Steam Machine benchmarks spotted on Geekbench, as early reviews might be underway

Movement around Valve's highly anticipated Steam Machine is starting to pick up. Valve has been very vague about the console's release window, instead saying it will definitely launch "this summer." However, we might have some new information on our hands that gives us a better idea of how close the launch actually is.

Recently, it was leaked that Valve has started seeding Steam Machine samples to reviewers ahead of launch. There might be some truth to that rumor, since two new Geekbench entries of the Steam Machine were just spotted on the famous benchmarking platform. The console has appeared under the "Fremont" codename, which was previously used for the Steam Machine as well. Its official identifier on the site is the Authentic AMD Family 25 Model 124 Stepping 0, which is in line with earlier data.

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What's unique about these two new benchmarks is that, in addition to relative performance data, these benchmark entries confirm the Linux-based SteamOS operating system that the console will use. Valve has recently issued a SteamOS update that includes official support for the Steam Machine hardware, and this is probably the clearest official indication that the Steam Machine is just around the corner.

Another important detail in the entry is the CPU, which is labeled as an "AMD Custom CPU 1772" without any specific name or architecture attached. The entry does confirm that the processor will have 6 cores and 12 threads, so it is likely a Ryzen 5-level SKU with a custom layout, of course. The entry also shows a base clock of 4.86 GHz and 16 MB of L3 cache.

The two entries have very similar scores as expected. One entry shows a single-core score of 2334 and a multi-core score of 7316, while the other has a slightly lower single-core score of 2282 but a higher multi-core score of 7392. To put it into context, the PlayStation 5's CPU scores 1218 in the single-core on Geekbench, which is almost half that of the Steam Machine. This could mean that Valve's upcoming PC-console hybrid is much more powerful than the PS5, at least as far as the CPU is concerned.

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This recent string of Geekbench entries lines up with earlier rumors that reviewers might already have their hands on the Steam Machine. Perhaps the Steam Machine is closer to launch than we might think. Pricing remains a mystery, and that's not a positive sign, especially since Valve has previously blamed the global memory shortage for the delay. It seems increasingly unlikely that Valve will manage to keep the Steam Machine below the dreaded $1000 mark.