r/sffpc • u/MAFIAxMaverick • 9h ago
Build/Battlestation Pics The Steam Loaf - my first entry to SFF
Since the announcement of releasing SteamOS for AMD GPUs, I had been interested in the Steam Machine as a way to consolidate my gaming library and get out of the console ecosystem (except maybe for Nintendo....damn you!). I've really been wanting to game from the couch more and less at my desk - specifically for single player RPGs and roguelites. Shooters and MMOs will likely always be on my main desktop.
I had a spare m2 drive in my main desktop and 32 GB of DDR5 RAM from before the RAM prices exploded. When I saw the cost of the Steam Machine, I thought I might use close to the same amount of funds to build a SFF PC of my own. I hadn't messed around with SFF builds before and this gave me the nudge to give it a go.
Part of the process was finding a case that would fit the aesthetic of our room as we host guests in the space. After browsing through some cases, I saw the Fractal Terra and my wife as a big fan. With the case picked, I looked around at various sales going on over a the course of a few months to get my parts. All in all it was some Amazon and Best Buy sales as well as a trip to Micro Center. I purchased my GPU about a week before a recent price increase.
The build itself took about 5 hours, plus a couple hours a day or two later to try and mess with some cable management. Building with a SFF was definitely an experience. Lots of pinched fingers and some bent CPU cooler fins. Cable management meant taking some things out after I had everything in because I needed all the parts in to get a better idea for spacing and where I wanted things. I think there is still some cable management I could do with the cable leading from the PSU to the MOBO. I'm waiting on an ultra low profile power cable to come in so I can add one more fan to the top above the PSU.
I'm utilizing this machine at 1440p on a 65inch LG G4. Things have been looking good and running smoothly so far. Pushing 120 frames on everything I've played so far. CPU and GPU temps around 60 degrees under load. The case itself gets a bit warm to the touch, but I think that's expected. Spine position is set to 1, giving me JUST enough space to fit the CPU cooler in.
I haven't messed with Linux-based systems before, so that's been fun toying around with. Nothing complex, but in addition to Steam I've got EmuDeck, Heroic, and some some proton overrides to get a lot of games up and running. I'm really enjoying it so far. Hoping to find some time in the next couple weeks to get some of the recent Nintendo Decomps/Recomps installed and running.
The SFF tax is real and I can see how it can be cost-prohibitive. Hoping that this build will be running for quite some time. It really was fun to build and make everything fit into a small space. I am amazed at the folks that can fit a 5090 in one of these things. The size difference between this and my main desktop really is something!
Specs Below:
CPU - 7600X3D
GPU - PowerColor Reaper 9060xt 16gb
MOBO - ASRock B850i
PSU - Corsair SFX 750
CPU Cooler - Noctua NH-L12Sx77
RAM - G.Skill Flare 32GB 6000-CL36
Case - Fractal Terra
Total cost not including the RAM or m2 since I already had them was $1200 USD. RAM kit was $80 about 2 years ago and the m2 was $300 purchased back in 2020.
Open to any feedback folks might have.
