A new do-it-yourself (DIY) Steam Machine build is drawing attention after a YouTube creator demonstrated how a discarded mining board built around a defective PlayStation 5 chip can be repurposed into a low-cost gaming PC that can even run modern games like Spiderman 2 reasonably well.
YouTube channel ETA Prime showcased a custom Steam Machine-style setup using the ASRock BC-250 mining blade, a board originally designed for cryptocurrency mining. The hardware relies on a B-grade PlayStation 5 system-on-chip with certain components disabled.
The chip features six Zen 2 CPU cores with 12 threads, 24 RDNA 2 compute units, and 16GB of GDDR6 memory. By comparison, a standard PS5 includes eight Zen 2 cores and 36 GPU compute units. This means the BC-250 chip has roughly 25% fewer CPU cores and 33% fewer GPU cores than Sony’s console.
Solid 1080p Gaming on Cheap Hardware
With crypto mining no longer profitable on general-purpose hardware, BC-250 boards have begun appearing on resale platforms. ETA Prime reported seeing listings priced as low as $100 to $120. Independent checks show availability closer to $150, depending on the seller.
Despite reduced specifications, the board delivered playable results at 1080p after overclocking the GPU to 2000MHz. In testing, Left 4 Dead 2 ran well above 150 frames per second at maximum settings. Spider-Man 2 averaged around 60 frames per second at medium settings with FSR set to Balanced. The Witcher 3 reached roughly 75 frames per second on high settings, while Forza Horizon 5 averaged about 80 frames per second at medium settings. Cyberpunk 2077 ran close to 60 frames per second on average at medium settings.
Limitations and Required Workarounds
Because the BC-250 was designed for server and mining use, it comes with notable constraints. ETA Prime had to install a custom BIOS to enable gaming functionality. Storage support is limited to a single PCIe 2.0 x2 M.2 slot, restricting performance and upgrade options.
The board also does not fit standard PC cases or cooling solutions. Compatible cases are available on secondary markets for around $50, though availability varies.
Still a Cheap Path Into PC Gaming
Accounting for storage and a power supply, the total cost of the build falls between $200 and $300. Some BC-250 listings include a power supply, which can further reduce costs.
One major advantage of the setup is the inclusion of 16GB of GDDR6 memory, avoiding the impact of current RAM price increases. While the platform requires compromises and technical effort, ETA Prime’s testing shows the BC-250 can serve as a functional and affordable entry point for PC gaming.
