Modders give the Steam Machine a Radeon eGPU and water cooling, because why not

Modders have found ways to enhance the Steam Machine's capabilities, despite its locked-down hardware limitations. One modder managed to add external graphics via an unconventional method, connecting an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT to the device. They rerouted the NVMe SSD through a USB-C adapter, allowing the Steam Machine to boot up even with the modified setup. The new GPU performed well, delivering between 40 and 100fps on high settings at 1440p, though audio glitches occurred, likely due to SSD bandwidth constraints.

Another modder constructed a custom water block to significantly lower temperatures, achieving a reduction of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. This involved disassembling the Steam Machine and inserting the water block, which required 3D-printed components. While the setup left large tubes protruding from the device, it effectively cooled the components. However, overclocking the SSD would require a custom BIOS.

The Steam Machine's most significant drawback remains its price, starting at $1,049 due to memory cost inflation. Despite this, Valve continues to sell as many units as possible, with new orders currently on a waiting list.