Valve encourages gamers to build their own Steam Machines if they can’t find one.

Valve’s new Steam Machine has hit the market, but don’t expect it to be easy to find or budget-friendly. With a starting price of $1,049, and no controller included, this PC-console hybrid is likely out of reach for those hoping for a more traditional console price point.

However, there’s a silver lining. If you can’t snag a Steam Machine right away or the price is too steep, Valve encourages you to consider building your own. In their updated FAQ, they tackle the question, “What if I can’t get a Steam Machine immediately?”

Valve responds, “Thanks to the flexibility of the PC platform, there are plenty of options for devices that can run games natively or stream them to your TV. Numerous PC communities and websites can assist you with this. We’re also working to make SteamOS compatible with more hardware beyond our own. With the recent release of SteamOS 3.8, you can run the same operating system as the Steam Machine on your own living-room PC using any compatible parts. Currently, only AMD GPUs are supported, but we’re expanding that support soon.”

For those familiar with building PCs, creating your own Steam Machine might seem like a straightforward choice. However, since the official Steam Machine utilizes semi-custom AMD CPU and GPU components, and Valve has a Steam Machine Verified program, some might wonder how a DIY version stacks up against the official model.

Additionally, Valve has mentioned that they are “working closely with Nvidia” to enhance compatibility with non-AMD hardware in SteamOS.

“If you have a setup similar to a Steam Machine—like a PC connected to a TV with a single hard drive and no dual boot—you can install SteamOS and enjoy an experience akin to a docked Steam Deck or a Steam Machine, with a few caveats,” said Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais.

If you’re considering building a custom Steam Machine or repurposing an older PC, here are the official specs from Valve to help you understand what’s needed:

– Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T
– Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs
– 16 GB DDR5 + 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM
– Internal power supply, AC power 110-240 V
– Two Steam Machine models
– Both models include a high-speed microSD card slot
– 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E
– Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna
– Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter
– DisplayPort 1.4
– HDMI 2.0
– USB
– Networking

The vision for this PC-console hybrid was to be ‘affordable’—but circumstances have shifted.