Forget Valve’s new Steam Machine: here are 5 mini PCs under $500 that can run SteamOS, play games and stream media

• November 15, 2025

Valve has announced three new hardware devices coming in 2026 – the Steam Controller, Steam Frame (a wireless VR headset) and top of the list, the Steam Machine, a compact PC which runs SteamOS, allowing users to play games on a large screen TV.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because Valve announced the same thing a decade ago, but that Steam Machine relied on third party builders and an early SteamOS that struggled with game support.

Valve thinks the time is right to try again, as SteamOS has matured into a much stronger platform.

The new Steam Machine uses a semi custom AMD Zen 4 processor with an RDNA3 graphics setup. Valve says the device is built for 4K60 play with the help of FSR, and it includes 16GB DDR5 and 8GB GDDR6.

The system supports DisplayPort and HDMI and includes Wi Fi 6E, Bluetooth and an LED light bar that reflects activity.

The cooling design is unusually large for a system of this size. A 120mm fan sits at the center of the airflow path, and the chassis pulls air from the sides and the base to keep performance steady even when placed in enclosed TV units.

Although Steam Machine is aimed at gamers who want a simple living room setup, it likely won’t be cheap (exact pricing isn’t currently known) and doesn’t include dedicated entertainment apps.

There are lots of affordably priced mini PCs which can run SteamOS with little work, and also perform other tasks, like streaming. Here are five of our favorites to consider (with a bonus option at the end), with some currently discounted for Black Friday.

Best Steam Machine alternatives

Consider a laptop

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Valve has announced three new hardware devices coming in 2026 – the Steam Controller, Steam Frame (a wireless VR headset) and top of the list, the Steam Machine, a compact PC which runs SteamOS, allowing users to play games on a large screen TV. If that sounds familiar, it’s because…