Reports of a Steam Machine paired with an external Radeon RX 9070 XT show higher frame rates in several games, but not a universal threefold boost. In ETA Prime results summarized by TweakTown, Cyberpunk 2077 was reported 69% faster at 1080p, 58% faster at 1440p, and 183% faster at 4K. Those figures describe one game and test setup; the 4K result is not a prediction for every title. The articles identify the card as an RX 9070 XT, not a “970 XT.”
What does “triple frame rates” mean in these reports?
The largest specific uplift cited is Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K: ETA Prime’s reported result was 183% faster with the RX 9070 XT eGPU than with the Steam Machine’s built-in GPU, according to TweakTown’s August 2026 summary. That means nearly, but not exactly, three times the frame rate in that particular comparison.
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| Cyberpunk 2077 resolution | Reported uplift with RX 9070 XT eGPU | Attribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 69% faster than the built-in GPU | ETA Prime benchmark, summarized by TweakTown (2026) |
| 1440p | 58% faster than the built-in GPU | ETA Prime benchmark, summarized by TweakTown (2026) |
| 4K | 183% faster than the built-in GPU | ETA Prime benchmark, summarized by TweakTown (2026) |
The uplift changes with resolution even within Cyberpunk 2077. TweakTown also reports lower GPU utilization and CPU bottlenecks, so these percentages should not be treated as the RX 9070 XT’s general advantage or as a controlled comparison across games. The primary ETA Prime video and complete test table are not available in the cited summary.
What frame rates have been reported in other games?
Other published results provide examples of what this modified setup ran, not a single comparable benchmark suite. Their presets and test conditions differ, and the figures below should not be compared as if they came from one test bench.
#1 Best Overall
- Powered by Radeon RX 9070 XT
- WINDFORCE Cooling System
- Hawk Fan
- Server-grade Thermal Conductive Gel
- RGB Lighting
| Game and setup | Reported result | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, RX 9070 XT eGPU | More than 130 FPS at 1440p, very high settings | Zelpio’s report, August 2026; initially the game used both GPUs and ran at roughly 16 FPS until it was directed to the RX 9070 XT. |
| Forza Horizon 6, RX 9070 XT eGPU | Average frame rate in the mid-90s at 1440p, ultra settings | Zelpio’s report, August 2026. |
| Crimson Desert, RX 9070 XT eGPU | Over 100 FPS on High | A user result summarized by Tom’s Hardware, August 2026; the test lasted about a minute and has no matched stock-GPU comparison. |
For context, GamersNexus’ Steam Machine review reported stock-GPU averages of 41 FPS in Starfield at 1080p/Ultra, 27 FPS in Oblivion Remastered at 1080p/Ultra without upscaling, and 50 FPS in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. These are useful examples of stock performance, not direct baselines for the eGPU results above: the games and conditions differ. GamersNexus found results near RX 7600 performance in several tests, rather than a universal one-to-one match.
How the RX 9070 XT eGPU setup works
The reported build is an enthusiast modification that reroutes the Steam Machine’s internal M.2 connection to an external graphics dock. Zelpio describes using an ASRock Tai Chi Radeon RX 9070 XT, an Aostar AG03 eGPU dock, and an M.2-to-OCuLink adapter on an X4 Gen 4 connection.
Rank #2
- Axial-tech fans now feature a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal heat transfer, lowering GPU temperatures for enhanced performance and reliability
- 2.5-slot design allows for greater build compatibility while maintaining cooling performance
- Dual-ball fan bearings last up to twice as long as standard conventional sleeve bearings designs
- 0dB technology lets you enjoy light gaming in relative silence
- Repurpose the internal M.2 slot. The adapter takes the place of the Steam Machine’s internal 2230 M.2 SSD connection.
- Move the system drive. In Zelpio’s build, the system drive was cloned to an external SSD connected over USB, and the machine booted from that drive.
- Connect the external GPU. The M.2-to-OCuLink adapter links the machine to the dock and RX 9070 XT.
- Connect the display to the eGPU. In the reported arrangement, the monitor is plugged into the external graphics card so it renders and outputs the image.
- Check which GPU the game is using. Zelpio found that Ratchet and Clank initially used both the built-in and external GPUs; directing the game to the RX 9070 XT resolved the roughly 16 FPS result.
What limits performance, and what does the build cost in convenience?
- CPU limits: TweakTown’s summary of ETA Prime’s testing notes CPU bottlenecks and lower GPU utilization. A faster card cannot remove a limit imposed elsewhere in the system.
- Connection bandwidth: OCuLink over the reported X4 Gen 4 connection does not provide the same bandwidth as a full-bandwidth desktop graphics-card slot. The eGPU therefore should not be expected to perform like the same card in a conventional desktop.
- Storage displacement: Using the internal M.2 slot for the adapter means the SSD must be relocated and the system configured to boot from external storage, as in the reported build.
- Extra hardware and setup: The arrangement needs a dock, GPU, power supply, adapter, cabling, external storage enclosure, and operating-system configuration. It is not a standard plug-and-play Steam Machine upgrade.
- GPU selection: A game may not automatically render on the external card, as Zelpio’s initial Ratchet and Clank result illustrates.
The Crimson Desert figure is especially limited as evidence: Tom’s Hardware describes it as an initial test of about a minute, with no matched result from the built-in GPU. It establishes neither sustained performance nor a percentage uplift.
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It may suit an enthusiast who already accepts external hardware, displaced internal storage, cabling, and manual configuration in exchange for the possibility of higher frame rates in GPU-demanding games. It is a poor fit for someone expecting a simple, guaranteed upgrade or a consistent threefold improvement. The published figures vary by game and resolution, and the CPU and OCuLink connection can prevent a high-end card from reaching desktop-class performance.
Rank #3
- Chipset: AMD RX 9070 XT
- Memory: 16 GB GDDR6
- XFX SWFT Triple Fan Cooling Solution
- Boost Clock Up to 2970 MHz
Before weighing a build, compare results only when the game, resolution, graphics preset, upscaling or frame generation, FPS metric, and display connection are alike. The available reports do not form a single controlled cross-game test set, so their numbers support a qualified estimate—not a reliable promise for a particular game.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Zelpio, Steam Machine eGPU Upgrade: Testing an RX 9070 XT Over Oculink, published and updated August 21, 2026.
- TweakTown, Steam Machine achieves up to 183% higher frame rates with an RX 9070 XT hooked up to an eGPU dock, August 12, 2026; summary of ETA Prime testing.
- GamersNexus, Valve Steam Machine Review: GPU & CPU Benchmarks, SteamOS Test, Thermals, Noise, and Price, June 24, 2026.
- Tom’s Hardware, Modder adds Radeon RX 9070 XT eGPU to Steam Machine, runs Crimson Desert at over 100 FPS on High, August 11, 2026.
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