Steam Machine thermal throttling BIOS update: Hardware Unboxed mocks "easier to live with than a traditional gaming PC" arguments

Many fans of the Valve Steam Machine passionately defend the console online against arguments that compare the Steam Machine to prebuilt gaming PCs. Since the Steam Machine’s launch, these arguements have revolved around the assertion that the Steam Machine resembles traditional consoles like the PS5 more than it does a prebuilt gaming PC, as you don’t have to fiddle with drivers and updates that you normally would on a prebuilt gaming PC.

Hardware Unboxed has now called out these arguments on X, based on the fact that the Steam Machine is going to get an official BIOS update to fix the red light issue. For the uninitiated, some users recently noted that their Steam Machine units were flashing a red LED light that is meant to serve as a warning for overheating. Valve has since clarified the issue and has announced that it is preparing a new BIOS update to raise the thermal ceiling for the warning red LED light.

Based on this, HU sarcastically points out that “the Steam Machine is meant to be easier to live with than a traditional gaming PC, but already needs a BIOS update to avoid thermal throttling.” This seems to have ruffled some feathers. Several replies to HU’s post argue that every consumer device nowadays, including laptops and gaming consoles like the PS5, also needs updates. So, the Steam Machine getting a BIOS update is nothing out of the ordinary.

While it is true that almost every consumer tech device needs updates, this also seems to defeat one of the main arguments that people were using to justify spending on the Steam Machine rather than a more powerful prebuilt gaming PC. This is not to say that the Steam Machine doesn’t have its merits. It absolutely does. It is a super-compact gaming PC that plays your Steam library while shielding you from dealing with Windows.

However, it is very hard, if not impossible, to make a compelling argument that trivializes the abysmal price/performance of the Steam Machine. The Steam Machine will remain a bad value until Valve figures out a way to drop the price of the console by a considerable margin.

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