Valve Steam Machine Single vs. Dual-Channel Memory Benchmark
Gamers Nexus
Jun 30, 2026 01:42
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This benchmark tests the Valve Steam Machine's performance with 1 vs 2 sticks of RAM socketed, evaluating single-channel vs. dual-channel memory configuration performance on the Steam Machine. In our Steam Machine review, Valve stated that it was shipping the Steam Machines in a (seemingly random) arrangement of either 2x 8GB or 1x 16GB sticks for the initial wave. In the time since, Valve has issued a correction of its prior statement to confirm it will only be shipping 1x 16GB initially. That simplifies things in some ways, but does mean that the Machine ships in the worst-performing of the two configurations by default. For those hoping this enables an easy upgrade, we had issues POSTing with our 8GB solution and, for sake of getting numbers in fast, opted instead to go the easier route of 2x 16GB an then limiting our test suite to ensure it consumed well under 16GB total memory. Since this is SteamOS, that's more easily done than with Windows. Valve left a ton of performance on the table.
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Steve Burke: Host, Test Lead, Writing
Patrick Lathan: Testing, Writing
Vitalii Makhnovets: Editing
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