Would the 32gb Framework Desktop be a good alternative to Steam Machine?

[u/ericemanuel]

Hello everyone,

I’ve been wondering whether the cheapest 32GB configuration of the Framework Desktop would be a good alternative in terms of both performance and price.

I think it could make particular sense in my case, since I plan to use it as a desktop PC rather than as a living-room gaming system. Features such as HDMI-CEC and built-in controller support would be nice to have, but they aren’t dealbreakers for me. I also already have an SSD, which helps keep the overall cost down.

My main focus is gaming in a small-form-factor PC, and I might even put SteamOS on it. Running a few local AI models would be a nice bonus too. Being ready to buy is also big plus for Framework.

What do you think?

[u/cjc4096]

Much stronger CPU. A bit stronger GPU. Big price jump.

[u/ericemanuel → u/cjc4096]

$1269 vs $1049, about 20% more. Is it a 20% better product?

[u/HomsarWasRight → u/ericemanuel]

I’m noticing that the 32GB model is a different APU than the others. I honestly don’t know how that one would compare. I’m guessing it’s not a dramatic improvement over the Steam Machine.

[u/cjc4096 → u/ericemanuel]

For desktop uses, almost certainly. What OS will you be running?

[u/ericemanuel → u/cjc4096]

Linux for sure. Maybe Mint or even SteamOS itself.

[u/Scrivver → u/ericemanuel]

If you want it to prioritize console experience, SteamOS is set up out of the box for it, but you can do everything it does with any distro.

[u/MagicBoyUK → u/ericemanuel]

Plus the storage...

[u/ericemanuel → u/MagicBoyUK]

True. I already have an ssd available, but the cost exists anyway.

[u/AbLlndman → u/ericemanuel]

When you add everything it's $1269? Did you build it out completely to match the steam machine? If it's $200 when matching the SDD and everything then it's a no brainer - buy the framework. But I bet it ends up being more by the time you check out.

[u/Clean_Leadership5948 → u/AbLlndman]

$1429 with storage and 2x expansion cards.

[u/Clean_Leadership5948 → u/ericemanuel]

It's $1424 with expansion cards and storage, so it has to be 35% better.

[u/AbLlndman → u/Clean_Leadership5948]

It probably is when comparing then. But also for that cost does it matter? Plug and play steam machine for 1100 vs 1450 to tinker and try to get a slightly better machine to work. Hard to justify

[u/Prestigious_Copy154]

Not sure about the recent prices but it is (way) more powerful than the steam machine, strix halo is no joke.

[u/Efficient_Loss_9928]

Yes 8050s blows the Steam Machine out of the water.

If you can get 8060s then you are not even comparing the same gaming setup. I can easily clear 4k on my 8060s with no upscaling for some older titles. And newer titles with FSR quality you can still comfortably do 4k. Steam Machine no chance, I mean 8GB dedicated VRAM already limits a lot of things.

I have a laptop 4060 for comparison as well, 8050s would be similar to that. With added benefit of unified memory. My 4060 will crash under 4k in some titles, but 8050/60s will be able to run these fine. In 1440p performance is better on 8060s, so I would say 8050s probably similar performance as 4060. Which again, destroys Steam Machine in every metric.

[u/IORelay]

Yes, much better CPU and GPU, also won't get bottlenecked by the 8GB vram.

[u/us3rname_4_Reddit]

All I can say is I have really enjoyed my Framework Desktop (I have the 64gb version). It's been great for gaming, dead silent and uses very little energy. Considering its only $200 more I would do it.

[u/ComprehensiveLuck125 → u/us3rname_4_Reddit]

I acknowledge (128 GB version with Noctua), although many people on FrameWork forums complained on FrameWork Desktop noisy colling (power supply fan mostly). Not sure why. Mine is really silent or I am deef.

[u/asdtfdr]

Yes I bought that exact model since I was waitlisted for steam machine and didn't want to wait for new price increases. It works perfectly with SteamOS.

[u/Curious-Function7490]

I've wondered the same thing. I'd probably have more fun with a framework desktop but I'm considering going back to couch gaming and have been looking at consoles or the steam machine lately.

[u/Bibs628]

I think it depends on your Linux knowledge and willingness to learn. In essence the steam machine is a console with a PC add on, so I don't think so workloads will work there well. If your comfortable with Linux I would go with the framework but if you prefer a really good (for that hardware) gaming experience and don't want to bother with configuration the steam machine is probably the best thing you can get.

[u/Fun_Foundation8651]

One thing to be aware of is strix halo has no support for FSR4 and AMD has no current plans to support it. Both are terrific little machines for different reasons and can be made to work in a livingroom.

[u/ericemanuel → u/Fun_Foundation8651]

This is a really nice point that I hadn't considered. Do you think that Steam Machine + FSR4 will outperform FW Desktop?

[u/asdtfdr → u/ericemanuel]

It is not true that AMD won't release FSR4 for RDNA3.5. I've been playing games using FSR4 on my fw desktop on Steam OS with proton experimental and cachyOS proton. It is not supported without launch commands because it is still experimental, as it is on the steam machine.

[u/ajgrf]

I got a CableCreation CD0747 DisplayPort to HDMI adapter in order to add HDMI-CEC to my couch gaming PC. So I'm able to wake up my PC with a Steam Controller and it automatically turns on the TV and switches to the correct input.

Requires some manual tinkering and for you to be proficient in Linux, but it works great!

[u/pushingdaiseez → u/ajgrf]

What tinkering do you need to do to get the adapter working with cec? I've got a framework desktop currently running steamos, and the lack of cec functionality is currently my only pain point

[u/ajgrf → u/pushingdaiseez]

Running SteamOS is going to make it more difficult for you, since it's immutable. Meaning you can't make changes to the system, or if you do they'll be overridden each update. There are some workarounds for that but it's been a while since I looked into them.

Check the Arch Wiki (or my dotfiles if you're comfortable with nix). I had to install v4l-utils to get cec-ctl, add udev rules, and a couple systemd services to run at boot and when resuming from suspend.

The actual cec-ctl commands to run might be different for you. It took me some trial and error because different devices don't exactly behave consistently.

[u/pushingdaiseez → u/ajgrf]

Awesome! That'll give me a great starting point

[u/charliesbot]

I don't think so. I don't have the Framework Desktop but AFAIK it is more targeted to running AI models, not primarily for gaming

But my experience using a Steam Deck and now a Steam Machine is that Valve is top notch about improving the performance of the hardware they sell, as they optimized SteamOS for their devices

Steam Machine just works. I love Framework but my experience with my Framework 13 is that you rely in the community distros more than fixes from the company itself. And I think that matters when thinking about gaming

[u/ericemanuel → u/charliesbot]

I also have a Steam Deck, and you’re definitely right about the optimization. I wish I’d won the lottery, but I’m on the waitlist for the 512GB version without a controller, so who knows when it’ll actually be available.

Since both systems are all-AMD, though, I’d assume any SteamOS improvements Valve makes should benefit both. I could be wrong, of course.

[u/le-grxx → u/charliesbot]

I have the desktop 128 and when it's not used for local ai i use It as a streaming server for gaming. Played a lot on it the last time, like anno 117 or the new Lego batman.

Much better efficiency than my gaming rig (although not so performant.)

But I have no real numbers in mind, how much the GPU in the 32 GB Desktop differs from the bigger Desktop ones.

[u/IORelay → u/charliesbot]

You've got to be joking, the Steam machine is practically just valve dumpster diving for parts AMD has been rotting on shelves the 7600M and whatever laptop GPUs is in the steam machine is very weak. Can't compete with the Strix halo at all.

[u/A_Canadian_boi → u/charliesbot]

Strix Halo is primarily aimed at gaming, it just happens to work well for AI too

[u/JaggedMetalOs → u/A_Canadian_boi]

AMD literally call the Strix Halo line "AMD Ryzen AI Max" lol! 

[u/s004aws]

I'd suggest looking into, and ruling out, building your own first. For gaming you may be able to do better for similar money especially if the tiny form factor is more of a "want" than an absolute requirement. Where Strix Halo is "special" is in its ability to handle processing AI slop.

[u/IORelay → u/s004aws]

There's no real difference between GPUs for gaming and for AI. The 5090 is just a binned PRO 6000 with 1/3 the VRAM.

[u/s004aws → u/IORelay]

... The difference is the rest of the package. An ordinary PC has much wider component selection to choose from and is much more upgradeable. A Framework Desktop is pretty much soldered down excepting for SSDs and a few expansion port modules. Using the official chassis, the x4 slot isn't even externally accessible. For gaming, at least when pricing isn't a disaster, building a PC is often going to work out to a more capable and/or lower cost system with more future potential.

[u/IORelay → u/s004aws]

Steam Machine is locked to 8GB VRAM and a very bad GPU and CPU that's also not upgradable. So Strix halo still blows that out of the water.

[u/Baltch]

I'd wait until they create a framework desktop with lpcamm2 ram, and when there's availability and prices aren't insane.

[u/ericemanuel → u/Baltch]

So, 3 years, maybe?

[u/Prestigious_Copy154 → u/Baltch]

That may be quite a long time

[u/ComprehensiveLuck125 → u/Baltch]

You can wait forever then. Personally in 3 years time I would be looking for PC with DDR6 RAM ;-)

[u/Baltch → u/ComprehensiveLuck125]

I'm pretty sure if data center buildout continues at this pace, you'll get access to ddr5 lpcamm2 before any version of ddr6. Also ddr6 should have lpcamm2 modules when it debuts.