The Steam Machine will arrive with 16 GB DDR5, but not all will have the same memory configuration

Valve He surprised us yesterday by announcing the sale price along with the availability date of the Steam Machine. A surprise that was not only in the action, but also the price with which this desktop console will be put on sale that far exceeds 1,000 euros. Among the features we find 16 GB DDR5 memoryand it has been discovered that it can come in two 8 GB modules each or in a single 16 GB module.

The Steam Machine can come with 2 x 8 GB or 1 x 16 GB DDR5

The Steam Machine has a Custom CPU with 6 Zen 4 cores and 12 threadsand also with a Custom GPU based on RDNA 3 and 28 CUs. This configuration works with DDR5 memory and Valve has decided to include it on the Steam Machine 16 GBsince it also has 8GB GDDR6 dedicated for the GPU.

Initially Valve would have included 2 x 8 GB SODIMM modules to sell them with these 16GB RAMbut you are having difficulty getting modules 8GB and some Steam Machine will arrive with a single 16 GB module.

Performance may vary depending on memory configuration

Here begins the dispute about the performancesince the configurations with 2 x 8 GB SODIMM modules They have a real configuration of dual channel and should improve the bandwidth. But Valve has indicated that this configuration should not affect performance, something that experts such as Gamer Nexus either Digital Foundry that have already been done with one Steam Machine with 1 and 2 SODIMM modules to test its performance.

Shortage of 8 GB SODIMM modules forces Valve to change its configuration

Valve has made the excuse, although it seems quite real, that there is not enough stock of memories 8GB SODIMM to supply the demand for consoles, and has chosen in some models to include a single module. A dispute in the community because it also seems like a lottery to win one version or another. To give it some advantage, models that include a single module will have an easier time, with less expense, to expand it to 32GB DDR5.