Steam Machine review finds PS5 offers better performance than Valve's gaming PC

The announced Steam Machine price makes the mini PC more expensive than the PS5 Pro. Yet, Digital Foundry’s performance review illustrates how in some games, even the much cheaper base PS5 prevails. Valve’s advantage over the PlayStation console is flexible customization and a compact form factor.

How the PS5 stacks up

Digital Foundry compared several titles that are Linux-compatible or benefit from the Proton compatibility layer. Benchmarks show that the SteamOS cube’s GPU delivers results just shy of the desktop AMD Radeon RX 7600. That should generate similar frame rates to the PS5, but there are exceptions.

The Steam Machine review tested Black Myth: Wukong, where in performance mode, Sony’s console finished with a 3 percent lead. Depending on the scene, the Valve system’s specs occasionally exhibited smoother visuals using matched settings.

Using the Heroic Games Launcher on Linux, the site also benchmarked the Alan Wake 2 stress test. Here, the PS5 again came out on top, with average frame rates 9 percent higher.

In Crimson Desert, the PlayStation console’s GPU achieves 17 percent higher frame rates. Forza Horizon 5 demonstrated a larger gap, exposing how Steam Machine performance can fall short at 4K. The testers had to run the Microsoft racer at 1620p to see close to the 60 fps realized on the PS5. However, the missing dynamic resolution scaling on the mini PC was a factor.

Where the Steam Machine has an edge

Digital Foundry's Steam Machine review noted that the battle isn’t one-sided. The system’s 6-core Zen 4 processor shines during CPU-limited scenarios. Bug Hill in Crimson Desert and city areas in Baldur's Gate 3 are examples. Regardless, Sony hardware’s more ample memory bandwidth is evident in many games.

Even after its recent price hike, the digital PS5 costs $599.99. Lacking a controller, the $1049+ Valve alternative is unlikely to lure traditional console users. That said, it may appeal to gaming PC enthusiasts who enjoy swapping components and custom-designed enclosures. Going forward, the arrival of FSR 4 upscaling should also boost 4K performance.