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Meta PCs has unveiled its first gaming computer with SteamOS pre-installed. This is the same operating system that powers Valve’s official Steam hardware, namely the Steam Deck and, more recently, the Steam Machine (and eventually the Steam Frame). With the launch of Steam Machine last week, one of the biggest side effects was the wider launch of SteamOS version 3.8.
SteamOS 3.8 essentially acts as a more general version of the Linux-based operating system that Valve previously recommended only for use on AMD-powered portable devices like the Legion Go or ROG Ally series. It is now better supported on desktop gaming PCs, especially on Intel and AMD hardware. The new SteamOS desktop from Meta PCs is called Steamroller.
Steamroller releases July 3rd – you can pre-order now
The Steamroller is a pre-built gaming PC equipped with AMD’s latest-gen RX 7600 entry-level graphics card, which is still great for 1080p games and many 1440p games. The recent update to FSR 4.1 scaling support in the 7000 series will also help improve performance. These specs should provide performance that’s a step above the Steam Machine.
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Prices current as of June 23 at Amazon.com.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Chassis | JONESBO D32 Black |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X |
| Video card | AMD Radeon PX 7600 |
| Motherboard | B650M/B850M with Wi-Fi (brand and model may vary) |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR5 5600 MT/s |
| Cooling | 240 mm monoblock Meta |
| Power supply | Meta Gold 650 W |
| M.2 storage (slot 1) | 1 TB NVMe M.2 |
| operating system | SteamOS |
Steamroller is now available for pre-order on the Meta PCs Store and is scheduled to ship on July 3rd.
We think the upgradeability is a big advantage over Steam Machine, as Steamroller launches with AM5 hardware (along with DDR5 RAM), which leaves a lot of room for improvement as AMD plans to support AM5 for many years to come. The Steamroller costs $1,299, which is $250 more than Valve’s 512GB and $50 cheaper than the 2TB Steam Machine.
It doesn’t have the same small form factor as a steam engine, and last week we learned that building your own compact DIY steam engine comes with trade-offs. Building a regular gaming PC to install SteamOS is much easier, but if you’re looking for a simple build, then Steamroller should grab your attention.
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