Valve’s Steam Machine starts at a hefty price of €1,039, significantly exceeding the cost of many desktop builds featuring similar hardware specifications. In response, Jacob Terkelsen, who works in the AI-GPU sector at AMD, decided to take matters into his own hands and create an alternative solution. His project, the “Terk Box v1.1,” is a compact and efficient gaming machine housed in a 3D-printed mini-ITX case.
Free STL Files Available
The foundation of Terkelsen’s build is the “SFF Mini ITX Steam Machine Case” designed by Maker 3DCatt. This design is available for free download on Printables.com. The dimensions of the case—167 × 168 × 225 mm—are quite close to those of the original Valve console, making it a fitting alternative.
The case is specifically designed for mini-ITX motherboards, featuring a unique setup where the GPU is installed via a PCIe riser cable. It accommodates a Flex-ATX power supply, and the maximum height for the CPU cooler is set at 30 mm, with a single 120 mm fan providing adequate airflow. Terkelsen collaborated with the case designer for the version 1.1 upgrade, which included additional ventilation openings at the rear to prevent throttling of the installed RTX 5060.
Power Supply Choice: 400 Watts vs. 550 Watts
A debated topic within Terkelsen’s build is the power supply unit (PSU). Nvidia recommends a 550-watt PSU for the RTX 5060, yet Terkelsen opted for a 400-watt Flex-ATX power supply. As he casually remarked, “For those who understand how these things work, recommendations are merely suggestions.” This statement received mixed reactions in the community.
Experts from Videocardz point out that manufacturer PSU recommendations are calculated with overhead to account for maximum system loads and are not a one-size-fits-all solution. While the 400-watt Flex-ATX PSU can be justifiable in a well-optimized configuration, it may not be advisable for every setup, particularly less-efficient ones.
Cost Comparison: $700 vs. $1,049
The assembly of the Terk Box in the United States translates to approximately $700—about $350 less than Valve’s entry-level model. However, this figure does not encompass the costs associated with 3D printing, which can add to the total expense. Additionally, it is essential to note that mini-ITX motherboards, Flex-ATX power supplies, and compact cooling solutions tend to be more expensive than their ATX counterparts, pushing the cost closer to $1,000 for those purchasing all components new.
Join the Discussion
What are your thoughts on this topic? The PCGH editorial team welcomes your well-founded opinions in the comments section. If you haven’t created an Extreme account yet, we invite you to register in our forum. Please remember to adhere to our forum rules when commenting. Feel free to follow PCGH on 🔈 YouTube or 💬 WhatsApp for updates on graphics cards, CPUs, and gaming news.
Source: via Videocardz, XDA-Developers
