compact design

Valve's Steam Machine has received a generally positive reception, but concerns have arisen regarding its allocation of 8 GB of VRAM. This issue has been a topic of contention, especially following the launch of Nvidia's RTX 4060 Ti, which also featured only 8 GB of VRAM, leading to consumer dissatisfaction. The RX 7600M, used in the Steam Machine, has 28 compute units and operates on a 128-bit bus width, making it challenging to accommodate 16 GB of VRAM without increasing costs and power consumption. Running memory modules in clamshell mode could be a solution, but it presents engineering challenges in a compact design. Increasing VRAM would raise the price, and with rising memory costs, manufacturers may prioritize regular DRAM production. Valve's decision to equip the Steam Machine with 8 GB of VRAM seems aimed at maintaining affordability, especially following the success of the Steam Deck. If the Steam Machine's price exceeds 0, the justification for its specifications may face scrutiny. There are also concerns about Valve's marketing claims regarding 4K capabilities, as the machine is likely to perform better at 1080p or 1440p rather than 4K.