DIY Custom Steam Machine Achieved with Fiber Optic HDMI and Bazzite

Valve’s announcement of its new Steam Machine was met with an alternative approach by one enthusiast. According to a report by Tom’s Hardware, Matthew Brunelle opted not to purchase the new Steam Machine but instead transformed his existing PC into a dedicated couch gaming system through a DIY solution.

Brunelle’s method combined a 50-foot (approximately 15 meters) fiber optic HDMI 2.1 cable, Bazzite (a Linux-based gaming OS), and the Steam Controller 2. At first glance, it might appear to be a simple matter of laying out a long cable, but his approach addresses fundamental challenges of wireless streaming and aims to recreate a seamless console-like user experience.

Background of the DIY Project

Brunelle’s PC is set up in his home office, primarily for desktop work, while his TV is located in the living room, physically separated from the PC. The simplest solution to bridge this gap would be to use wireless streaming services like Moonlight, Sunshine, or Steam Remote Play.

However, wireless streaming often comes with noticeable latency. While this may be tolerable for some types of games, it can significantly impact the responsiveness needed for action or shooting games. Moreover, wireless streaming essentially mirrors the PC screen and does not provide the seamless transition between power on/off states that consoles offer. Additionally, since Brunelle uses NixOS as his main operating system, he had to manually connect cables and switch audio and video output settings whenever he wanted to use his PC for gaming.

The introduction of Bazzite solved many of these challenges at once. Brunelle installed Bazzite on a third SSD added to his PC. With Bazzite, the system automatically switches the output to the TV upon reboot in Steam’s Big Picture mode and remembers the HDMI audio output settings. This eliminates the need for manual configuration changes.

Role of the Fiber Optic HDMI 2.1 Cable

To address the latency issues inherent in wireless streaming, Brunelle opted for a physical wired connection. He used a 50-foot fiber optic HDMI 2.1 cable, which cost $75. Thanks to the fiber optic design, the cable delivers signals over long distances without any degradation or additional latency. The cable is neatly routed along the home’s molding to maintain aesthetics.

Currently, his TV is a TCL Roku TV with a refresh rate capped at 60Hz. However, Brunelle plans to upgrade to an LG C5 OLED TV soon, which he anticipates will fully utilize the bandwidth capabilities of the HDMI 2.1 cable. Notably, the recent support for HDMI 2.1 on Linux with AMD GPUs is a significant development. This aligns with the release of Linux 7.2-rc1, which has integrated AMDGPU HDMI 2.1 FRL (Fixed Rate Link) support.

Completing the Setup with Steam Controller 2

The final piece of the puzzle is the Steam Controller 2. This controller features symmetrical analog sticks, a large touchpad, and rear buttons, offering excellent compatibility with both Steam and Linux. While Brunelle had been using a DualSense controller previously, he found the Steam Controller 2 to be more comfortable and reliable, with no connectivity issues.

Although he was satisfied with the DualSense controller, the Steam Controller 2’s reliability and superior ergonomics ultimately convinced him to make the switch. The improved control experience significantly enhances the quality of couch gaming sessions, providing a frustration-free environment.

How It Works

Brunelle’s setup works as follows: He powers on his PC and selects Bazzite from the boot menu. From that point, Bazzite automatically switches the output to the living room TV and routes audio to the living room speakers. Using the Steam Controller 2, he navigates the Big Picture mode to play games, creating a fully console-like experience while leveraging the high processing power of his PC.

One of the key advantages of this setup is that the PC can still be used for work as usual. Since Bazzite is installed on a separate SSD, it operates independently of his main operating system, NixOS, functioning as a dedicated gaming boot option without interfering with regular PC tasks.

Comparison with Existing Options

Valve’s new Steam Machine is a dedicated hardware solution running SteamOS, designed to deliver a console-like experience with minimal setup. However, for DIY enthusiasts, repurposing an existing PC and upgrading only the necessary components can offer significant advantages. This approach is especially appealing to those who already own a high-performance graphics card, as it minimizes additional hardware investment.

Bazzite, a Fedora-based Linux distribution, is optimized for gaming PCs and handheld consoles. It integrates Steam Big Picture mode and Handheld Daemon (HDD) to provide a console-like experience, including controller support and automatic output switching. While it supports NVIDIA GPUs, it offers a more seamless experience when paired with AMD GPUs. Advances in Linux’s support for HDMI 2.1 have also made high refresh rates and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) more accessible.

Editorial Opinion

In the short term, this DIY case serves as a counterpoint to Valve’s new Steam Machine. There is undoubtedly a demand for repurposing existing PCs for couch gaming, and the combination of Bazzite and fiber optic HDMI provides a compelling solution. However, it is questionable whether this method will gain widespread adoption among average users. The technical knowledge required for tasks like cable installation, managing additional SSDs, and navigating boot menus may deter less tech-savvy individuals. This example instead highlights the freedom and flexibility of PC gaming, which stands in stark contrast to the “plug-and-play” convenience of dedicated consoles like the Steam Machine.

From a long-term perspective, advancements in wireless streaming technology may eventually render such DIY solutions unnecessary. With the adoption of Wi-Fi 7 and low-latency codecs, wireless streaming could achieve performance comparable to wired connections, diminishing the appeal of physically laying cables. Nonetheless, the growing maturity of the Linux gaming ecosystem is lowering the barriers to entry for DIY solutions like this one.

References

• Tom’s Hardware — Published: 2026-07-04