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Valve has been working for months on a new device intended to combine the convenience of a console with the power of a PC. Although the company still hasn't revealed an official release date for the Steam Machine, further leaks suggest the hardware is already in the final stretch before its debut. Two new Geekbench entries have appeared for a device running SteamOS. It's the first time the mysterious hardware has been spotted with Valve's system. Everything indicates that the first units have already entered closed testing.
New benchmarks suggest the Steam Machine is ready for launch
Recent entries in the Geekbench database have caught the attention of the community following Valve's hardware development. Although the name Steam Machine doesn't appear directly in the tests, the specification and earlier leaks point to that device. The tests used SteamOS, which is particularly significant because earlier benchmarks were carried out under Windows. This suggests Valve has likely finished the most important work on supporting its hardware with its own operating system. The device contains a customised AMD processor with six cores and twelve threads. The chip runs at clock speeds of nearly 4.9 GHz. The results are very similar to those that appeared back in 2025. This suggests the switch to SteamOS did not bring a significant improvement in CPU performance. That doesn't mean bad news for gamers, however. The mere appearance of new tests may indicate the start of the final preparation stage before launch. Tech companies often hand hardware to selected testers just a few weeks before the official debut. Valve isn't commenting on leaks, but activity around the project is clearly increasing. More and more points to a launch possibly happening this summer. For fans of console-style PC gaming, it could be one of the most interesting devices of the year, especially since the Steam Machine is expected to offer much more freedom than traditional consoles.
Valve may challenge PlayStation and Xbox, but the price raises concerns
According to available data, the new Steam Machine is said to offer very high CPU performance. Benchmarks suggest the CPU Valve is using could be around twice as fast as the processor in the PlayStation 5 for single-threaded workloads. That level of performance could translate to better handling of more demanding games and emulation of older platforms. Emulation is one of the features that sets PC hardware apart from closed console ecosystems. However, we’ll only be able to judge the device once details of the GPU are revealed. The GPU will determine performance in new AAA releases. Price remains an equally important issue. Leaks so far suggest the hardware could cost upwards of around US$950. If those reports prove true, the Steam Machine would become one of the most expensive devices of its kind on the market. Such a price could deter some gamers who could buy a full gaming PC or a powerful laptop for similar money. On the other hand, Valve can count on users seeking simple, console-like operation combined with access to the Steam library. Ease of use is meant to be one of the new device’s biggest selling points. The company wants to deliver a console-like experience without sacrificing the advantages of the PC platform. If it manages to keep the price attractive, the Steam Machine could become a serious competitor to Xbox and PlayStation. For now, gamers are still waiting for an official announcement and full hardware specifications.
New benchmarks indicate the Steam Machine is already at a very advanced stage of preparation for launch. The device runs SteamOS and delivers promising CPU performance that could outperform current consoles. The biggest unknowns, however, remain the GPU's capabilities and the final price, which could be decisive for the success of Valve's new hardware.
source: wccftech
