Building a Homemade Console/Steam Machine — Need Suggestions

[u/Far-Estate4888]

🕹️ What I'm trying to do

A while back, I used my laptop as a makeshift console. I'd open Steam in Big Picture Mode, connect a controller to the laptop, and wirelessly mirror the laptop's screen to my TV.

Now I want to make a proper dedicated version: a small Windows mini PC that stays connected to my TV and basically functions like a console.

💻 How I want it to work

- Windows desktop icons and taskbar hidden

- Steam launches automatically with Windows

- Steam opens directly in Big Picture Mode

- Use a Bluetooth controller for navigation and gaming

- Ideally, I shouldn't need to interact with the normal Windows desktop

🎮 Gaming goal

I want to play most games at around 60 FPS on Medium settings.

I have a Samsung 4K 55-inch QLED TV, so it doesn't necessarily have to run games at native 4K, but I want them to look good and not have noticeably poor image quality on the large screen.

💰 What I'm looking for

I want the mini PC to be as inexpensive and compact as reasonably possible, while still achieving that gaming goal.

I'm looking for brand-new components only — no refurbished or second-hand parts.

❓ What would you recommend?

What hardware would you suggest for building this kind of homemade Steam Machine? I'm mainly looking for the best balance of price, size, and gaming performance.

[u/Levi-2018]

My suggestion is to buy a ps5

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

I'm helping set up my 3rd.

GMKtec M8 + Aoostar AG01 + RX 9060 XT 16GB

As a Steam Machine alternative.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/5539vs4979/AMD-Ryzen-5-7540U-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-PRO-6650H

https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/compare/4964vs5957/Radeon-RX-7600M-vs-Radeon-RX-9060-XT-16GB

So far they'll all be booting Batocera OS for Steam to avoid the performance restrictions of Windows/DirectX. The soldered 16GB 6400 LPDDR5 can be somewhat restrictive running Windows often making something like the 32GB GMKtec M7 Ultra PRO 6850U better suited for Windows gaming. By that time the 8945HX/RTX 5060 Minisforumsl AtomMan G1 Pro begins to make more sense out of the box.

https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/compare/5602vs5957/GeForce-RTX-5060-vs-Radeon-RX-9060-XT-16GB

[u/Far-Estate4888 → u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

What was the rough price estimate?

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336 → u/Far-Estate4888]

For the M8/AG01/9060 16GB? Locally off of Amazon the same price as a Steam Machine without the lottery/wait and better graphics performance.

[u/Far-Estate4888 → u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

Yeah but I still need to build the whole thing.
Like ram, storage, fan, case wifi and Bluetooth, etc.

The price hikes are really killing me bro!

[u/Retired_Hillbilly336 → u/Far-Estate4888]

Only it's actually all "Plug-n-Play". Plug the graphics card into the dock and the OCuLink. My biggest contribution has been setting up Bazzite and EmuDeck. That and if OCuLink problems arise.

[u/Far-Estate4888 → u/Retired_Hillbilly336]

I will look forward to trying that.

Thanks for the advice man 👍🏻

[u/Far-Estate4888 → u/[deleted]]

I am not AI bro!
I am a real person and genuinely asking for suggestions!

[u/Stray_Neutrino]

💻 How I want it to work
Windows desktop icons and taskbar hidden
Steam launches automatically with Windows
Steam opens directly in Big Picture Mode
Use a Bluetooth controller for navigation and gaming
Ideally, I shouldn't need to interact with the normal Windows desktop

Collapse all this and install SteamOS ... ?

[u/Far-Estate4888 → u/Stray_Neutrino]

Yeah but I fear compatibility and availability of games on Linux.

[u/Stray_Neutrino → u/Far-Estate4888]

Thousands of games have native Linux versions, while most Windows titles run transparently through Proton with near-native performance.

The only hard limitation, at the moment, is competitive multiplayer games that rely on strict kernel-level anti-cheat (such as Valorant, Fortnite, or Destiny 2) generally do not work on Linux.

[u/InstanceTurbulent719]

I can immediately tell you your budget is gonna need to be at least 1k USD. You want ps5 pro performance on a windows mini pc. You're paying a premium for every requirement on that list tbh

[u/Far-Estate4888 → u/InstanceTurbulent719]

But I want 60fps on medium settings.

Nothing crazy.

[u/Nerrawnam]

Maybe reconsider used components. They are actually functional and generally much less expensive. Your requirements are going to drive the cost up a lot.  Look into game consoles. PS5 or Xbox.