My quest to DIY a gaming console

[Jackalope]

I mostly have been using the Xbox platform for my gaming needs for around a decade, but I have doubts about the platform's viability so I have been looking to move to a more open ecosystem - which rules out anything by Sony or Nintendo.

I already have a huge library of mostly older games on Steam, and the PC is platform is capable of emulating damn near anything - but my 2019 i7 laptop with integrated graphics wasn't going to cut it.  If you pay attention to the news around data centers you know GPUs, DRAM, and solid state storage are extremely expensive in 2026 and are expected to remain so. Pricing out new components made it clear to me that I was going to need to get creative and buy use and repurpose some of what I already have.

I started with an initial goal of building a cheap PC with an game controller as primary input that at least equaled the Steam Deck in performance.

In the end, I was able to achieve my stretch goals - which was to provide ~60fps or better experience at 1080p at moderate graphics detail. To satisfy those requirements, I didn't need the latest, fastest CPU, GPU and RAM. The final build is a mix of parts sourced mostly used from Ebay and some new parts.

New - Gigabyte B550 K micro ATX motherboard, generic WiFi 6E/Bluetooth card, CPU cooler
Used - AMD Ryzen 5 5600x CPU, 2x8GB Corsair 3600MHz DDR4, AMD RX580 XTR 8GB GPU
Repurposed - 2GB SSD, Xbox controller

Initially, the plan was to load SteamOS but online advice was to use Bazzite for desktop hardware.

My experience so far running Steam games on Bazzite is quite positive - the newest PC game I have is Baldur's Gate 3, at 1080p BG3's graphics auto-detection selected Ultra quality settings and it looks and feels amazing even on a $50 2017 GPU.

[Angrboda]

You can pick up an Intel A750 for $150 off Ebay, and the drivers are built into Bazzite. An A750 would be close to twice as fast. However, I read that there are issues. Maybe best stick with AMD or go Windows.

[Jackalope]

You can pick up an Intel A750 for $150 off Ebay, and the drivers are built into Bazzite.  An A750 would be close to twice as fast.  However, I read that there are issues.  Maybe best stick with AMD or go Windows.

I deliberately stayed within the AMD ecosystem because it's better supported by Steam Proton, and the additional expense put something more recent like an RX6600XT out of reach. I'm thrilled with the results in any case.

[Angrboda]

You can pick up an Intel A750 for $150 off Ebay, and the drivers are built into Bazzite.  An A750 would be close to twice as fast.  However, I read that there are issues.  Maybe best stick with AMD or go Windows.

I deliberately stayed within the AMD ecosystem because it's better supported by Steam Proton, and the additional expense put something more recent like an RX6600XT out of reach.  I'm thrilled with the results in any case.

Does that RX580 do FSR?

[The Grand Nudger]

It does. I've been using that same card for a while. Things a workhorse. I initially planned to upgrade it when I built my pc but then prices shot through the roof and never came down. I've never had a complaint about it. New games come out and it struggles for the first few optimization patches...then goes back to running like a dream.

[Angrboda]

I could use a GPU for testing given that my current testing GPUs are over 14 years old. I'll put it on the list.

[Jackalope]

I deliberately stayed within the AMD ecosystem because it's better supported by Steam Proton, and the additional expense put something more recent like an RX6600XT out of reach.  I'm thrilled with the results in any case.

Does that RX580 do FSR?

FSR 3

[Angrboda]

I'm suitably impressed. It even manages playable framerates at 4K. Though if you can get a 590 for under $100, that's probably more realistic. I'm surprised at how affordable a 3070 is. Probably due to the number sold.

[Angrboda]

Are you running a 4G or 8G RX580?

[Jackalope]

8G, I wouldn't bother with 4G