A resourceful Reddit user, Large_Customer_3840, has demonstrated a functional setup combining Valve's Steam Machine with a high-end RX 9070 XT graphics card acting as an external GPU (eGPU). This modification aims to address the Steam Machine's original performance limitations.
The integration was achieved by utilizing the Steam Machine's NVMe slot with an NVMe to Oculink adapter. The user then connected an NVMe drive via a USB-C adapter to boot SteamOS. "When I turned it on, the 9070 XT became the primary monitor and worked straight away," the Redditor reported, indicating a seamless initial recognition of the hardware.
One notable hurdle encountered was a black screen issue, which was resolved by ensuring the Steam Machine was connected to a television for the eGPU to function correctly. Otherwise, the setup appears to operate without significant complications.
Initial performance testing was conducted using Crimson Desert. The hybrid Steam Machine and RX 9070 XT configuration reportedly achieved over 100 frames per second on High settings. The process currently requires the removal of the Steam Machine's backplate, though the user suggests that with case modifications, this could evolve into a permanent upgrade.
The RX 9070 XT is recognized as a capable graphics card, often competing with or surpassing the performance of the RTX 5070 Ti. The successful implementation with the Steam Machine, a device previously criticized for its cost-to-performance ratio, offers a potential path for revitalizing older hardware.