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Valve reveals specs for prototype Steam Machines.
- Thread starter Silky
- Start date
Imperfected
Member
At the time they designed these, AMD had been languishing in a long slump. By the time their prototyping phase is over they might take an interest in some of the new AMD cards coming onto the market. I think it's too soon to just assume they're going to be 'Nvidia only' due to some special arrangement; it's just they were born at a time when it's practically an Nvidia-only PC gaming market.
There won't be "a" price. There will be many prices, there could be potentially a hundred Steam Machines from various manufacturers.
It could be anything from as low as $500 to as high as $3000. Valve's own will probably serve as reference models for OEMs and developers, and from the specs given we'll see probably quite cheap one (i3 + 660), to the titan equipped expensive models.
People shouldn't expect console equivalent or better pricing with these. It just won't happen, there has to be some trade-offs. Valve is hoping the advantages of an open PC platform and what that provides will pull some people over and expand their market.
Also, you don't need Valve's stamp of approval on a game to run it, unlike all existing consoles.
I've heard a lot of horror stories about ATI drivers on Linux. In my experience, they've been less stable than NVIDIA drivers.
ShinobiFist
Banned
Is funny that "Origin" the PC maker is dropping AMD out of their building options. Due to customer feedback.
Majukun
Member
i can be more inclined to buy a powerful pc if i know that i can use it for other things other than play videogames on it..but these seems like devices only for games....like consoles in fact,but lacking universal specs thatare an huge advantage of the console world
iJudged
Banned
Did not know that. In that case I will just build another rig and just win/steam it.
SteveWinwood
Member
you can literally do every single thing on this as you can on any other computer on earth
its a computer
Even better. Never played pc games before but I'd drop up to 600 bucks on a steambox...it doesn't haveto be a beast, just needs to run the stuff I want.
it's linux, you can run other linux software on it
they've called it "open" for a reason
Majukun
Member
ah ok.
then i kinda don't understand the point..if it is having a specific spec target,why the three different models and the interchangeable parts?
three models for the beta test, any OEM can take the OS and put it on pretty much any hardware configuration they want. it's a PC, they will all be PCs.
the point is to get away from microsoft, to improve the interface for living room setups, and to sell all-in-one prebuilt boxes for people who don't want to build their own.
SteveWinwood
Member
You need to read this thread thoroughly. There are three different models for beta testers. Afterwards it has as many different models as companies want to make for it. Why wouldn't it have interchangeable parts? Once again it's a computer.
angular graphics
Banned
Yes. http://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2013/09/25/steam-rolling-into-your-living-room/
The main reason is nvidia has the best GPU drivers under linux (which the SteamOS is).
Question to the more knowledgable folks on here. How long will it be before midrange cards with Titan level performance hit the marketplace? 2 years? 3 years? Longer?
Also, what sort of performance should we expect from low end hardware in 2015~? Same with integrated graphics - I know Intel is making a big push with them at the moment; how good should they be in a few years time?
Obviously nobody on here will know for sure (I think?), but I'd be curious to know if there's any estimates about how much GPU technology is slated to improve over the next few years.
Also, what sort of performance should we expect from low end hardware in 2015~? Same with integrated graphics - I know Intel is making a big push with them at the moment; how good should they be in a few years time?
Obviously nobody on here will know for sure (I think?), but I'd be curious to know if there's any estimates about how much GPU technology is slated to improve over the next few years.
Well part of the "leak" on 4chan a while back was that the setup was going to use NVidia's streaming solution. Not sure if there's been anything about that officially yet, but could be why we're seeing NVidia hardware in these specs.
More interested in the streaming stuff than the hardware, OS, etc at this point still. Not interested in Alienware redux. Hoping we get SteamOS/something on an HDMI stick at some point so I can skip the whole living room appliance push. We have video game consoles for that, just give me a cheap and reasonable way to get my controller-centric games to the big screen in my house.
I'd say at least 2.5 years. Who knows really, though. Maybe there will be some big leaps soon.
Titan performance isn't that great. I would think the first 20nm cards we get by this time next year or the year after might be close. At maximum, midrange cards (depending on your definition of midrange, actually, to be clear; I'm talking about x60ti or x70 level cards, which might be more upper mid-range/high-end) should be matching or likely surpassing it when Volta releases in about 2.5 years,
Really. Cause considering the financial shape of nvidia vs amd only amd is desperate at this point.
Nvidia is rolling in money compared to amd.
This salty and nvidia is desperate shit is born out of ignorance and projection.
angular graphics
Banned
The "leak" was fake. But that part will probably turn out to real based on what Gabe said. http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/8/3852144/gabe-newell-interview-steam-box-future-of-gaming
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
My guess is these will be priced just below building a pc with the same parts. Which would be huge. It would kill alienware....and probably make me buy one.
BadAss2961
Member
Yeah, just saw it in the FAQ.
I have to agree... Steam Machine's are basically PCs in console form. A tough sell because people who want to build their own PCs can do so for cheaper, and those who don't want to build already have the option of buying pre-built -- console form factor has already been done as well.
I think they're going to price themselves out of taking any console gamers. Because personally, I see no point in a $400-$500 Steam machine. The whole idea is to be significantly stronger than the next-gen consoles. If not, where's the appeal? You wouldn't get something as capable as the PS4 at that price, especially as consoles evolve over time with developers working on them for years.
So basically, for a Steam Machine to be worth it, you're gonna have to be ready to spend a lot of money. Pretty much no different than buying Alienware, just that it's Valve this time.
For real though, Gabe, hook me up with the beta.
Coulomb_Barrier
Member
There are reasons well explained in this thread aside from the big one: the exclusive AAA and indie titles. That, like always, can be a potentially big swaying factor.
So if a SteamOS machine gives you:
- more bang for your buck in processing grunt because of no Windows OS overhead.
- Exclusive Valve games and exclusives from other devs
- The ability to plug and play around your house because of the console-like form factor
- The ability to locally Stream PC titles to around your home
Then those are justifications a plenty for people to invest in the SteamOS ecosystem even with Valve yet to fully elucidate on its functionality and full feature-set at this point in time.
there's gonna be something in between too right
FinalStageBoss
Banned
I seriously doubt that. If it's cheaper than building my own, sign me up for 2.
If somebody is gonna go 749$, they might as well go 999$, both will be expensive, another 300 won't kill him (if you can afford the 999$ model).
Maybe a...
999$
499$
299$ <--?
Mobius and pet octopus
Member
Dunno why you think this is unreasonable to include in a product. It is great to give a wide variety of options.
With a Titan? 1299+ for the retail version.
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
I dont know. Valve is probably getting their parts quite a bit cheaper than we ever could, and I could see them sacrificing a markup to get everyone using steam as their primary source for games. Hell, sony did it.
Crazy specs, but lol hybrid drives
It's open on software and hardware end, and it seems like they are set on making some hella sweet big screen addons to make it the only thing you need.
I'm guessing modded Linux kernel + autoboot to big screen mode for Steam. The client is included and the rest should be the same.
It's open on software and hardware end, and it seems like they are set on making some hella sweet big screen addons to make it the only thing you need.
I'm guessing modded Linux kernel + autoboot to big screen mode for Steam. The client is included and the rest should be the same.
Same price as the Piston Xi3...makes sense...I really think they should concentrate on the cheaper midrange type of boxes though if they want to sell a lot...
Iced_Eagle
Member
Well, this all depends on SteamOS. It is certainly a form of Ubuntu, but it's not clear how much of Ubuntu is accessible. From the sounds of it, it will be Steam stuff only. Imagine if you could boot into Big Picture mode, and that's your OS. Steam does have a web browser, and they're working on getting entertainment apps like Netflix, etc, so it's going to be a PC hardware with the OS experience of a console is my guess.
However, at the end of the day this is just a PC. If you want to format and install Windows, you can totally do that.
TBH, hooking up a PC via HDMI is exactly what this is. It's nothing really new. However, if Valve can give me a great form factor (aka, not a desktop tower sitting next to a TV) and the possibility of upgrading the internal hardware, then I would potentially be a SteamBox instead of a new PC if it's roughly on par with the cost to buy an equivalent spec'ed PC.
This thing is going to be hella expensive though. I would say $1,500 for the top tier version. The Titan alone is $1k...
AllIsOneIsNone
Banned
They want people using steam. If they sell the hardware cheaper than a computer build, they'll convert a fuckton of people. Yes, you can use windows on it, but its a turnkey solution for steam. Unlike pc's which vary wildly in their performance, there would be a standard which is easier on the gamers and developers at the same time.
Oh wow, that soon?
2015 Steam Machines are going to be quite incredible from a $/performance perspective. I don't see the first gen Steam Machines making much of an impact, but I can see the second or third gens making a big splash in a few years time.
Good stuff.
There is a big part of the picture missing right now. Although steamOS is free to consumers, it is freely licensable to manufacturers. However, in order for a manufacturer to make a steam machine, there will be rules. And that is what no one knows yet.
This could mean a rolling change in minimum specs year on year for all we know. But importantly, it means that valve can shape the ecosystem as it develops so that it goes in the right direction.
I think Gabe Newell put it best as describing manufacturers as "trying to heard a bunch of cats"
The only market I can think of is that of someone who doesn't want or is incapable of using a computer but want better graphics. It's like tricking them into getting a computer anyway.
GustyGardens
Banned
That's basically my computer set-up. I do, however, find the dimensions attractive. My tower is huge and looks weird next to my entertainment center. I think I'll pass on these things, though. They seem to be more for the PC crowd that wants a living room set-up than an average consumer.
If they offer these sub-700 I'd be surprised.
If they offer these sub-700 I'd be surprised.
I am interested as hell, but this is the only way they get me. $500 for something on par or slightly better than the next gen consoles is my limit. If they can't do that, then nothing will change in terms of getting more people to hop over to PC gaming. It will just be a niche PC for people who are already using Steam.
Chief Icaroc
Banned
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006519%2040000048&IsNodeId=1&Description=titan%20graphics&name=Desktop%20Graphics%20Cards&Order=BESTMATCH
Titan Graphics cards? Newegg says $999. So uh yeah people may want to revise their top of the line steambox quotes.
Titan Graphics cards? Newegg says $999. So uh yeah people may want to revise their top of the line steambox quotes.