HarryDemeanor
Member
For the Valve stamp of approval.
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Valve and Xi3 announce Steam-based mini-PC
- Thread starter ToyMachine228
- Start date
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819113280 $130
3.8GHz quad core (4.2GHz turbo /w 4 cores on) and DX GPU HD 7660D 614GFLOPs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820313266 $35
8GB dual channel 1600 DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811154091 $40
APEX mini ATX /w 250watt PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822152244 $50
Samsung 320GB HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157340 $90
ASRock Mini-ATX mobo FM2
Total price: $345
That motherboard is actually about twice as expensive as it should be, there just isn't much choice on www.newegg.com but Steambox would be using a custom motherboard anyways, so it's a mute point.
To hook up to your living room TV.
I'm unsatisfied with the consoles but I still game on them.
Granted, I'm a PC and handheld(/tablet) gamer as well, but exclusives are called exclusives for a reason.
outunderthestars
Banned
Doesn't matter, everyone will just toss it and use a MS controller anyhow.
the X51 can do that easily as well though....
There are much better ways to do that...
I wouldn't call it "the" Steambox because it's becoming clear that Valve probably never intended to have a single Steambox SKU. If the launch window for this thing is soon at all, the "thousands of games" comment suggests that the Steam-branded version will be running Windows.
I'd conclude that the fabled Linux machine is still an unknown.
I'd conclude that the fabled Linux machine is still an unknown.
AgentOtaku
Member
You see, shit like this is gonna make me come back to dedicated desktop gaming
This is just fucking cool
Let's see:
- Plug and Play
- Small
- No tinkering with internal components
Basically, less stuff to worry about. It's still an overpriced cube that won't match the performance of a 1000$ PC, but it's effectively a console.
Still a shame that the Steambox ends up being an overpriced machine. I don't see anyone buying it as a replacement for either console or PC gaming.
moot*
There are?
Isn't there an Alienware box that would do essentially the same thing and with better hardware?
Yes? How hard is it to hook a computer up to a TV?
Yes? How hard is it to hook a computer up to a TV?
ColonelColon
Member
Not really. I could get an i5 2500K and a Radeon 7870 for $400.
I H8 Memes
Member
Moo point. Moo point. It's like a cow, their opinions dont matter.
Pachterballs
Banned
OUYA + WIIU
just
got
kIA.
just
got
kIA.
Baconsammy
Banned
Are you referring to the X51? And yes, better hardware and it actually functions as a PC if you need it to (ie run MS Office, non-Steam games etc). There's a thread here at GAF about it, and the people seem to love it.
EightBitNate
Member
I can see them being like Google and charging less than MSRP for this and recuperate with Steam sales. The console pays for itself.
AcceptableGhost
Member
Prepare to see many steamboxes because I bet it will be little more than a cert standard that Valve approves (like I said when these rumblings first started). Valve may design/approve their own rendition of hardware (ala Google with the Nexus stuff) but I expect Valve to be super open with this stuff.
Shit, totally forgot about the X51. If they are similarly priced, I expect the Steambox (given that it's actually this tiny) to be much less powerful.
You forgot the motherboard, HDD, memory, power supply, and case.
You need a gaming pc then, if you have that this thing isnt for you. And how many non pc geeks do you know with a big ugly pc hooked up to their tv?
Midnight Phoenix
Member
For this price it should wake me up in the morning and make breakfast.
Ardenyal
Member
The gaming version is $1000+, not very "affordable".
MrCunningham
Member
Looking at quad core CPU's with 384 graphics cores, I will assume they were planing on using an A10-5700 for the APU. The specs seem to match up:
Clock Speed: 3.4 GHz
Turbo: 4 GHz
L2 cache 4 MB
Multiplier: 34x ~ 40x
Integrated GPU: HD7660D 384 core @ 760 MHz
GFLOPS: 583.68
65W
For that small form factor, that's still quite a bit of horsepower under the hood.
CrunchyFrog
Member
You forgot the case, + 2 more USB 3.0 ports, 2 DisplayPorts, and 3 more eSata ports on the motherboard which would add on top of the cost if we're working from the same proposed specs. Form factor also plays a big part in this don't forget. Those same components wouldn't fit in so small a chassis and likely had to be custom modified to fit and operate at such low power, so of course it's all going to cost more. Plus these guys are likely running some high end custom firmware to allow parts to be exchanged as easily as they're advertising.
ShinobiFist
Banned
You could install Windows if you want...And what makes you think this is less powerful than a PS4 or 720? You know info we don't? And two, we don't know the specs for the Valve version. Three, this unit, from the sample Youtube vid looks very upgradeable.
Relaxed Muscle
Member
By a 500/$ - 1000/$ console? and people though the PS3 was expensive... lol
Baconsammy
Banned
The X51 is a big ugly PC now?
I'm unsatisfied with console gaming, but Android and iOS games won't fill that void and I'm not going to buy a gaming PC any time soon.
However, with the next generation around the corner I could see myself opting for something like this. It has the benefits of PC gaming with the simplicity and ease of console gaming. Could I buy a more powerful rig for the same price? Definitely. However, you're not going to get console gamers to switch to PC gaming by making them buy some horrid looking Alienware tower with flashing green lights. And running an HDMI cable to a television isn't very appealing to a lot of people.
What IS appealing is buying a small box that can be tucked neatly beside a television that can play past and present PC games and can be constantly and easily upgraded. This may not make sense to a lot of PC gamers, but if marketed correctly I could see this persuading many console gamers to buy this over a next gen console.
Fantastical
Death Prophet
Can anyone deliver on GAF hype anymore?
outunderthestars
Banned
Too bad they haven't made a good game since 1998. So I don't find their approval very useful.
The post-PC era should be really interesting.
Movements like this will lead to more cross-platform support, as developers become less dependent on DirectX.
Sure, there will be pain for some time as people mourn the loss of their 1000-strong Windows-only Steam backlogs but a single platform future makes sense for everyone.
Let's put it this way. Steam for MacOS X came out in May 2010. It launched with something like 20-30 titles (I can't remember exactly) and now there are more than 500 titles that support Steam Play. The Linux version of Steam will also start off small but thanks to its similarities to Mac development, the catalogue should grow at a rapid rate. This combined momentum should really help push Linux-based Steam-specific hardware like this, which in turn should lead to less reliance on Windows.
Movements like this will lead to more cross-platform support, as developers become less dependent on DirectX.
Sure, there will be pain for some time as people mourn the loss of their 1000-strong Windows-only Steam backlogs but a single platform future makes sense for everyone.
Let's put it this way. Steam for MacOS X came out in May 2010. It launched with something like 20-30 titles (I can't remember exactly) and now there are more than 500 titles that support Steam Play. The Linux version of Steam will also start off small but thanks to its similarities to Mac development, the catalogue should grow at a rapid rate. This combined momentum should really help push Linux-based Steam-specific hardware like this, which in turn should lead to less reliance on Windows.
No no, the real way to get a reaction is to talk about how Valve hasn't made an original game since Half-Life 1.
So I have a question that is sorta off-topic. After seeing the video, is a "modular" PC going to be a simple niche fad for tech enthusiasts, or is this the natural evolution of the PC, and I mean that not in a gaming sense but in a universal sense? What do you guys think about the modular pc? Or should I create a new topic?
The sub-$500 model is, the very existence of which destroys any argument that this is solely a competitor to consoles.
I H8 Memes
Member
So nothing that helps play games using Steam.
But Valve! Linux! Modular!
CrunchyFrog
Member
Never implied that they necessarily were, just that they would add up in cost in the long run above what was ball-parked for the sake of the previous argument.
One more thing, the aforementioned kickstarter specs were for a machine that was supposed to be shipping in Q1 2013. This partnership only being announced with scant details today suggests a much later ship date, probably in the summer, with likely at least slightly bumped specs on the high end for the same price range.
Tallshortman
Member
linux based, welp have fun convincing developers to port their games or explain to most steam users why the vast majority of their games are incompatible.
We don't know if this is the Steambox or just a Steambox, and I'd wager that since specs weren't disclosed they're still being finalised or are otherwise improved upon Xi3's current offerings, in both power and price.
Felix Lighter
Member
I don't think it will hurt the Windows users, they will be one of the platforms supported, like Linux and OS X. Steam is the platform, here, and it's expanding but I don't see them abandoning Windows. Valve will push for cross platform play, I'm almost certain and if it works out and developers follow, it'll be great for everyone including those with the 1000 strong Windows-only Steam backlogs.
My biggest hope from this or other similar announcements is a affordable device that will be appealing for friends of mine that are reluctant to build a gaming PC.
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