!" - yuck.

 

[Arboreal]

I felt disgust about the same level as any shoddy case with "oh, we do all good BUT LOOK HERE: break-out PCIe slot covers! Saves moneyz!" - yuck.

 

[Arboreal]

I've only done that...a few...dozen...times.

My build needs a Flex ATX PSU and I'm looking at an Enhance with twice as many watts as I need in the hope that it will be quiet...