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A YouTuber has successfully repurposed an Intel-powered iMac from 2019 into a gaming PC using the operating system found on the Steam Deck. The result is a surprisingly powerful gaming rig, given its outdated specs, that cost just $100 to put together.
Installing Linux on an older PC isn’t a new concept, but we’ve got Valve to thank for making it an option for an upcycled gaming PC that’s easy to use. Valve’s development of SteamOS for the Steam Deck is why that device is on our best handheld list, and why so many manufacturers are looking to install SteamOS on new and more powerful devices.
YouTube channel ETA Prime demonstrated this unusual reclamation project in a recent video. The YouTuber picked up a 2019 iMac, with 8GB of RAM, a quad-core Intel Core i5 7500 CPU, and an AMD Radeon RX 560X GPU with 4GB of VRAM, all for just $100, in an effort to see if it was possible to use it as a secondhand SteamOS PC.
They were able to use the recovery image from a Steam Deck and install it onto the iMac’s SSD. The installation was mostly painless, according to the video, although a USB sound card was needed to get the audio working. Using a Bluetooth controller was also challenging, requiring a few workarounds to get the mapping to work as intended. They also used a plugin to limit the 65W CPU to just 40W, to avoid thermal throttling.
An iMac of this era wasn’t really intended for playing games, but that doesn’t mean it can’t deliver decent performance. Older games like Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal are shown reaching 100fps using high graphics presets. Meanwhile, Forza Horizon 5 was able to run at a consistent 50-60fps by dialing the display resolution down to a less GPU intensive 900p, while Hades 2 is able to reach 60fps at 1080p.
Even GPU-heavy Cyberpunk 2077 was playable at around 40-50fps without using AMD FSR, although only at a low 720p resolution. The AMD Radeon RX 560 GPU’s 4GB VRAM is the biggest bottleneck here, but the end result is impressive regardless.
This iMac might be a little less portable than a Steam Deck, but thanks to SteamOS, it’s got a new lease of life. I could see myself using a recycled Mac like this for Steam gaming myself, either playing older games directly or by using SteamOS’ Remote Play functionality to stream them from my newer gaming PC.
Of course, there are better ways to play games in 2025, and you might just prefer to pick up a more powerful handheld instead. Check out our Steam Deck OLED review to see why it continues to our favorite handheld. Alternatively, see our AOKZOE A1X review to see why this challenger is such a powerful Windows 11 alternative for gamers.
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