PS5 APU Repurposing Revolutionizes Custom Steam Machines

Gamers have found an innovative way to build custom Steam Machines using repurposed PS5 APUs. The BC-250 board, a modified version of the original APU, includes six Zen 2 cores, a 24 CU RDNA 2 graphics chip, and 16GB of shared GDDR5 memory. This setup allows for SteamOS installation and performance comparable to a real Steam Machine.

The BC-250 is not a full-fledged PS5 APU, with two CPU cores disabled, but modders have managed to unlock them, increasing overall performance. The GPU's 40 CUs are also accessible, providing a significant boost in gaming performance.

Tom's Hardware tested the setup and found it delivered performance close to that of the real Steam Machine, costing over $1,000. In contrast, you can acquire the BC-250 board for around $300 on eBay, with optional 3D-printed cases and power supplies available.