I’m sad (but not surprised) it’s that expensive because I would have jumped on it at 700€, at the same time it encourages me to try and find individual parts for a custom build at the same price with greater theoretical performance
Not arguing that you can get slightly better performance for a slightly lower price, but that’s a substantially larger machine. The Steam Machine is little bigger than its controller in any dimension and easy to hide on a shelf; that Q300L is definitely a small desktop. It has niceties like HDMI CEC, so that it can wake your TV when you start it up from its controller. And it’s whisper-quiet.
$70 extra for a really living-room ready games machine does not seem at all unreasonable to me, plus it turns up ready-assembled. If I had to replace my gaming desktop, it doesn’t seem unreasonable. Replacing my gaming desktop would cost about twice what I originally paid for the damned thing as well, but that’s a different matter.
$71 is honestly not that much of a premium once you consider your time putting this together, setting it up, and then constantly having to update becomes your problem
I’m sad (but not surprised) it’s that expensive because I would have jumped on it at 700€, at the same time it encourages me to try and find individual parts for a custom build at the same price with greater theoretical performance
You can probably build a DDR4 system that is a bit cheaper with better performance. It will be even easier if you pick some used components.
Edit: See this screenshot from a gamernexus video on the steam machine. Pricing is pretty much on par, with just a $70 price difference.
Not arguing that you can get slightly better performance for a slightly lower price, but that’s a substantially larger machine. The Steam Machine is little bigger than its controller in any dimension and easy to hide on a shelf; that Q300L is definitely a small desktop. It has niceties like HDMI CEC, so that it can wake your TV when you start it up from its controller. And it’s whisper-quiet.
$70 extra for a really living-room ready games machine does not seem at all unreasonable to me, plus it turns up ready-assembled. If I had to replace my gaming desktop, it doesn’t seem unreasonable. Replacing my gaming desktop would cost about twice what I originally paid for the damned thing as well, but that’s a different matter.
$71 is honestly not that much of a premium once you consider your time putting this together, setting it up, and then constantly having to update becomes your problem
True. For example, not having to worry about drivers, UEFI updates and linux compatibility is a big win.