The oversized memory experiment is knowingly impractical, but the video turns that absurd premise into a useful examination of the Steam Machine’s internal design. Installing 128GB of RAM is presented as a stunt rather than a sensible recommendation, especially when the kit reportedly costs more than the computer itself. That self-awareness prevents the project from becoming misleading, while the successful boot provides a clear answer to the central compatibility question: this particular system recognized the unusually large dual-stick configuration.
Most of the video is devoted not to performance testing but to reaching the memory slots. The presenter carefully removes the enclosure, storage board, video-output board, front I/O assembly, antennas, fan, and power-supply section before the RAM becomes accessible. Each ribbon cable, locator pin, connector, screw type, and antenna route receives attention. The result is far more detailed than a typical upgrade demonstration and should be genuinely helpful to inexperienced owners who need to see both disassembly and reassembly rather than being told to reverse the earlier steps.
That level of detail also supports the presenter’s argument that the upgrade is not especially complicated in a technical sense but is still daunting. The memory modules themselves are easy to replace once exposed, yet reaching them requires handling fragile cables, tiny antenna connectors, exposed ports, adhesive tape, and several daughterboards. Describing the process as roughly a six-and-a-half out of ten in difficulty feels consistent with what is shown. The repeated reminders to use plastic tools, photograph cable routing, avoid forcing connectors, and keep track of distinct screws make the tutorial unusually attentive to the ways a novice could damage the machine.
The presentation remains energetic and conversational throughout an extremely long teardown. Jokes about the extravagant RAM kit, the number of steps, and the internal board hierarchy keep the mechanical process from becoming completely dry. However, the same loose style produces substantial repetition. The presenter repeatedly revisits criticism from viewers who considered the upgrade easy, and the defensive commentary occasionally distracts from the otherwise constructive distinction between technical simplicity and psychological intimidation.
The compatibility result is interesting, but the performance portion is much weaker than the teardown. The Steam Machine reports approximately 125GB of usable memory and launches Cyberpunk 2077 successfully, demonstrating that the system can operate with the kit installed. Beyond that, the comparison is openly described as non-equivalent because the game is tested in a different location under conditions that are not controlled closely enough to isolate the effect of the RAM. Suggestions of a small frame-rate increase or improved one-percent lows are therefore tentative observations rather than reliable benchmark conclusions.
The final recommendation is appropriately restrained. The presenter emphasizes that capacity beyond ordinary gaming needs provides little practical benefit and identifies the move from one memory channel to two as the more meaningful change. A second matching module or a modest 32GB configuration is framed as the sensible upgrade, while the 128GB kit remains an entertaining compatibility demonstration. Although the video does not rigorously determine the performance advantage of dual-channel memory, it succeeds as an unusually thorough service guide and as confirmation that an extreme configuration can function.
Pros
- Provides an exceptionally detailed disassembly and reassembly guide, including screw identification, cable routing, connector handling, and safety precautions.
- Clearly separates the novelty of installing 128GB from the more practical benefit of adding a second memory module.
- Demonstrates that the tested Steam Machine successfully recognizes and operates with the large-capacity kit.
- Maintains an engaging, approachable tone during a lengthy and mechanically complex procedure.
Cons
- The gaming comparison is not controlled closely enough to support firm conclusions about frame-rate or one-percent-low improvements.
- Repeated responses to viewer criticism make parts of the presentation feel defensive and unnecessarily prolonged.
- The extensive teardown dominates the video, leaving relatively little meaningful performance analysis after the upgrade is completed.
This is a far stronger upgrade tutorial than it is a performance investigation, offering meticulous guidance through a surprisingly involved teardown while treating its extravagant hardware choice with appropriate humor and skepticism. The weak benchmarking limits what can be concluded about gaming gains, but the compatibility result and practical installation advice still make the experiment worthwhile.
