This topic was inspired by seeing users talk about the launch price of the Steam Machine and being all over the place. Some people think Valve will subsidize and be under 400 while other think they will go for big profit and price it over 1k or even above 1500. So what say you? how high or how low will Valve price their Steam Machine.

I was figuring $600 for the base model then $750 for the 2TB model, but I'm upping that to $800 for the base model, then $1000 for the 2TB model just because $950 doesn't seem right lol.

Voted 800 to 1000, but I think some top models might go over 1000. The highest spec Steam Deck costs around 680 euros, that's already close to 800 dollars, there's no way a capable "home console" from Valve will be cheaper than that at top spec. I think the entry level machines might be 750-800$, heck; that's just Xbox Series X money (the 2TB version starts at 800 dollars). I think people are seriously underestimating how expensive hardware has become in the past 4-5 years. Flagship phones are now 1500 dollars and up in price. RAM alone has doubled in price in the past year or so (the 64GB kit I have cost me 290 dollars in July of 2023, it now sits at over 600 dollars).

I won't be surprised to see a top model for around 1200 dollars, with some knick-knacks thrown in for good measure (or special edition ones with panel art from big releases).

Here are the specs:

CPU: Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T, up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP
GPU: Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs, 2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP
RAM: 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
Power: Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V
Storage: Two Steam Machine models:
512GB NVMe SSD
2TB NVMe SSD
Both models include a high-speed microSD card slot
Wi-Fi: 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna
Steam Controller: Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter
Displays:
DisplayPort 1.4
Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz
Supports HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining
HDMI 2.0
Up to 4K @ 120Hz
Supports HDR, FreeSync, and CEC
USB:
Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front
Two USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the back
One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back
Networking: Gigabit ethernet
LED Strip: 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability
Size: 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide
Weight: 2.6 kg
Operating System: SteamOS 3 

It has to be 500$-599$ otherwise it's a fail on Valves part.
They should be the good guys here, and not go overboard with the prices and profit seeking.

If the hardware in there, is something you can put together yourself for like 500-550$.... then Valve as a big company, has to be able to do it even better/cheaper than us, build it yourself type people buying parts online. How much money do you need to make, selling a unit? If its sold from your site only (and not in retail stores), what does it matter if it doesn't give you more than say 20$ profit on each sale? You lock people using it, into steam. Have happy consumers, that value your efforts, by giving them a fair price on this thing.

It being this heavily tied to steam, will lead to more game sales = valve gets a % cut of sales = profits.
It is for a large part of who will use it, a walled garden.


In my opinion every dollar over 600$ is a mistake or greed.
They should sell this at small profits margin only.... like accept a 50$ on each unit sold, as profit and just keep price of it low.
If this is 800$, that means they won't bother selling you hardware without them pocketing like 200$+ on each unit sold...... and you know, it will hurt sales and valves image.
Just don't bother then.

Its dead on arrival if its 800$.
They do that, it won't sell except as a novelty item for the rich and bored, perhaps the most curious and loyal steam users. 

The hardware inside is not worth that much.
The gpu is less capable than a AMD 7600.
Its a older 6c/12t amd cpu...

Machines like that, don't cost 800$ to put together yourself.  There are videos of people showing them doing it for like 500-550$.
If valve can't even beat out the prices of end users buying random parts from online shops that make profits selling hardware to consumers...
Yeah I refuse to believe that.


Its "looks" cute in design.... how much leeway that gives in pricing is up to each person to decide. 
I still think, unless they sell it very close to prices of hardware inside, the PC crowd will ignore it.
(that is for the low end, or console guys. High end PC users with like 5090's won't care about this little 7600 like gpu micro pc at all).
  

If Valve does go over what we're expecting in price, and Half-Life 3 ends up being real (which everything is pointing to it being the case) Valve HAS to bundle the game with every Steam Machine purchase the way they bundled Half-Life: Alyx with every Valve Index purchase.

The best steam deck is £569. The steam machine would have to be £499 max. I am sure Valve will charge $700/£700+ because they will be silly.

Why would they charge less than the Steam Deck if the Steam Machine is being said to be 6x more powerful than the Steam Deck?

Steam Machine does not need a screen or a battery.