Barebones Valve Steam Machine with $399 price shown (Image source: Valve with edits)
Valve may consider shifting the burden of finding affordable components to buyers. A prominent leaker proposes selling a barebones Steam Machine without memory, storage, or controller. The company could still offer the $399 gaming PC even after the DDR5 RAM shortage exhausts its supply of parts.
Gamers worry that the high cost of DDR5 memory might affect the unannounced Steam Machine price. Frequent leaker Moore’s Law Is Dead has a suggestion for how Valve can market an affordable gaming PC. He recommends creating several SKUs, including a $399 barebones model without memory, storage, or a controller.
Trouble lurks for the pre-built Steam Machine
Valve plans to launch its new system with versions featuring 512GB or 2TB SSDs. Otherwise, the Steam Machine specs, including a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor and RDNA 3 GPU, are identical. Both variations will ship with 16GB of DDR5 RAM. With AI data centers monopolizing the components, the manufacturer may struggle to restock its systems without raising its MSRP.
As rumored with Sony and the PS5, Moore’s Law Is Dead believes the company may have accumulated a massive amount of memory. Still, those reserves will eventually run dry. The YouTuber also anticipates the crisis to continue through 2026 and potentially beyond.
Selling a Steam Machine that gamers can finish building themselves would have several benefits. Valve could continue to advertise the compact gaming PC even after the cost of assembly skyrockets. The manufacturer could then monitor the market in the hope that the DDR5 shortage will ease.
Problems with the barebones concept
Moore’s Law Is Dead explains that buyers would also have more options. However, while he proposes scavenging for parts in old laptops, his followers don’t see it as a practical solution. It’s unlikely that a gamer has a newer notebook with DDR5 RAM lying around unused.
Buyers may find some of MLID’s other arguments more convincing. He anticipates that many gamers prefer to use Xbox or PS5 controllers they already own. Finding ways to streamline the device could further reduce the financial burden.
After stripping it of memory, storage, and accessories, a $399 Steam Machine price may be realistic. According to some estimates, the company could still maintain a 20-30% profit margin. The YouTuber would be “very surprised” If Valve doesn’t eventually take this approach. Nevertheless, this view is based on his experience covering the industry, rather than specific leaks.
Adam Corsetti – Tech Writer – 832 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025
I became interested in technology at a young age and enjoyed discovering the latest innovations. While earning college degrees in publishing, I created several PC hardware and gaming websites. My passion has always been to guide readers on what products can truly improve their lives. After many years as a Tech Writer for Game Rant, I’m anxious to share my knowledge with a new audience at Notebookcheck.