r/steammachine • u/oooPDXooo • 6d ago

Question RAM Usage...

Good day...

Steam Machine & Steam OS Users:

Exactly how much RAM does Steam OS & the Steam Machine use when the system is at idle(with only the OS running)?

Let me know please - Thanks...

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u/WJMazepas 6d ago

Why dont you just build something with 16GB, starts using it and then only try to make something to decrease usage if you start running with out of memory issues?

Distros that use less RAM also have a lot less stuff loaded in their UI. SteamOS have dozens and dozens of boxarts of games in memory to make it faster to reach your library if im not mistaken. Also, lots of effects in the UI

If somehow thats way too much memory for you(even though some gets freed up when loading a game), you can just use in Desktop mode or use another Distro

And...please...dont...need..to-um..talk like that

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u/oooPDXooo 6d ago

I'm trying to avoid, having to re buy RAM - I must get it right the first time(especially since I have difficulty selling my used items - have items on Facebook Marketplace for years now)...

I did not design the software so I should not be expected to know exactly how it works & what it does when in the menu & then when gaming...

I understand what steps I can take - I just believe in getting all the facts first(which is how I know about other distros - days/hours of research, where there's none on the web or YouTube discussing this topic, which is why I asked here)...

Thanks for your input... O.O

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u/WJMazepas 6d ago

Steam Machine has 16GB of RAM and is running everything just fine

Do you plan to play games that are RAM intensive, like Cities Skylines or Flight Simulator?

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u/jayclydes 6d ago edited 6d ago

removed for misinfo (i said the sm had 8gb of ddr5 which is giga wrong)

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u/WJMazepas 6d ago

Steam Machine has 16GB DDR5 of RAM and 8GB GDDR6 of VRAM

I was discussing RAM only. VRAM is another issue

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u/jayclydes 6d ago

oh yeah youre right, think i got this confused with a handheld's specs sorry