If you own a Steam Machine and believe that budget faceplate options aren’t suitable, you essentially have three opportunities for personalizing your front panel. The first option is to purchase a faceplate from platforms such as Etsy. The second option is to utilize Valve’s open-source Inkterface project, which allows you to create an E-Ink display that can show performance monitoring information. The third option is to buy a customized panel made by accessory manufacturers, with JSAUX recently launching their Steam Machine E-Ink and Pixel Matrix faceplates.
Both faceplates provide unique experiences. The E-Ink model features a sharp black-and-white display, while the PixelMatrix offers colorful visuals and nostalgic appeal. Each has several display modes available through SteamOS’s quick settings menu, integrated using the Decky Loader plugin. JSAUX promises downloadable software via Steam in early October, aiming to simplify the setup for users who may not be familiar with DIY modifications.
Among the two options, the PixelMatrix seems to have a slight edge, especially for performance monitoring due to its more frequent refresh rates. The E-Ink model refreshes only once per minute, which can be less informative for real-time performance data. However, the E-Ink display excels as a digital photo frame, presenting detailed images better than the PixelMatrix’s chunky LED representation.
Both faceplates, however, have some design flaws, including misalignment with the Steam Machine’s ports and a misleading FPS counter that shows the monitor’s refresh rate instead of actual game performance. Despite these issues, the E-Ink faceplate refreshes less intrusively compared to Valve’s Inkterface design and offers more versatile display options.
Pricing for the E-Ink and PixelMatrix faceplates stands at $100 and $90, respectively, which may seem steep for some. However, when considering the cost of assembling a DIY Inkterface panel and the potential expenses of additional components, the ready-made alternatives present reasonable value—especially since they come pre-assembled and do not require soldering.
In conclusion, while the price tag may categorize them as luxury items for Steam Machine owners, the benefits of convenience, usability, and customization opportunities make JSAUX’s offerings a worthy consideration.
