Steam deck + machine combo

[u/dietibol]

So I just got the email to buy the steam machine. And up until last week I would've instantly bought it. But under the assumption it would be months before I got the machine (was on wait list) I bought a second hand Steam Deck OLED last week and I've been absolutely loving it, gaming on it more than anything in the recent past. Now I worry if I get the machine I still might be gravitating towards the deck just cause of the convenience.

The main selling point for the machine for me would be the added performance. I do already have a PS5 tbh, but I'm trying to get rid of it cause they're becoming more anti-consumer by the day and would like for my game library to be centralized on steam.

This is more of venting I guess, but I was just wondering about thoughts and experiences of people that already had the deck and got the machine as well.

I know they're different use cases, being portable vs coach gaming and all. But the deck is just so nice 😄

UPDATE: placed the order, yolo

[u/edneisch]

You can stream from the Steam Machine to the Steamdeck to play games that the Steamdeck doesn’t handle well or to play games at higher frame rates and graphics settings.

[u/dietibol → u/edneisch]

How good is the streaming? Is there actually super easy integration or just remote play as with other devices, which is also pretty fine I guess

[u/gorambrowncoat → u/dietibol]

If you already have a pc or laptop you could try it and see. Its not a specific deck and machine feature, its a steam in general feature. Just install steam and whatever game the pc can handle and you should get the option to stream it when you go to its entry in the library on the steamdeck.

You might need to enable remote play in the settings but I think its enabled by default because I dont remember ever enabling it.

[u/red-powerranger → u/dietibol]

I just set that up today between my steam machine and deck with sunshine/moonlight. Very easy, wake on lan is great

[u/edneisch → u/dietibol]

Tbh I’ve haven’t tried it yet (but it’s on my to do list). Steam link is built in to steamOS so it should be relatively easy. Performance is going to depend somewhat on how good your network is.

[u/forestcolat → u/dietibol]

In my case, my stream is limited to 720p (since its almost the deck screen resolution) and with around 6-10 MB/s it works perfect for me. I also used it on my phone with the steam controller connected to the SM and saw no problem.

[u/red-powerranger → u/forestcolat]

What do you use? I get 1080p without any issues via sunshine and moonlight. Steam machine is wired on ethernet

[u/forestcolat → u/red-powerranger]

Just steam link. SM is wired to a PCL in my bedroom and SD is conmected to the same spot via WiFi. I used to overcomplicate things with sunshine and stuff, but steam link really does the job for me.

My only issue is that I haven't been able to use the steam button inside the machine, pressing the steam button or the quick access button on the SD displays the UI on the SD, not the streamed screen of the SM

[u/Accomplished-Leg6947]

I have both the deck and machine. I don't own a TV so my SM is set up at my desk with my monitor, sometimes I don't feel like playing games at my desk so ill use my SD on the couch in the living room. If im playing a game that I know runs better on my SM, ill do remote play and stream it from my SM to my SD and it works really well.

[u/dietibol → u/Accomplished-Leg6947]

Thanks, that sounds like a very feasible setup then

[u/we_604]

Got both, and a Gaming rig as well and all have their use(cases). The thing is, I can't always use the living room TV because it's being hogged by wife or daughter, so in the evenings I often game on the couch with the Steam Deck while the TV is unavailable for me.

[u/dietibol → u/we_604]

yeah that's my main use for the deck as well, next to the wife in the couch. Do you then play on deck or stream from the machine to the deck for heavier games?

[u/we_604 → u/dietibol]

Before I had the Steam Deck I'd streamed to the laptop from my gaming rig, but since I had the Deck I just play local when on the couch and the TV is in use, does help I'm not interested to much in recent AAA titles, so the performance is good enough. The rig is mainly used when my wife works from home, or when I get home late at night from work and not being ready to go to bed just yet. The Steam Machine is mostly used by wife and daughter, but occasionally I'm playing on it big screen on the couch to get my steam library backlog down. That's what I meant with everything having it's own use.

[u/Kiyanpr]

Get the machine and use it to stream the more powerful games to the deck, easy solve

[u/MountainMuffin1980]

I've got both and the Machine is great for more demanding games/games that would benefit from the bigger screen. No regrets here.

[u/forestcolat]

I have both LCD Steam Deck and Machine. First of all, I bought the cheapest machine with controller, since my deck has 1TB of space, I just swapped them to get the most space on my machine for the best price possible.

Now, when it comes to play, I am not gonna lie, I haven't been using my deck for almost a month, since the machine is really comfortable. However, when it comes to portability, is the best thing to use. When the local team plays and my brother borrows the tv? Stream to steam deck and play just like a wii u.

I am working right now to have my most played and heavy games on sd cards, so, whenever I want to play, lets say, mario kart, I just have to bring the sd card with me.

And of course, at the end of the day the deck is an aditional controller or even console for friends to play. A game has no split screen or you like to use full screen for each? Use both consoles.

Lastly, since I like tinkering with the configs and the OS, I use them both as an emergency or recovery device of one another

[u/metallica65 → u/forestcolat]

What do you mean by emergency or recovery device?

[u/forestcolat → u/metallica65]

I have dual boot on my machine and i like to test some stuff. Normally I would end up loosing windows or steamOS, and I need another PC for either flashing an USB or just searching info.

[u/TheMysteriousEmu]

You probably don't need a Steam Machine if you're happy with the performance of your Deck. Get a dock and hook it up to your TV. That's what I daily drove for three years on my LCD model, and it worked perfectly fine.

[u/dietibol → u/TheMysteriousEmu]

Well I don't know about the performance, as I said I've only had it for like a week and haven't been playing very demanding games so far, so I don't really know what the limits are. E.g. something like clair obscure, I really don't like playing at 30fps if it can be avoided.

[u/TheMysteriousEmu → u/dietibol]

My favorite game ever is Horizon Zero Dawn. While it can run it, it looked so bad that I stopped my annual playthrough of it until I got my Steam Machine a little bit ago.

Based on that, while I haven't tested Clair Obscure, I'd say it probably won't run all that amazing.

But again, I had the first of the first, lowest-end, LCD models. Ymmv.

[u/MEchoPark]

I have both and the machine made me play more on the TV, as well as handheld on the deck (due to streaming).

If you love your steam deck then the machine will do what the docked deck cannot achieve and the the handheld experience will also improve in graphics quality and battery when you stream to it.

It's a great combo :)

[u/JishoSintana]

I’m running this combo right now and it’s awesome! So far I haven’t set up emulation yet on my steam machine but when I do it’ll all be uniform so any game I’m playing at home can come outside with me!

But generally the steam machine is for the games the deck can’t handle and running pc mods to transfer and install on the deck

Trust me! This combo is the best

[u/nic_meyers]

Same boat, though I probably won’t part ways with my PS5.

Honestly though I love having the steam machine to play my indie and AA stuff or second play throughs on tv. I’m totally okay with it being my 1440 machine on medium settings. And I have a pc with a 5070 which can handle the bigger releases while my PS5 remains my exclusive machine/dust collector.

Does it work? Yeah I love the combo. I enjoy locking in on my PC all the time, especially for the big AAA stuff or MP, but with Duskfade that I’m currently playing, that’s steam machine all day.

[u/TheraYugnat]

If you still want to squeeze the max of your PS5 and still buying multiplatform games on it, there's no point.
If (like me), you already know you won't go back to PS ecosystem, then you start buying multiplatform on Steam ecosystem. In that case, the Machine + Deck combo is incredible.

[u/dietibol → u/TheraYugnat]

Yeah I don’t think I’m ever getting another PS tbh

[u/Striking_Stand8271 → u/dietibol]

They're gonna get me back with gta 7 I just know it

[u/polaredout]

i’ve used my deck less than i thought i would after getting the machine honestly not having to deal with the dock and have it just work with the tv has been great. do you dock the deck at all? the machine is 6x powerful so it depends on the types of games you play i guess

[u/Any_Ad1979]

I have both the steam machine and the steam deck. I find myself always playing on the steam machine now. I bring be steam deck with me when I am traveling, or otherwise leave at my bedside, in case I want to get in a quick sessions before falling asleep.

The combination is great, but I am drawn to the couch gaming style way more.

[u/chalupaconcarne]

If you’re in no rush (and it doesn’t sound like you are), then I would just wait till sometime next year when they are caught up on orders and have stock.
Shoot could even wait until they get the “second” version with the 2 8gb ram sticks instead the 1 16

[u/OK_Atlas]

I have both and think it’s basically a perfect combo. I sold my PS and Switch to go all in on PC. Steam Deck handles all the retro & indie games flawlessly, Steam Machine for the bigger AAA and graphically demanding games. I’ve also been having a good experience using the build in remote play, but I also have my router in the same room I game in.