I'm in the process of building a "Steam Machine" using some old components I've gathered. I've got an MSI B550 motherboard compatible with AMD and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. I'm planning to reuse a 600W power supply that's been reliable for the past decade. Now, I'm on the hunt for an affordable AMD processor. Any recommendations?
Also, I'm considering a graphics card—I've had my eye on the 3070 TI, but if there are better budget options, I'd love to hear those too. I'm not expecting top-tier performance; 1440p will do just fine since this isn't my main gaming rig (my PS5 holds that title). I enjoy playing open-world action games and I'm keen on trying out some modding, like the Star Wars conversion for Starfield and the Game of Thrones mod for M&B Bannerlord II. Thanks for your input!
4 Answers
If you're looking to keep costs low, check places like Facebook Marketplace for deals on CPUs. I scored a 5600X for $70 recently!
If you're leaning towards Linux for your Steam Machine, I’d recommend using an AMD GPU instead of Nvidia since they have better support in that environment. That said, based on your budget for the GPU, the 3070 Ti might be a bit much unless you’re really getting a good deal. Consider something like the RX 6600. It’ll keep your costs down and works well with Linux distributions.
I get where you're coming from! Just keep an eye on compatibility reviews for Bazzite, especially regarding Nvidia graphics.
For a budget CPU, I think the Ryzen 5500 is a solid choice—it's reasonable and performs well. As for GPUs, the 3060, 3060 Ti, or even the RX 6600 are decent picks that won't break the bank. I’d go for something like the 5600X if you can spare a bit more cash, but keep in mind that it’s pricier for only a modest gain in performance!
It sounds like you need to set a clear budget for your CPU and GPU. If you can swing it, Ryzen 5 3600 is a great processor alongside an RX 6600 GPU. For storage, I’d also suggest a 512GB NVMe SSD for the OS and then something larger for games, especially if you plan to mod them. Don't sweat it too much about the case; just aim for something that matches the form factor of a Steam Machine.
That's exactly why I went with the 3070 Ti—my buddy offered me a fantastic deal on it. I'm not too worried about Linux since I'm planning to use Bazzite instead of SteamOS.