this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2026
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Steam Machine not available in my country. What would you do? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) by Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world
38 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hi everyone!

I had been a Playstation user since the first one and I own the fifth one.

After using Linux for years on weak computers for my admin, I decided to try Linux gaming in 2025 and bought a used LCD Steam Deck.

While I’ve been enjoying the Steam Deck, it hurts my neck and isn’t powerful enough for sim racing games.

Naturally, I was happy to learn that the Steam Machine was coming and was willing to invest up to CHF1000.- (~$1236) to get it.

Sadly, it’s not available to order in my country, Switzerland.

So now I have to choose between finding ways to order a Steam Machine or buying a prebuilt computer since I don’t want to source components to build something myself.

My priority would still be the Steam Machine, but I’d be open to alternatives.

What are your advices, what would you do if you’re in the same situation?

Thanks in advance for your help.

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[–] DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 2 points 19 minutes ago

Build one! If you've already got the money, building a computer is not as hard as it might seem. You can put SreamOS on there but Bazzite and CachyOS are good gaming options too.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 1 points 28 minutes ago* (last edited 26 minutes ago)

The only real reasons to get a Steam Machine are if:

  1. You really want your computer to be a 6" cube
  2. You really want HDMI CEC support
  3. You really want to give your money to Valve instead of some other company

Otherwise, something else will be cheaper and/or faster, at the cost of being a more normal desktop size and shape.

I haven't had a prebuilt desktop since I was 15, so I would definitely build my own. (In other words, if the thing stopping you is being nervous about screwing it up, don't be because it isn't actually hard.)

Otherwise, I don't have any specific prebuilt brand recommendations for you, but I'll echo the advice to get something with a Radeon 9060 XT (or better). Alternatively, if you think you might want to do AI things with it too instead of just gaming, consider a small-form-factor PC with a fast APU and a lot of unified memory (e.g. like the Framework Desktop or Minisforum MS-S1 Max) or a Radeon RX 7900 XTX (with 24GB RAM), but be aware that those would be a lot more expensive right now.

[–] stuner@lemmy.world 4 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I would go for a pre-built computer with an RX 9060 XT (preferably with 16 GB VRAM). That GPU will run loops around a Steam machine. You can get such a pre-built for around 1000 CHF:

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 1 points 30 minutes ago

Thanks for the links. I’ll have a deep look into these!

[–] Sylvartas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

As someone who pre-ordered the OG steam controller and steam deck I'm sitting this one out. The hardware situation is just too bad right now. Then again there's no guarantee it will actually get better, but I have some faith in China still

[–] Slayer@infosec.pub 11 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I would recommend a pre-built system for two reasons:

  1. Better performance for about the same price.
  2. You will get it in a few days, for the Steam Machine you will wait until 2027!
[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

Do you think I would have to wait so much?

I’m not in a rush but 6 months would probably be too much.

[–] Hazzard@lemmy.zip 3 points 37 minutes ago

Probably so, unfortunately. Every Steam Machine out there now has an owner, and that was all they could manufacture in the past six months.

By the sounds of things, there's also a lot of reservations out there without a Steam Machine to sell them, and given the RAM crisis, production likely isn't increasing.

It'll be a while before they're looking for more registrations.

[–] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 2 points 13 minutes ago

I think they're expecting to take until the end of the year to work through their current reservation list (this might include the waiting list at the time but I'm not sure). I wouldn't hold my breath unless you're willing to pay one of the few scalpers on eBay.

If you're going with a small form factor DIY or some equivalent pre-built PC alternative, I strongly urge you to get an AMD GPU to get a good experience with Steam OS, Bazzite or some other Linux gaming distro.

[–] Th4tGuyII@fedia.io 27 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

The Steam Machine itself is just a very fancy prebuilt PC - so while it is your preference, there's no reason a similar spec prebuilt wouldn't work too

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Would you have any suggestion? I was looking at what tuxedo offers, but I’m a bit lost with the specs.

https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Linux-Hardware/Linux-Computer-/-PCs/Alle-Systeme.tuxedo

[–] Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

Technically their Cube L w/ a 9060 XT 16GB outperforms the Steam Cube by a long shot (I'd guess 40-80%) and offers upgradeability but it's also wildly more expensive and a little bit bigger. It also comes with 32gb RAM at a minimum instead of the Cube's 16gb which contributes to the high price. Choosing an older GPU like the 7600 doesn't make too much sense cost and feature wise, for Couch gaming you'd want the newest FSR'n'stuff in a just-works manner.

Technically a full AMD system is best for SteamOS, but the most important piece is the GPU (do not chose an Nvidia whatsoever). Their Cube with AMD is outdated. It will work fine with the Ultra 5.

Beating the price point of the Steam Cube is almost impossible if bought new, even full diy systems have a hard time unless using used parts.

[–] stuner@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

Beating the price point of the Steam Cube is almost impossible if bought new, even full diy systems have a hard time unless using used parts.

A regular pre-built with a 9060 XT 8GB can be had for about 10% less than the Steam Machine (900 Euro). That will be quite a bit faster and also upgradeable. The main advantage of the Steam Machine is the form factor and power consumption.

[–] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 3 points 4 hours ago

Looks like anything above the nano pro is more powerful than the Steam machine as long as you don't pick the weakest GPU in the configurator.

[–] tormeh@discuss.tchncs.de 33 points 5 hours ago

Creating a mini-ITX system based on the 9060 is a pretty good alternative. It's gonna cost you, but so is the SM.

[–] littlelordfauntleroy@lemmy.zip 19 points 5 hours ago

As I understand it, Steam Machines are not particularly powerful so I think it would be worth exploring pre-builts that are around what you want to spend to see if you can get something comparable or better. SteamOS will be available to install on all desktops at some point but in the meantime there are plenty of gaming focussed distros that will do a superb job. Unfortunately with memory prices the way they are you aren't really getting the same bang for your buck that you did previously, but there isn't much any of us can do about it at present. Good luck with it all, it is certainly a very exciting time to be getting into Linux gaming!

[–] RushLana@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 4 hours ago

Hi, if you want to I can dig around and make you a list of components it will be cheaper and with a better performance ratio.

Building a pc is not that hard, it's closer to legos theese days and installing linux is easy ( I would recommend bazzite with kde ).

[–] Feddinat0r@feddit.org 9 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Hello from Germany,

hit me up with a message, maybe we can work it out

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Thanks for the proposal, but since it involves huge sums of money, I’d only try with someone I know in real life😇

[–] noobdoomguy8658@feddit.org 1 points 14 minutes ago

Are you willing to consider a mail-forwarding service?

In my country (further East from you), it's a somewhat popular and reliable way to buy stuff that no retailer or the vendor itself offers.

I got Oculus Rift S that way once, years ago, and it was pretty painless - some services will help you handle a lot of the paperwork greatly. Maybe even entirely for you.

The big benefit here is that they usually have the warehouses in the countries that do sell what you want, and established logistical chains to ship things safely and I would even say quickly.

The bigger benefit is having a legal entity to work with, which lets you insure the goods and press charges if the mailer steals, loses or damages them.

More expensive than kind strangers on the internet, but if you're that careful, maybe this is an option.

That said, your Steam region and Valve's restration for purchase makes this route difficult. Maybe you could create an account in another region, like the US or Germany, generate some activity and purchases there, wait for whatever minimum Valve sets, and order via the mail-forwarder (to their warehouse, from where they ship to you).

On an unrelated note, I did not expect to see a Swiss in the same boat of all people. Viel Glück am Kaufen!

[–] Feddinat0r@feddit.org 2 points 4 hours ago

Okay, i understand that.

If you wanna get into contact to know me, just do it :)

Really wanna help as i am not buying the steam machine.

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

Your PS5 is more powerful than the steam machine. Don’t waste your money.

Buy any other prebuilt pc for around the same price and it will be better, and most importantly upgradable. A pc you can’t upgrade is just a console, and as a console the steam machine is about 5 years outdated already while charging an arm and a leg.

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 hours ago

I don’t need more power than the PS5 so the Steam Machine would be enough.

This being said, the upgradability of a prebuilt would be great, as long as it ain’t too noisy and power hungry.

[–] mrmaplebar@fedia.io 1 points 3 hours ago

Get a Bazzite machine.

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 7 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (2 children)

I think easiest option as of now is to have some friends or family in one of the neighbouring EU countries and ask them to order it. If you have any.

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I’m clealy looking in my personal adress book to find someone who would be techie enough to order it for me and pass Valve selective process😅

[–] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 1 points 4 hours ago

Good luck! Sad how things often come with strings attached. They kinda do nice things, and you seem to be willing to buy their product... But then there's politics and business decisions and several silly hoops to jump through... Could be easy, but it's not 🤗

[–] philpo@feddit.org 3 points 4 hours ago

There are also dozend of commercial freight forwarders on the borders who do exactly that. The more pressing issue is the steam account.

[–] jay@pie.zerojay.com 1 points 3 hours ago

Steam Machines are available here in my area. Instead, I repurposed a small form factor machine I already had that was much more powerful anyways that has a built in graphics card. At the time I purchased it a few years ago, it was about $1000CDN, the Minisforum Neptune HX99G.

[–] Mok98@feddit.it 1 points 3 hours ago

Maybe a vpn and a post office box in the nearest country?

[–] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

I'd go for a prebuilt unless you really need that particular form factor. A slightly larger prebuilt with similar specs will not only be slightly cheaper, but also have better performance (due to the Steam Machine being quite limited by thermals and power draw).

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago

The form factor isn’t really important, but the fact that I could just buy it and not think about its specs was a big plus.

[–] Krafting@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Maybe you can have a friend getting it delivered in france or germany, then shipped again to you (or better, go see tbem irl to get it yourself!)

[–] MonsterTrick@piefed.world 2 points 4 hours ago

Get a prebuilt PC which there are few vendors that has even has Linux pre-installed as well as the specs works great without much hassle.

[–] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 hours ago

Install Steam OS on a Linux PC. The Steam Machine is overpriced and mid range. It’s okay for beginners. Members of a Linux gaming comm can probably do better.

Note that presently, Steam OS is only for AMD builds. If you have Intel and/or Nvidia, you’ll need to wait. Support for those is coming soon.

[–] Mitchie151@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

Not sure what marketplaces are available in Switzerland, but I recommend all the time that people look at Facebook marketplace and others for people selling entire machines. Lots don't know their worth and also know that there's implicitly less trust with no warranties and such. That said, if you're willing to take that risk, there are some great deals.

[–] UndergroundGoblin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

What about a VPN? Maybe this will work.

[–] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 hours ago

I’d not want to take the risk of paying and then being told that the Machine can’t be delivered to my house.