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[UnrealEck]

It'll be hard work getting developers like EA to release Linux compatible builds of their games until Steam OS really takes off. Companies like Blizzard on the other hand might be a bit more supportive.

 

[FreddieQuell]

Valve should pre install TF2, Dota2, L4D3 and

Spoiler

Half Life 3

on every Steam Box. That would help alot to sell them, even if they are all F2P. "Buy the box and get instant access to games, which over 20million Uniques Players play each Month!"

CSGO am cry.

 

[Quasar]

I guess?
They lack virtually any single feature vaguely in common.

Well there is the platform built around a set of specs built by multiple manufacturers and run by a game publisher. Too me this seem like it could be the 3DO idea made good.Of course personally I loved the idea of 3DO.

 

[Quasar]

Was not expecting $500. That's awesome.

I'm pretty surprised. Especially since that whole PCPer article about PC builds to compete with the consoles put forth a pretty similar build and it was near 800$ (700$ once you remove the Windows License cost).

 

[brain_stew]

Was not expecting $500. That's awesome. How does a R9 270 graphics card stack up against a Radeon HD5870? That's what I have in my laptop and I don't think it's going to be able to run stuff well starting very soon.

I'd like to see other Steam Machines, but $500 seems reasonable. You can upgrade the graphics cards right? I'd think about dropping $500 on one and then maybe upgrading to a better graphics card a couple of months later or a year later.

My only gripe is that it's only going to play Linux-based games right? Can I install Windows on it and play my non-Linux Steam games on it?

R9 270 is roughly equal to a desktop 7870 so it absolutely decimates your mobility 5870. Total different class of performance.

 

[PCH]

Because neither the FreeBSD nor the Windows NT kernel are hard real-time capable. Unless you mean to imply that they were changed to such a significant extent, at which point I would put the burden of proof on the one making the claim.

Honestly, I really do wonder why it's even relevant whether or not they are. The purported "OS overhead" advantages you want to argue for are completely orthogonal to whether or not the OS and its scheduler are real-time capable. In fact, if anything the constraints imposed by being required to fulfill hard real-time constraints probably induce additional overhead in general day-to-day performance. Since these consoles aren't running the brakes on a car or navigating a space shuttle, I don't see why you would use a real-time OS.

My assumption for why you brought it up is because you probably think "RTOS" sounds good.

Well- FreeBSD is very easy to make real time OS- there are POSIX ext available,but most likely, Sony will modify kernel, like they did on ps3, to the point it does not look like BSD kernel but is preemptible.You can also use multi-core real-time scheduler to get real time os in something like BSD.

 

[Shambles]

I call bullshit. That thing will not run ARMA III all settings maxed 1080P/60FPS. If we are talking low settings, fuck that....

Fortunately for you PC games typically have more than two settings of "110% Uber awesomeness mode" and "Graphics so ugly you'd rather lick the mud off of your boots". I'd also posture that if you had spent any amount of time playing a PC game you'd already know that so just keep spouting off since we know what you're trying to do here..

 

[Branduil]

This is pretty cool. I would like:

• 100% hassle-free downloading and installing of games.
• No necessary tinkering with settings to play games in 1080p60.
• Good 3rd party support. Not just Valve and indie games, but also 3rd party AAA games.
• If I don't like the controller I want to be able to use a traditional one (DS4 via USB?).

If those points are covered, I'm in. $500 is fine.

Downloading and installing is already pretty much hassle-free with Steam. I don't know if they'll have automatic settings to target a certain resolution or framerate, but that would probably be a good idea.

I would think the 360 controller would still work like it does in Steam now, at least.

 

[Kiant]

I don't think there is an object on earth that can do that with Arma III, certainly not playing the most popular open-world multiplayer modes.

Pretty damn close though

 

[Fried Food]

these things either need to be amazing or horrible. No one benefits from an average prebuilt pc.

 

[alexandros]

these things either need to be amazing or horrible. No one benefits from an average prebuilt pc.

I wouldn't say that, lots of people would very much like an average, easy to use and inexpensive PC.

 

[Heratiki]

I'm surprised there are so many uninformed gamers in this thread... Sure they purport to being able to run every SteamOS game not every steam game. I mean it is a Steam Box so considering it will be just Linux titles I totally see it running all of those easily at 1080/60p. Just sayin.

 

[alexandros]

Considering Metro: Last Light is one of those titles, it's at least worth asking the question.

I don't think a 270 can reach 60 fps in Metro, unless SteamOS really is much more efficient than Windows. Maybe if you drop detail settings a couple of notches.

 

[RedSwirl]

Did people forget you'll be able to just install Windows on all Steam Machines if you want to? So yes, theoretically you could play Titanfall on this thing, and probably get really good performance out of it too. Having to pay for Windows depends on whether or not you already own a Windows installation.

And no matter what you think or what they say about being able to run games at 1080p/60fps, for a $500 pre-built PC those specs look really damn good.

 

[s7evn]

Did people forget you'll be able to just install Windows on all Steam Machines if you want to?

Apparently.

 

[Momentary]

That Nvidia Geforce Experience. Click a button for optimal settings. Oh, but this is an AMD GPU.

 

[sleepykyo]

Am I the only one getting a 3DO vibe from the Steambox?

Wouldn't Alienware be closer?

 

[aeolist]

Did people forget you'll be able to just install Windows on all Steam Machines if you want to? So yes, theoretically you could play Titanfall on this thing, and probably get really good performance out of it too. Having to pay for Windows depends on whether or not you already own a Windows installation.

And no matter what you think or what they say about being able to run games at 1080p/60fps, for a $500 pre-built PC those specs look really damn good.

yeah even if you just want to load windows and use it as a normal gaming pc it appears to be a pretty good deal

 

[tazz3]

All steam boxs will have the same 16 gigs of ram and you can upgrade CPU and gpu

 

[saunderez]

That Nvidia Geforce Experience. Click a button for optimal settings. Oh, but this is an AMD GPU.

LMAO thinking Geforce Experience actually puts optimal settings on. Every single game I have tried it with I've been able to enable additional effects/turn sliders up without negatively impacting my performance. The settings it expected me to play Battlefield 4 on were a joke, why low texture detail when ramping it up barely affected the framerate at all?

 

[belmonkey]

With all the comparing between PC and console going on, has there yet been a proper thread comparing console performance in multi-plat games vs PCs with similar (or worse) GPUs?

 

[Sentenza]

With all the comparing between PC and console going on, has there yet been a proper thread comparing console performance in multi-plat games vs PCs with similar (or worse) GPUs?

...Ehr? Why?

Spoiler

Even pretending it has not be done countless times before by people trying to prove some dubious points.

 

[belmonkey]

...Ehr?
Why?

To fuel the fire.

 

[ashecitism]

I don't think a 270 can reach 60 fps in Metro, unless SteamOS really is much more efficient than Windows. Maybe if you drop detail settings a couple of notches.

I heard Last Light Linux version doesn't even have proper settings only one slider :lol

That Nvidia Geforce Experience. Click a button for optimal settings. Oh, but this is an AMD GPU.

AMD will have their own solution for that.

All steam boxs will have the same 16 gigs of ram and you can upgrade CPU and gpu

Those are Valve's prototypes.

 

[VisceralBowl]

I heard Last Light Linux version doesn't even have proper settings only one slider :lol

yep

 

[MutonCommander]

AMD will have their own solution for that.

Not only that, Valve is working on its own Steam-integrated solution that will inform gamers about hardware requirements for games.

 

[nubbe]

That Nvidia Geforce Experience. Click a button for optimal settings. Oh, but this is an AMD GPU.

You are welcome

http://raptr.com/amd

 

[Mobius and pet octopus]

All steam boxs will have the same 16 gigs of ram and you can upgrade CPU and gpu

where did you read that?

 

[bj00rn_]

Err, no.
PC's are a rapidly shrinking market, and Steam machines won't help the overall contraction caused by tablets.
Everyone knows what an Xbox and Playstation is, try and sell a "Steam machine" to 90% of the public and they'd go "Whats that? Oh, a PC? Yeah, no thanks, i barely use my laptop now".

How about this "Err, no" in this November 2013 article (there are many similar articles on this subject, surprised you didn't notice):

"The PC gaming market is growing. Worldwide, PC gaming makes up nearly 40% of the total gaming market, larger than the console gaming market."

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/13/plenty-of-potential-for-nvidia.aspx

 

[Ty4on]

Edit: ^^^^^^ The high end PC market is also growing and desktops are doing better than laptops growth wise.

I don't think a 270 can reach 60 fps in Metro, unless SteamOS really is much more efficient than Windows. Maybe if you drop detail settings a couple of notches.

Metro Last Light is really demanding though with AFAIK a ton of light sources.
At very high with AAA which is analytical (not ideal) AA, 16xAF and 1080p in managed 40fps with playable dips so a couple of notches down should make it 60fps. The 7870 is a 270.

The 270 is also more powerful than the PS4 GPU so with a decent CPU this could be a great competitor.

 

[zoku88]

I don't think a 270 can reach 60 fps in Metro, unless SteamOS really is much more efficient than Windows. Maybe if you drop detail settings a couple of notches.

Yea, but the 270 probably hardly works on Linux anyway... As of right now, anyway.

 

[alexandros]

I trust that AMD will sort out any remaining issues within the next few months. They understand that Steam Machines are very important, I'm positive they will not hand out an easy victory to Nvidia.

 

[Mobius and pet octopus]

wrong thread

 

[HolyBaikal]

I like the fact that it uses white. Especially in an electronics industry that black electronics are so normal. Even the Steam UI is black, and I would really like a skin in pastel pink. It would be nice if Valve made more colours available for Steam.

I'm not too fond of the overall shape, though. I hope this isn't a finalized design. As I even like the design of the white XBOX One much better than this.

At $500, though, this competes with the XBOX One. And that's exciting, particularly considering how well the XBOX One has sold. I would like this console-like system to do well in the console market. The market needs this kind of disruptive competition. It would also be good for PC gaming.

I already have several gaming PCs, but I might be even more interested in this than the XBOX One, depending on what software it gets.

 

[Blades64]

If you buy this, would you be free to install Windows on it? Or is it a closed environment like on consoles?

 

[rudieboy77]

The R270 is a HD7850 correct? Or is it 7870?

 

[Nzyme32]

The R270 is a HD7850 correct? Or is it 7870?

It is it's own card, and it is on par with the HD7870 for the most part http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-r9-270-review-benchmarks,3669-5.html

Edit to Clarify - The R9 270 performs better than the HD7870 in some games and is beaten in others by similar margins. A small overclock of the card has been shown to quite easily rectify this

 

[JBourne]

Pretty damn close though

Excellent Youtube comment:

WOW, I wonder how good of a computer you would need to have to play that. My computer skips the video even when I pre-load it for about 30 seconds or so. My computer can handle Dead Island: Riptide on mid-low settings with no lag, so WTF?! lol

 

[Pharaoh 117]

Don't care about the box, just give me the controller. Can't wait to test it.

 

[alexandros]

If you buy this, would you be free to install Windows on it?

Yes.

 

[Mobius and pet octopus]

If you buy this, would you be free to install Windows on it? Or is it a closed environment like on consoles?

Not only can you install windows on it, you can have both. And you can upgrade individual parts if you so desire.

 

[MutonCommander]

Steam Machines with Intel's Iris integrated graphics should be even cheaper, right? I'd love to see a range of $249-299 Steam Machines targeted at the more casual market, as well as some $99 streaming Steam Machines that can still play indie games natively.

 

[twofold]

Steam Machines with Intel's Iris integrated graphics should be even cheaper, right? I'd love to see a range of $249-299 Steam Machines targeted at the more casual market, as well as some $99 streaming Steam Machines that can still play indie games natively.

Amd's kaveri apu is launching in January, right? It'd be perfect for a low cost stream machine.

From what I remember, iris pro is rather expensive, so it won't be going into any low cost boxes any time soon.

 

[strata8]

Steam Machines with Intel's Iris integrated graphics should be even cheaper, right? I'd love to see a range of $249-299 Steam Machines targeted at the more casual market, as well as some $99 streaming Steam Machines that can still play indie games natively.

The lowest chip with Iris Pro sells for $450 alone, so probably not.

 

[MutonCommander]

Amd's kaveri apu is launching in January, right? It'd be perfect for a low cost stream machine.

From what I remember, iris pro is rather expensive, so it won't be going into any low cost boxes any time soon.

Oh right, I forgot about Kaveri. True, it would be a great solution.

The lowest chip with Iris Pro sells for $450 alone, so probably not.

Sure it's expensive now, but I believe Intel is going to equip more of their chips with Iris graphics so prices are bound to drop. I can see a chip being specifically designed for Steam Machines with a decent quad-core and the next version of Iris Pro for a good price. Intel doesn't have a problem with dropping prices to gain market share, they did this with their latest Atom chips to compete with ARM.

 

[SparkTR]

I wonder how these things would exist in countries that impose restrictions to dedicated gaming devices, as they're technically still PCs. I think that's where Valve's main focus should be, there's so many countries that could want a console-style experience but can't get one due to regional prices and restrictions. This being a hybrid of sorts could get around that, plus Valve have experience on regional pricing (their Russian efforts etc). They better act fast before tablets take over those markets.

 

[kharma45]

The R270 is a HD7850 correct? Or is it 7870?

7870.

It is it's own card, and it is on par with the HD7870 for the most part http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-r9-270-review-benchmarks,3669-5.html

Edit to Clarify - The R9 270 performs better than the HD7870 in some games and is beaten in others by similar margins. A small overclock of the card has been shown to quite easily rectify this

It's not it's own card, it's a rebranded 7870 with a lower clock speed. Only phyiscal difference is that is uses one 6pin PCIe connector rather than two.

 

[notBald]

Well- FreeBSD is very easy to make real time OS- there are POSIX ext available,but most likely, Sony will modify kernel, like they did on ps3, to the point it does not look like BSD kernel but is preemptible.You can also use multi-core real-time scheduler to get real time os in something like BSD.

No, just no.

Firstly, Real time operation systems are _slower_ than non-real time operation systems, so you don't want them in a game console.

Second, it's not "very easy" to make an OS "real time", and POSIX ext. is no help. The point of a real time OS is that it will always respond to requests within a set time limit. That's hard. The lower the time limit, the harder it gets.

But while a guaranteed response time is important when you're making medical gear, cars, satellites, etc, it's not something needed for games.

 

[ashecitism]

so turns out these are currently the specs (they're aiming for an R7 260X as the GPU):

The prototype we saw packs a quad-core Athlon X4 740 CPU ("with some voltage and speed tweaks"), 4GB RAM, a 500GB HDD, and a Radeon R7 250 GPU (1GB GDDR5) power SteamOS -- no dual-booting here! iBuyPower's hoping for a Radeon R7 260X ("or equivalent") GPU when the SBX ships later this year, but we're told most of the other specs won't change.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/06/ibuypower-sbx/

lol

 

[IrishNinja]

help me out PC GAF, how many units of Gamecubes duct-taped together PS4's is that