LDLC’s Mini‑ITX PC STIM outperforms Steam Machine for less

French retailer LDLC has taken aim at Valve’s recently launched Steam Machine by introducing its own compact gaming PC, the LDLC PC STIM, otherwise known as the ‘stim machine' priced at €999.

As reported by VideoCardz, the Mini‑ITX system is equipped with AMD’s new Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics card, giving it a substantial performance advantage over the custom CPU and GPU combo found in the Steam Machine. While Valve’s device focuses on an ultra‑small chassis and custom silicon, LDLC’s approach prioritises raw performance using standard components and a slightly larger, but still Mini-ITX enclosure to keep costs down.

LDLC’s marketing openly references Valve’s pricing, positioning the PC STIM as a better‑value alternative for buyers who don’t require the Steam Machine’s extremely compact footprint. Despite being larger, the Mini‑ITX build remains small, making it both desk and living-room friendly. The system is also backed by a 5-year warranty, and you can spend an extra €41 to have an expert build it for you before shipping. If you are experienced with building PCs, you can just save that money and put it together yourself when it arrives.

As the system is fully based on AMD hardware, it is also completely compatible with SteamOS, so you'll replicate most of the Steam Machine experience. However, you may have to install the OS yourself, and you won't be able to turn the system on via a controller out of the box. This sort of functionality can be replicated through clever Linux programming scripts, but you'll need a bit more technical knowledge to get it working.

Valve has previously explained that the Steam Machine’s higher‑than‑expected price is the result of supply constraints and rising component costs, particularly for memory and storage. The good news is though, you can put together a Steam Machine of your own, with the OS and all, for roughly the same price while also netting more performance, albeit while using more electricity.

KitGuru Says: The PC STIM won’t match the Steam Machine’s ultra‑compact design, but the trade-off is significantly more performance, while still being small enough to fit on a desk or under a TV.

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