Steam Machine vs. Xbox Project Helix

[u/cian_pike01]

I’m gonna post it in here after the mods in the Steam Machine subreddit deleted my previous post (although it had plenty of engagement & discussion between people).

Is anybody else willing to wait for both Xbox Project Helix AND the Steam Machine to be released into the market to compare and contrast?

I imagine the Steam Machine specs just won’t be worth it in terms of value for money in comparison to the next-gen Xbox console?

I understand the simplicity of just turning on the machine and having Steam at our fingertips but if it’s as easy as downloading the Steam app on the next-gen Xbox, signing in and playing games then 🤷‍♂️

[u/Outside_Debt6416]

What I did was just install bazzite on an AMD PC. Basically a steam machine. This way you can build a more powerful steam machine yourself. No need to wait for either.

You could buy a 7800xt, 5600x and older DDR4 ram. Would be more powerful and probably cost around the same.

[u/cian_pike01 → u/Outside_Debt6416]

Unfortunately I don’t have enough room for a PC, otherwise I would’ve opted for one a long time ago haha

[u/Outside_Debt6416 → u/cian_pike01]

Lad you can build mini ITX PCs. They are not big. Fractal terra or ridge are examples of cases.

[u/Turbulent-Tumor → u/cian_pike01]

You can build small ones like consoles

[u/AMPCgame → u/cian_pike01]

Smaller PCs can be built much closer to the size of a console. If it's the desk space you don't have then a PC running Bazzite can just boot straight into Steam and you can game from the sofa with a controller, same as console. The Steam Machine will be a PC that's gaming focused, same as Project Helix, one will be running Steam OS, and the other will run a gaming tuned Windows 11.

So a PC with an mATX form factor can make sense. You'll probably end up paying roughly the same, and at the very least a DIY PC is much easier to service, replace parts and upgrade. The Steam Machine and Project Helix will be locked down with custom form factor GPUs, motherboards and cooling solutions, and it's unlikely that theyll be designed to accommodate hardware upgrades.

[u/Key_Bonus9776]

Steam Machine is weaker than an XSX/PS5, where as Helix is based off Zen6 as is PS6. With how the Steam Deck is now I wouldn’t expect a Steam Machine under 1200, and rumored specs for Helix would sit it around 1300-1500 if they were to sell at a loss. No brainer to pay the extra for the way more powerful machine but you wait the extra year.

[u/cian_pike01 → u/Key_Bonus9776]

Yeah, Steam Machine price may be in the pits altogether 🫠 it was tempting to buy it as an indie machine because I already have a PS5 Pro for the bigger games but I’m just not sure at all now.

The next-gen Xbox does sound tempting though.

[u/Neumienu]

Going by current rumours at least: It looks like the Steam Machine is going to be a very tough sell. Unlike the deck (though the new pricing on that is...er...challenging), The Steam Machine is just a desktop PC running Steam OS. Unfortunately Valve are releasing it at a really really bad time. It may not even be cheaper than just building/buying an equivalent PC. I priced a custom build a few weeks back on Caseking and it came to about 1300 quid for something a bit better than the SM (it had an 8GB 9060XT I think).

As for project Helix: I would be very surprised (But pleasantly so) if MS allow other stores on the XBH. I suspect it's more just going to be an expansion of Xbox Play Anywhere: with purchases being shared between the Xbox and Windows Stores more universally. MS may also look to bring the likes of Office to the XBH so they can say "Hey look. It's a PC too". I just hope they don't call it the Xbox CoPilot 365X+ 😅.

In terms of perf:buck, Even if the XBH costs something like €1500 it will still blow the Steam Machine out of the water.

[u/Dull_Consequence7192]

I was intrigued by the Steam Machine, despite it's lower specs. But looking at what just happened to the Steam Deck prices I don't think I could justify purchasing a SM when it's likely to be at least €1000.

[u/Dantemustdie7]

As an Xbox owner I'm more interested in Helix to keep my library available. I was intrigued by the steam machine before the ram shortage. Now it doesn't feel ideal to rush for a new thing.

[u/Turbulent-Tumor]

We’ve no idea what either specs will be, and given the cost of materials and manufacturing I’d bet they will be 1k starting

[u/reddit-is-a-cunt → u/Turbulent-Tumor]

1k start what what I assumed before the RAM increase. They were marketing it back then as more expensive so as not to compete with consoles. But with the OLED steam deck hitting 1k I assume steam machine is gonna be 1.5k.

[u/blackburnduck]

Steam machine: if it were a steam deck without a screen (same hardware, just cheaper because it doesnt have a screen) would be a killer product.

As is its basically useless…

[u/Bleh767]

I assume the Steam Machine pricing will probably be announced in the next month or two. Helix might be announced next year? I really have no idea.

I'd expect the hardware of the Helix to be better value, but hard to say for sure if it'll be fully open like a PC.

[u/SpareZealousideal740]

I'm unsure if Helix and PS6 come out in 2027 at this stage considering the state of everything. Could easily be 2028 before we see them

[u/x_Higgnz]

Regardless of whatever the price is I'd still pick the steam machine if it was me, Valve as a company I have more faith in especially with customer support where I've had one issue with a deck. Also the steam machine Is a Pc it's yours do do with as you want I doubt project helix will let you install programs and mods that arnt available on the store.

[u/National_Play_6851]

Certainly worth waiting and seeing but I'm not sure the xbox will live up to Microsoft's hype, considering nothing they do ever does. The ROG Ally X was a glimpse at where they're heading and by all accounts the whole xbox experience there is pretty poor.

[u/Quiet_Yellow2000]

My current PC from 7 years ago is slightly better than the steam machine, so will be waiting on the helix, or will get a new PC. The steam machine imo looks to be doa, as you can spend a bit more and get a prebuilt and get something better.

[u/Deep_Ebb8333]

You can turn just about anything into a steam machine using bazzite and running it to boot up into 'desktop mode'

[u/blockfighter1]

I think xbox as a brand is on a downward spiral. I was an xbox guy since the original but these last few years I've jumped ship to playstation. They don't know what they're doing there.

As for steam machine, I get the feeling the price is going to be bananas so that'll be a no from me