The Steam Machine could pull some pretty big moves with just 8GB VRAM, thanks to a savvy Valve engineer

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Subscribe to our newsletter I'm not the only one sweating about the Steam Machine featuring just 8GB VRAM, but it might not actually be a big deal.

At least, it won't be if a new Linux memory management proposal by Valve engineer Natalie Vock is anything to go by, as it could help GPUs with entry-level specs and the company's own devices boost fps thanks to good old optimization.Currently working within Valve's Linux graphics driver team as an independent contractor, the 21-year-old developer has developed two kernel patches and accompanying utilities that specifically combat memory management.

In her blog post, the computer science student jokes that "Carnage erupts inside the kernel driver as every application fights for as much GPU memory as it can hold on to," before jokingly proclaiming, "That is, until now.

Because I fixed it."Vock explains that Linux normally uses a dubbed eviction in "kernel land", which effectively ditches data to prevent crashes when maxing out VRAM ## Editor's Note The gaming community will surely have mixed reactions to this news. Source: [GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/desktop-pc/the-steam-machine-could-pull-some-pretty-big-moves-with-just-8gb-vram-thanks-to-a-savvy-valve-engineer/)