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The published Steam Machine eGPU reports use an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT—not a “970 XT.” In the most specific comparison available, Cyberpunk 2077 ran 69% faster at 1080p, 58% faster at 1440p, and 183% faster at 4K than on the built-in GPU, according to ETA Prime testing summarized by TweakTown. Those gains apply to that game and test setup, not to every title.
What the RX 9070 XT results actually show
The reported results are not a single, controlled comparison across games. They come from different reports, systems and test conditions, so treat each figure as a result for its named game and settings—not as a general Steam Machine performance guarantee.
Cyberpunk 2077: uplift changes with resolution
TweakTown’s August 12, 2026 summary of ETA Prime testing reports these frame-rate increases over the Steam Machine’s built-in GPU:
| Resolution | Reported RX 9070 XT uplift | Attribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 69% faster | ETA Prime testing, summarized by TweakTown |
| 1440p | 58% faster | ETA Prime testing, summarized by TweakTown |
| 4K | 183% faster | ETA Prime testing, summarized by TweakTown |
The 183% figure is the largest reported uplift in these sources, and it is specifically for Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K. TweakTown also notes CPU bottlenecking and lower GPU utilization in the test, with gaming clocks around 3.2 GHz compared with a cited peak boost figure of 4.8 GHz. An eGPU’s results therefore do not translate directly to what the same graphics card would deliver in a full-bandwidth desktop.
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Other eGPU game results
Zelpio’s August 21, 2026 report describes a build using an ASRock Tai Chi Radeon RX 9070 XT and an Aostar AG03 dock. It reports more than 130 FPS in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart at 1440p on very high settings, and an average in the mid-90s in Forza Horizon 6 at 1440p ultra. These are results from that report’s setup, not figures directly comparable to the Cyberpunk percentages.
Zelpio also says Ratchet and Clank initially rendered using both the internal and external GPUs, landing at roughly 16 FPS, until the game was directed to use the RX 9070 XT. This illustrates why GPU selection and the display connection matter as much as installing the hardware.
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Do not treat a short user test as a benchmark
Tom’s Hardware summarized a user-reported Crimson Desert test that exceeded 100 FPS on High. The original test lasted about a minute and did not include a matched stock-GPU comparison. It cannot establish sustained performance or a percentage uplift.
How the eGPU is connected—and what the mod changes
The reported setup repurposes the Steam Machine’s internal 2230 M.2 SSD connection for an M.2-to-OCuLink adapter and external GPU dock. In Zelpio’s build, the system drive was cloned to an external USB-connected SSD, and the monitor was connected directly to the eGPU. The report describes an X4 Gen 4 connection.
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This is not a standard plug-and-play upgrade. The M.2 slot is no longer available for the internal SSD in the described arrangement, so the owner must account for external boot storage. The dock, GPU, power supply, adapter and cabling sit outside the console, and operating-system configuration may be needed to select the external GPU. OCuLink bandwidth and the Steam Machine CPU also constrain performance; a high-end card cannot overcome those limits in every game.
How the stock Steam Machine compares
GamersNexus’ June 24, 2026 review measured the built-in GPU at 41 FPS average in Starfield at 1080p Ultra and 27 FPS average in Oblivion Remastered at 1080p Ultra without upscaling. It also reported a 50 FPS average in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. These results show why a single stock-performance label can mislead: performance depends on the game and test conditions. GamersNexus found results near RX 7600 performance in several tests, rather than a universal one-to-one match.
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Those stock figures are not matched eGPU comparisons, so they should not be used to calculate the RX 9070 XT’s uplift in those games. When comparing reports, check the game, resolution, graphics preset, upscaling or frame generation, whether the number is an average or a low-percentile result, and whether the monitor is driven by the eGPU.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this setup worth building?
An RX 9070 XT eGPU can deliver substantial gains in some reported Steam Machine tests, but the build is best understood as an enthusiast experiment rather than a simple console upgrade. It makes most sense for someone comfortable with external hardware, moving the boot drive, configuring GPU use and accepting CPU and link-bandwidth limits. If the goal is a straightforward, predictable boost, these reports do not establish that this is a plug-and-play path or that every game will benefit equally.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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