LDLC’s 'Stim Machine' Attempted to Undercut Steam, But It’s Still Pricey
Categorically, I cannot afford to buy my own Steam Machine. Much to my chagrin, the most basic 512 GB model still costs $1,049—a sentiment shared even by Valve’s own engineers, who reportedly wish their game box was cheaper. Thankfully, a French retailer attempted to bridge that gap by offering a compact PC for slightly less than a grand.
LDLC unveiled its own compact gaming PC, initially dubbing it the 'Stim Machine.' The retailer has since dropped the cheeky moniker in favour of the more formal 'LDLC PC box.' While no longer available to purchase, the unit provided an interesting look at what a DIY-focused alternative to Valve’s hardware looks like in 2026.
Hardware Specs and Comparison
The LDLC PC box was offered as a kit for €1,000, requiring the buyer to assemble the components themselves, or as a pre-built model for €1,040. The latter price point placed it in direct competition with the Steam Machine’s European pricing. To sweeten the deal, the retailer even included a tutorial on how to install SteamOS, though Valve's own hardware sidesteps that particular hurdle entirely.
Under the hood, the LDLC offering boasted some notable differences:
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT (RDNA 4 architecture)
- CPU: Ryzen 5 8400F
- Memory: 16 GB of upgradeable DDR5 RAM
- Storage: 500 GB NVMe SSD with two additional SATA slots
By comparison, Valve’s Steam Machine utilizes a semi-custom RDNA 3 GPU and a similar Zen 4 6C/12T processor. The LDLC box’s use of a standard Mini-ITX motherboard allows for more flexibility with memory and storage compared to the Steam Machine's internal 512 GB SSD and MicroSD slot configuration. The RX 9060 XT also offers a newer architecture and additional compute units over the Steam Machine’s semi-custom card.
Is it a viable alternative?
While achieving these specs for under €1,000 is an impressive feat, it remains a significant investment for a system with relatively low gaming horsepower, largely due to the ongoing memory supply crisis. Even if the LDLC PC box were still on shelves today, it remains a steep price to pay for a compact rig.
For now, I’ll be skipping the hardware upgrades and hitting repeat on Daft Punk’s 2005 banger instead. It’s almost just as good, right? For those still shopping for the best Gaming Hardware, current market options remain as volatile as ever.