The Phawx builds $250 PS5 Linux PC, shows how to unlock 40CU RDNA2 GPU spec
Valve’s Steam Machine starts at $1,049 for the 512GB model and rises to $1,349 with 2TB of storage. Those prices have renewed interest in the AMD BC-250, an unusual cryptomining board that can be converted into a compact Linux gaming PC for around $250. Valve’s system costs €1,039 and €1,359 in Europe. Worth adding that the system isn’t new; the first stories on BC-250 are dated back to 2022. However recently there were to important developments that made this platform a bit more interesting.
BC-250 boards previously appeared for around $100 to $120, although prices have increased as more gaming builds have appeared online. The Phawx recently tested a complete setup that cost $250, including the board, case, power supply, fans, power button, and a 128GB SATA SSD . He considers that price reasonable for a secondary gaming system but does not recommend spending more than $300 on a complete build.
From cryptocurrency miner to PS5 Linux PC
The BC-250 was developed as a cryptocurrency mining board using harvested PlayStation 5-class silicon. It is a complete single-board computer rather than a graphics card. It combines six Zen 2 CPU cores, 12 threads, 16GB of soldered GDDR6 memory, and a GPU with 24 compute units enabled by default.
The PlayStation 5 APU physically contains 40 compute units but uses 36 of them . Some BC-250 samples appear to have defects concentrated around the CPU section while retaining more working GPU units. A Linux kernel patch can change the GPU enumeration and dispatch masks, allowing compatible boards to expose all 40 CUs. A newer live manager can also activate working units without rebuilding the kernel, although not every board will operate with all 40 enabled.
RDNA2 GPU at 40CU unlock, Source: Github
As shown, this is not a permanent unlock. The script runs when the PC starts and enables the additional GPU compute units for that session. Users can automate the process in several ways, but the chip still defaults to the lower CU count unless the script runs.
Source: The Phawx
The Phawx shows 40 CU gaming at 1080p
The Phawx tested his BC-250 with all 40 CUs running at 2.2 GHz and the six-core CPU at 4.1 GHz. The modified board delivered around 410 GB/s of measured memory bandwidth. His air-cooled setup operated close to 90°C under sustained loads despite undervolting and a custom airflow shroud.
Source: The Phawx
His game tests show that the unlocked BC-250 is best treated as a 1080p and 60 FPS machine. God of War Ragnarök, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Resident Evil Requiem, Cyberpunk 2077, Returnal, and Doom: The Dark Ages were all playable with adjusted settings. The GPU can often handle better image settings, but the reduced six-core Zen 2 CPU lowers minimum performance and prevents the system from consistently targeting high refresh rates.
Cheap hardware, but not a simple build
Once configured, the BC-250 is close to a PS5-derived Linux PC without the console firmware restrictions or jailbreak requirements. Users can install Linux, Steam, standard PC games, emulators, and desktop applications. The 16GB of shared GDDR6 memory is already installed, removing the need to buy separate system RAM or graphics memory.
The board was designed for passively cooled mining racks, not conventional PC cases. A finished system needs forced airflow, a power supply, storage, a custom enclosure, and Linux configuration. The Phawx used two 120mm fans with a homemade shroud to push air through the original heatsink. Display output is limited to DisplayPort, and television users may need an HDMI adapter that can restrict features such as variable refresh rate.
AMD BC-250 has PS5 APU
The BC-250 is not a direct substitute for Valve’s Steam Machine. Valve offers a compact, quiet, supported, and ready-to-use PC. The BC-250 offers a similar living-room Linux gaming role for a fraction of the price, but only for users prepared to build the enclosure, manage cooling, patch software, and work around hardware limitations.
Whatever the AMD and Sony licensing arrangement looks like, leaving this hardware to the second-hand mining market feels like a wasted opportunity. Gamers are clearly interested in compact PS5-class Linux systems, yet AMD has focused on $4,000 Ryzen AI Max+ “Strix Halo” machines instead.
Source: BC-250 40CU Unlock (Github)
