iamvin22
Industry Verified
Cold blooded.
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Valve and Xi3 announce Steam-based mini-PC
- Thread starter ToyMachine228
- Start date
Cold blooded.
CountAntonius
Member
I don't think this is THE steambox at all though i do wonder how Steambox will compete with next gen consoles price wise. Will they be willing to take a loss on hardware for marketshare?
I actually care more about a gaming OS on android that basically boots you straight into Steam and eliminates all the other unneeded processes. I hope if they make that it will be a free download. I rather build my own steambox.
I actually care more about a gaming OS on android that basically boots you straight into Steam and eliminates all the other unneeded processes. I hope if they make that it will be a free download. I rather build my own steambox.
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
Talk about jumping to conclusions. I really don't think this is the coveted "steambox" that Valve is developing. Will this play Half Life 3? Probably not. Will this have virtual reality? Hell no. It's probably just the poor man's steambox, no offense intended.
Reading their website, and the current design (we must remember that they might have changed things up completely for all we know) appears to have the GPU on the "Secondary I/O Board", so it's technically a discreet GPU, although passively cooled at this point. As I say, though, it would be possible to put a reasonably powerful discrete GPU on there if they divvied up the central cooling channel between the CPU heatsink and a GPU heatsink.
For just 500 you should lower your expectations though.
grimshawish
Banned
Half Life 3 doesn't exist though.
The Hermit
Member
This is crazy awesome... I never though I would see a PC that tiny.
It could very well be the so called steambox.
It could very well be the so called steambox.
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
Well neither does the steambox...yet.
Can Crusher
Banned
So you think the odds are that Valve is gonna pull out a couple of billions and launch an entertainment system to compete with Xbox and PS4 and Wii U?
I don't see how that makes sense for them.
Polygon:
AgentOtaku
Member
love it (^___^)
Felix Lighter
Member
I fear uncertainty.
outunderthestars
Banned
Can we please not get nasty in this thread?
I'm really fascinated by the potential of this hardware and don't want to see the thread derailed.
Heh, I wouldnt call $1000 a poor mans thing. For some console gamers expecting everything to be 399 or less its a reality check.
Basileus777
Member
A company as small as Valve selling hardware at a loss would just asking for trouble. They shouldn't be entertaining any thoughts of directly competing with the big 3 in the living room. They need to minimize the risk, not put the company on the line in an incredibly competitive and not very profitable market.
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
No idea, maybe they're working aside other companies on that as well. All I know is that there have been hints that Newell wants to change up a lot of shit such as controls and the way the industry is heading in general. There have also been hints at virtual reality in the works. I'm just saying I highly doubt this is the device that people have been referring to.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
You guys hyped yourself and have no one to blame but yourself. -_-
So when the next Xbox blows this out of the water, how does Valve explain that? I'm just playing devils advocate here, I'm not actually interested in a Steambox.
I know we don't have the legitimate steambox specs yet, but why would you pay for something that can't do what most mid level computers can do today fairly easily. Yea the $500 dollar mark version won't be able to do much, but the 7a is the $1000 dollar model that they tout as their gaming machine and even that seems a little lackluster.
la flama blanca
Banned
Why did people expect something crazy again?
grimshawish
Banned
... and probably their best game they've made so far
Nice game DOTA. But have to wonder what everyone else at Valve is doing, especially when you look at Steam this year.
They never said they were making their own but.
Disgusting word used by disgusting people.
CountAntonius
Member
To trick plug and play console gamers into thinking they are buying a console and open them up to the world of steam and PC gaming.
AMD APU for richland is ~700GFLOPs.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6520/amd-announces-their-first-8000m-gpus
Considering the configurations, I'd go with the HD 8600M GPU in an APU chip, which would give you 633GFLOPs, over twice what 360 could give you... and would keep up with PC mobile designs for at least 3 or 4 years, especially considering intel. You also get all that DX11 goodness, and 8GB ram (though 4 would be more than enough considering linux allows all resources to go for gaming)
If they could offer that in a ~40watt box like their kickstarter suggested, it would be quite a good PC, not to mention the APU CPU is a quadcore running north of 3GHz, though I'm sure clock speeds have to be tuned for the box.
Also considering you could build this yourself for $300, I don't think the price has to be very high, and most of the original cost in their design went to the custom casing that would be drastically reduced with mass production... I'm actually a bit excited for this thing.
CrunchyFrog
Member
Reposting/rewording for a new page.
SPECS LISTED ON THE CURRENT XI3 SITE ARE FOR AN OLDER MODEL, THERE IS A HIGHER BUT UNKNOWN SPECCED MACHINE ON THE CES SHOW FLOOR
As for what said specs MIGHT be, their unfunded kickstarter from October may shed some light: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262476727/xi3-help-us-usher-in-the-post-pc-era
For those who are TL;DR, there is a low specced entry level model there starting at $500 but there is an additional gaming level $1000+ model proposed with the following specs:
- a Linux-based OS [current product uses openSUSE Linux v11.4] and upgradeable to Win7/8
- Quad-Core 64-bit, x86-based processor running at up to 3.2GHz
- integrated graphics with up to 384 graphics shader cores
- 8GB of DDR3 RAM
- 4 USB 3.0 ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 4 eSATAp ports, and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port
- analog audio in/out, optical out, HDMI out, 2 mini DisplayPort
- up to 1TB internal SSD
- 4.27x3.65x3.65 in. chassis
(from their website)
I wouldn't go running around doom and gloom underpowered PC just yet. Valve aren't patently stupid, though their most recent sale may prove otherwise.
SPECS LISTED ON THE CURRENT XI3 SITE ARE FOR AN OLDER MODEL, THERE IS A HIGHER BUT UNKNOWN SPECCED MACHINE ON THE CES SHOW FLOOR
As for what said specs MIGHT be, their unfunded kickstarter from October may shed some light: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262476727/xi3-help-us-usher-in-the-post-pc-era
For those who are TL;DR, there is a low specced entry level model there starting at $500 but there is an additional gaming level $1000+ model proposed with the following specs:
- a Linux-based OS [current product uses openSUSE Linux v11.4] and upgradeable to Win7/8
- Quad-Core 64-bit, x86-based processor running at up to 3.2GHz
- integrated graphics with up to 384 graphics shader cores
- 8GB of DDR3 RAM
- 4 USB 3.0 ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 4 eSATAp ports, and a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port
- analog audio in/out, optical out, HDMI out, 2 mini DisplayPort
- up to 1TB internal SSD
- 4.27x3.65x3.65 in. chassis
(from their website)
I wouldn't go running around doom and gloom underpowered PC just yet. Valve aren't patently stupid, though their most recent sale may prove otherwise.
MrCunningham
Member
So these guys started this as a Kicksterter project and it failed? So Valve stepped in and became an investor? Wow, if true. This project completely flew under my radar when it was active.
They could gain independence from Microsoft if they make Linux a successful platform.
Leftover911
Banned
How many hats will it cost?
outunderthestars
Banned
So with the console running Linux, would a WINE styled wrapper require additional processing power?
Exactly. It is the Linux trojan horse.
So a Steambox would be targeted to console owners who would already be satisfied with their console gaming experience?
The more you think about a steambox, the more it seems like a PC enthusiast's wet dream.
If this is the mythical "Steambox" (and I think it does appear to be), then this might actually be a better value proposition than people believe. Consider the following:
1. AMD are desperate for cash at the moment. If Valve came up to them and asked for several million 8xxx series GPUs for Steamboxes, AMD would sell them for peanuts. Ditto with AMD CPUs, although AMD CPUs aren't brilliant at the moment, this isn't a high-end device, so they should suffice.
2. Valve can sell this at or slightly below cost. If the principal use of these boxes is to play Steam games, then they're generating revenue in the long run in just the same way your XBoxes, Playstations and WiiUs are. Valve won't have the pockets or inclination to sell at a major loss, but selling at around cost is a distinct possibility to get these into people's homes.
What to you get when you combine dirt-cheap components with a willingness to sell at cost? A fairly affordable mid-range gaming rig to put under your TV, that's what.
1. AMD are desperate for cash at the moment. If Valve came up to them and asked for several million 8xxx series GPUs for Steamboxes, AMD would sell them for peanuts. Ditto with AMD CPUs, although AMD CPUs aren't brilliant at the moment, this isn't a high-end device, so they should suffice.
2. Valve can sell this at or slightly below cost. If the principal use of these boxes is to play Steam games, then they're generating revenue in the long run in just the same way your XBoxes, Playstations and WiiUs are. Valve won't have the pockets or inclination to sell at a major loss, but selling at around cost is a distinct possibility to get these into people's homes.
What to you get when you combine dirt-cheap components with a willingness to sell at cost? A fairly affordable mid-range gaming rig to put under your TV, that's what.
Eaten By A Grue
Member
The same consoles with paid online services with ads and overpriced digital games?
Baconsammy
Banned
Good luck tricking people to get them to play PC games and then tell them their new device won't play Diablo 3 or WoW.
That doesn't to prevent anyone from playing them. Plus, I'd have a hard time convincing the casual 360 gamer if he can't play Halo or Gears.
Karak
Member
Not that much. But hey it could be how they make more games compatible. Lots of the smaller, lesser intensive games wouldn't require a ton. Weird way to go.
Agent Ironside
Member
So I gather, this is the basis for what the Steambox will be. The controller is still the big question at this point I do believe.
Whats the main demographic of console gamers? 16 to 20? Maybe the Steambox is meant for gamers that grow older, get more income etc. Im still unsure myself what the target audience is. Valve should probably speak up soon though.
Any gamer who is unsatisfied with console gaming would already be gaming on a PC, Handheld, or tablet.
GotEmRunnin
Member
Xi3 is the console, Nvidia's shield is the controller!!!!!
I'm laughing at all the doom and gloom knee jerk reactions in this thread. Why does everyone seem to think that this is a direct competitor to the PS4 and Xbox? Sure, it can run games, but it's a PC too. The promo video posted earlier in this thread barely even mentions it as a gaming machine. If this thing fails to be picked up by PC gamers, it could still sell very well as an affordable, sleek, and easily upgradeable PC. This is a great move by Valve IMO. Instead of going all out and putting their name on a console, it makes much more sense to financially back a machine that is an affordable gaming PC that is small enough to be used as a console.
CountAntonius
Member
Well if they can offer them another "console" option just as easy to use as their current ones with better hardware and software prices who's to say they wont give it a shot?
I think for PC gaming enthusiast the most exciting prospect is building your own steambox and utilizing(hopefully) the Steam OS to crank out the most from your hardware.
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