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Okay, I know forking out for even the Steam Machine will sting if it costs a grand. I'm also aware that thanks to AI's ravenous hunger for RAM, everyone's paying more than they should be for gaming PC tech. That said, if you're really itching to get a rig under your TV that can serve as a console for your Steam backlog, I'd have a look at ACEMAGIC's latest doodad that takes cues from the NES.
Technically speaking, the new CEMAGIC Retro X5 is already discounted, as you can grab it for $999.99 instead of a questionable $1,399.99 at Amazon. I won't lie, both those price tags are giving me the heebie jeebies, but it does dare to pack 32GB DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a rather punchy AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chipset in an age where all those things are decimating affordable MSRPs.
I want you to take this as a PSA that the Retro X5 is now available rather than a recommendation. I'd never dream of telling to you spend $1,000 on a mini PC before when I've yet to give it the full review treatment. I'll happily take the RDNA 3.5 machine for a spin if it crosses my test bench, but going strictly by what's on paper, ACEMAGIC's little Non-tendo feels like it could serve as a lower spec equivalent to the Steam Machine.
I won't lie, even saying that last line gives me absolute fear. I'd like to think the Steam Machine will eventually arrive for even slightly less than a grand, but the fact that a mini PC that's really targeting 1440p at best is sitting at that price isn't a great sign. What you'll want to keep in mind, though, is that Valve's box will pack 16GB RAM and should come in a 512GB storage flavor, which both provides some expected price reassurance and serves as a pitch to grab the Retro X5 instead.
I've tested most of the best gaming handheld options out there, and I've learned that in some scenarios, extra system RAM can matter more than slightly punchier chipsets. Ultimately, the latter will help you boost fps into different territories, but if you're aiming for higher resolutions and stability when enjoying more advanced textures, using more memory can help.
From my experience, that does apply to compact rigs too, as I was really surprised at what Ayaneo Mini PC AM02 could pull off. I was able to play through Split Fiction with my partner at 1080p while largely enjoying a 60fps experience, and while that's hardly something to boast about in 2026, it's still a pretty solid console experience considering it's the size of a tissue box.
Effectively, ACEMAGIC's new mini PC is an upgraded version of the AM02, swapping out the older Ryzen 7 7840HS for a new-gen AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. The latter isn't quite as punchy as Valve's custom Steam Machine RDNA 3 GPU with 28 CUs and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM at its disposal. But, you can likely expect a more playable experience in even demanding RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077, with additional tricks like AMD FSR and Fluid Motion Frames helping you potentially for 1440p.
Tools like Frame Generation are what will ultimately help the Steam Machine fulfil its 4K 60fps promises, and AMD FSR should give a similar bump to mini PCs like the Retro X5. I doubt it'll quite pull off anything above 1440p without some performance caveats, even if the pitch is that the APU's Radeon 890M can rival entry-level graphics cards. I'm not so sure anyone's actually asking for more than that either, even if the conversation pivots that way as a result of Valve's punchier living room machine.
All the performance speculation aside, the Retro X5 is a neat little package. It's very similar to the Ayaneo AM02, with its pretty eye-catching NES-themed shell sort of dictating the layout of ports. You're getting HDMI, USB-C, and two USB-A ports around the back, but rather than hiding the front inputs under a faux cartridge lid, ACEMAGIC has simply stuck its offering (two USB-A and a USB-C) right on the front.
You're also not getting that fun touchscreen on the top for performance stats and settings, which does hurt when you're paying $1,000. I'm not saying I wanted ACEMAGIC to completely copy Ayaneo's homework, but there was once a time when you could grab the latter mini PC for under $600. Those days are firmly behind us as we weather RAMageddon, so if you are looking for an "NES" that can run high spec PC romps, the Retro X5 is what's out there.
Perhaps we should all just start playing the PS2 again to celebrate its 26th birthday. I mean, who needs high frame rates when you can play Silent Hill 2 repeatedly?
Using Valve's handheld? Check out the best Steam Deck dock options for ways to turn the portable into a living room console alternative.
