
Steam Machine is ridiculously expensive — here are 9 PCs (and a $1000 laptop) that easily surpass Valve’s controversial gaming console
THE SO WHAT
When a branded mini PC comes in at $1,049 with integrated graphics, it’s signaling that some vendors are pricing around ecosystem and UX, not raw specs. For PC and component makers, this widens the lane for value-focused builds — but only if you can tell a clear performance-per-dollar story.
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