The new version of the Steam Machine announced last week caused a huge stir as it went against the traditional format of compact PCs.
This is because, instead of seeking miniaturization at any cost, Valve prioritized thermal engineering and internal layout to obtain consistent performance without increasing noise or temperature, with a project whose design resembles a mini PC.
The company’s idea was to build a small cube measuring just over 15 cm that promises gaming PC behavior in home scenarios with better performance than 70% of PCs, maintaining stability even in closed rooms.
In an exclusive interview with Digital Foundrythe company’s engineers showed the x-ray of the product:
Cube logic starts on cooling
The internal structure is built around a thermal module that occupies approximately 70% do volume totaljust to cool the device.
In other words, everything Valve designed was based on this main part and not the motherboard. The new Steam Machine system uses a 120 mm operating at low revs, something unusual in compact devices.
It pulls air from a single direction and directs the flow across the CPU, GPU, VRMs, and chipset heatsinks evenly.
According to the company, the team spent months in simulations of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to understand the best geometry. Speaking to Digital Foundry, a Valve representative commented that the team invested “more hours in CFD than many Formula 1 teams” to adjust the internal air flow.
This technique’s approach helped to find the best configuration to avoid heat spikes and reduce performance fluctuations, in addition to keeping noise close to the 35 dBA even under heavy load.
Closer design to reduce variables
The new Steam Machine does not replicate the 2013 modular concept. The current project favors consistency and reducing problems arising from in-depth modifications. The structure can be opened, but only with extensive disassembly.
The company understands this model as a way to align hardware and SteamOS 3avoiding divergent configurations between users.
According to the engineers, throughout development, Valve tested prototypes in tower, notebook, NUC and even hybrid designs, until realizing that the 120 mm fan “imposed” the cube as the ideal geometry.
Internally, the device would have received the nickname Gabecubereference to Gabe Newell.
Custom motherboard
The new Steam Machine’s motherboard uses 10 layers to accommodate high-bandwidth lanes that connect CPU, GPU, and memories.
The design follows the concept of semi-customallowing Valve to control layout, voltages, communication paths and all I/O interfaces directly in the processor package.
CPU and GPU work as two independent chips
Instead of a monolithic APU, the Steam Machine uses two integrated dies:
- CPU AMD Zen 4 with 6 cores and 12 threads, reaching up to 4.8 GHz and configured for a TDP of approximately 30 W.
- GPU RDNA 3based on a semi-customized Navi 33 with 28 compute unitsclock supported by 2,45 GHzrated TDP 110 W e 8 GB of GDDR6 dedicated.
The arrangement reduces bottlenecks between CPU and GPU, as all relevant I/Os are in the same package, eliminating the need for a traditional chipset.
Their argument is that this choice facilitates native support for Ray Tracing, HDMI com CECand maintaining a stable signal even within such a compact cabinet.
Storage and graphics memory
The Steam Machine has 16GB DDR5 RAM on SO-DIMM moduleswhich allows changes and expansions, although it almost requires dismantling the entire equipment.
There is also an NVMe slot compatible with M.2 2230 e 2280allowing you to replace the original SSD with larger drives. Dual compatibility exists because the company prioritized logistics and inventory when adopting the 2230 format from the factory, and not due to physical restrictions.
The final configuration looks like this:
- 16 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM for the system
- 8 GB GDDR6 soldiers on the GPU
The separation allows the GPU to have minimum constant bandwidth, while the user can swap RAM to adapt the equipment over time.
Internal power and full PC connectivity
Steam Machine uses an internal font bivolt 110–240 Veliminating external adapters. This allows transport and integration with living room furniture without additional cables, which should be a positive point in reviews when the device is launched.
The connection panel is large for a 2.6 kg device:
- Forehead: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, microSDconfigurable RGB front lighting with 17 zones
- Rear: 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0Ethernet gigabit
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E (2
The variety of connections will allow you to plug in capture cards, 4K or 8K monitors, USB-C docks and multiple accessories simultaneously, maintaining desktop-like behavior.
Noise, heat and behavior under load
Preliminary tests from Digital Foundry show temperatures below 75°C in demanding scenarios, such as Cyberpunk 2077 in 4K with FSR.
Thermal control is thanks to the large diameter fan, the central thermal chamber and rotation management that prevents sudden variations. In video, noise remains low even when the CPU and GPU operate together near the limit.
Also read:
Consoles, PC and a cube that circulates in both worlds
Despite coming with SteamOS, the Steam Machine remains a PC completo: Accepts other operating systems, external apps and different devices. Valve intends to expand the Steam Verified program to reduce incompatibilities and standardize the gaming experience.
Global launch is scheduled for 2026with bundles including the new Steam Controller and Steam Frame headset.
Fonte: Digital Foundry
Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/hardware/steam-machine-por-dentro-engenharia-imagens-valve/
