● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact
Valve to fix premature overheating warning on Steam Machines with BIOS update
Key points
- Red light warning triggers prematurely at 95/90°C.
- Upcoming BIOS update will raise thresholds to 100/100°C.
- Throttling occurs at 100°C; shutdown at 105°C.
Overview of the Issue
Valve has recognized a bug affecting the Steam Machine, where the red light warning system triggers excessively early. Users have reported that the warning lights activate even when temperatures are significantly lower than the indicated thresholds.
Details on the Warning System
The Steam Machine's CPU/GPU has a current warning threshold set at 95°C and 90°C, but testing revealed it is safe at temperatures of 81°C for CPU and 71°C for GPU. Valve confirmed this issue with users through Steam Support communications.
Planned BIOS Fix
A BIOS update is scheduled to raise the temperature warning thresholds to 100°C for both CPU and GPU, anticipating better alignment with actual performance metrics. This change aims to prevent erroneous warnings during normal operating conditions.
Operation Temperatures
The CPU used in the Steam Machine is a custom mobile-tuned model with a TDP of 30W, configured to throttle at 100°C and to shut down for safety if it reaches 105°C. This is essential for maintaining operational safety during extended gaming sessions.
Future Updates
While no specific release date for the BIOS update has been announced, Valve suggests that it will be available soon. This update is expected to address user concerns regarding performance throttling and shutdown alerts.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Valve confirmed that the Steam Machine's red light overheating warning is activating too early, due to a bug in the BIOS. A fix will raise the CPU/GPU temperature warning thresholds from 95/90°C to 100/100°C, improving user experience during gaming sessions.