Valve reveals Steam Box specs.

[irishScott]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/10/valve-reveals-specs-for-its-prototype-steam-machines/

No word on cost, but all I can say is I hope Valve is getting some heavy discounts. (High end apparently calls for an NVidia Titan).

 

[crashtestdummy]

The low end is about $600, if you were to buy the parts yourself. A little high, but in a year that'll already be down to $500. Honestly, not that bad.

I do expect them to publish a minimum spec needed to stream at some point as well.

 

[irishScott]

The low end is about $600, if you were to buy the parts yourself. A little high, but in a year that'll already be down to $500. Honestly, not that bad.

I do expect them to publish a minimum spec needed to stream at some point as well.

If they're expecting to compete with consoles it'll be that bad. I guess they really are banking on the streaming.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It just looks like it'll be an HTPC-type thing that happens to play PC games. Honestly, I don't see the problem with that. If Steam OS works well and you can get that kind of utility from it, I don't see the issue.

 

[KaOTiK]

As they said in the article announcing the specs there are going to be a lot of different ones and various price points. This one is obviously aimed for the high end market and is what Valve wants to do the beta test on.

 

[frozentundra123456]

It just looks like it'll be an HTPC-type thing that happens to play PC games. Honestly, I don't see the problem with that. If Steam OS works well and you can get that kind of utility from it, I don't see the issue.

It depends on the price. I mean that is just pc hardware, not even custom silicon like in the consoles.

I assume it doesnt include windows, and is running on Steam OS. So it had better be appreciably cheaper than a regular PC with the same specs, otherwise it would just make more sense to just buy/build a windows PC and add the Steam OS for free.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It depends on the price. I mean that is just pc hardware, not even custom silicon like in the consoles.

I assume it doesnt include windows, and is running on Steam OS. So it had better be appreciably cheaper than a regular PC with the same specs, otherwise it would just make more sense to just buy/build a windows PC and add the Steam OS for free.

Well, a lot of PC manufacturers sell HTPCs that offer nothing over this, but people still buy them.

 

[HitAnyKey]

Love the idea, love Linux, luke warm for feelings for Valve / Steam. I get what they are trying to do.

That being said, it always seem like they are having a sale every other weekend. I can see people not buying them full price thinking they will go on sale soon. And ultimately to move that hardware they will have to discount them, and thereby killing margins.

This is a bold but very risky move.

 

[Aikouka]

The SteamBox platform is meant to be a lot like Android... straight down to the free operating system. You can build your super cheap devices similar to the prepaid Android phones or build your whiz-bang device that's similar to the high-end Android flagships (keep in mind that their unsubsidized price is rather high). If the concept takes off, you may end up seeing highly integrated devices (i.e. soldered on -- like laptops), which is pretty much exactly what the latest consoles are.

 

[Skel]

I can't wait for these to finally hit the market so some sales guy can tell me the point of them..

 

[PrincessFrosty]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see spes that high, this offers people who are traditionally console gamers a much more powerful solution than either of the next gen consoles will, a bold move to be sure.

 

[frowertr]

I can't seem to figure out who will buy these. Hardcore gamers already have monster gaming rigs. Why would we need another one? We could always build an inexpensive HTPC rig and stream games (via the new Steam OS) from our rigs in the den to the living room plasma for a fraction of the cost of buying even the low end Steam Box.

If it is geared toward console owners it better be sub-$350 or it won't have a prayer in that market place.

 

[Borealis7]

I can't wait for these to finally hit the market so some sales guy can tell me the point of them..

i think their point is to have your kids play on your TV instead of your smartphone, killing your battery life in the process.

 

[Lonyo]

The low end is about $600, if you were to buy the parts yourself. A little high, but in a year that'll already be down to $500. Honestly, not that bad.

I do expect them to publish a minimum spec needed to stream at some point as well.

$500.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Lonyo/saved/2vO8

 

[Fox5]

Honestly, they just need to wait for Kaveri, and then the low end box can be the high end AMD APU for $300-$400.

The original rumor of $100 streamer, $300 AMD APU box, and then partners free to build anything beyond that sounded great.
I'm excited that this may bring about a new standard in gaming cases though, the traditional ATX box was always too bulky.

 

[JTsyo]

I'm disappointed that none of the cases look like this:

 

[Raduque]

Am I the only one around here who thinks that this just isn't really that interesting an idea?

A PC gaming enthusiast would generally build their own hand-picking the best bang-for-the-buck parts to maximize the cost/performance ratio.
A console gamer would just buy an X1 or PS4 and skip all the driver and possible hardware/software compatibility issues that come with a PC.

Just doesn't seem like there's much of a market for this, but I guess people with enough money will buy anything, so somebody somewhere will buy it.

 

[Aikouka]

A console gamer would just buy an X1 or PS4 and skip all the driver and possible hardware/software compatibility issues that come with a PC.

People buy OEM desktops because it's a turnkey solution. If OEMs offer a SteamBox that's also a turnkey solution, then that might attract those that don't like dealing with those things that you mentioned. In other words, "Make it as much like a console experience as possible!"

 

[Subyman]

Have they said if games not purchased through steam will still play on the SteamOS? It would be lame to be locked into only playing steam games. If a game is linux compatible but not on Steam, I wonder if it will play? I also wonder if I can stream non-steam games to the system. I play gog titles a lot so that could be a deal breaker.

 

[irishScott]

Have they said if games not purchased through steam will still play on the SteamOS? It would be lame to be locked into only playing steam games. If a game is linux compatible but not on Steam, I wonder if it will play? I also wonder if I can stream non-steam games to the system. I play gog titles a lot so that could be a deal breaker.

I assume you'd be able to. They're talking up how open the platform is, and you can easily make a universal "streaming solution" with current hardware if you so desire. I think the selling point Valve's going for is that they set it up so that it works out of the box, as opposed to the above-average technical knowledge that would be needed to make your own.

 

[mizzou]

sounds like a good option for pc gamers who arent tech savvy. sounds like u can just put steamOS on any built PC anyway.....alllthooooough i would pay attention to which gpu and cpu company tailors to Linux drivers

 

[pong lenis]

I assume you'd be able to. They're talking up how open the platform is, and you can easily make a universal "streaming solution" with current hardware if you so desire. I think the selling point Valve's going for is that they set it up so that it works out of the box, as opposed to the above-average technical knowledge that would be needed to make your own.

Well that's predictable, they must have seen the reception to XBox One DRM policies. But if they don't, and it's a digital distribution-only console, I'm sure gamers won't mind, it's Gabe Newell after all, he's cool, he can do whatever he wants; though I'm sure most retailers like Gamestop will refuse to sell it since it would cut down on their game sales.
Pre-built PC's already work out of the box, in fact I'm sure Windows would always be more user-friendly then Linux. I don't see what Valve is trying to do here. They can't appeal to console gamers because of too many different configurations and specs, the console gamer will be confused and will instead just buy the PS or XBox. And they can't appeal to PC gamers since very few buy a pre-built PC when they can build their own for a cheaper price.

 

[flexy]

Some questions about the SteamBox and SteamOS.

WHO IS THE MARKET?

PC gamers who already have a suitable PC will not *require* a SteamBox. Their PC *is* the SteamBox, so to speak.

It is my understanding that the box/OS will allow "numerous" games to be played which are using OpenGL (?)...but that MUCH MORE games will not natively support the box/OS and will need to be "streamed".

Simply: If someone already owns a PC where MASSES of games are made running w/ Windows (not that I say this is a good thing)...what is the incentive that those games are ported to SteamOS/OpenGL...or why would a user choose to play on a SteamBox/SteamBox instead...IF HE/SHE ALREADY CAN PLAY THE GAME RUNNING WINDOWS?

* Valve wants the SteamBox/SteamOS the next and better console. (Yes we know, a hybrid PC/console which is supposed to combine the benefits).

UNLESS many, many game companies will actively support SteamOS and write basically ANY and ALL titles also for the SteamBox/SteamOS....why would a typical console gamer choose a SteamBox/SteamOS over, say, a PS4 or Xbone?

Does Valve think that the SteamBox will be so successful that it will rival XBox One, PS4.. MOST IMPORTANTLY (and this is really the crucial point here) in the number of available games?

Why would a console gamer buy a SteamBox if he/she knows that a lot more titles will be written for XBox One, PS4....while the popularity and success of Steambox/SteamOS needs to be seen?

Let's take a hypothetical scenario:

A major game title is released, and company X will release the game title on PC, XBone, SteamOS.

Why would SteamOS be more attractive to the typical console player? What would make him buy SteamBox in addition to/instead of Xbone?

Why would SteamOS be more attractive to the typical PC player? What would make him buy Steambox/SteamOS...and NOT just get the game in the Windows version?

 

[sushiwarrior]

Wow, let's go buy a Titan/i7 rig just so I can stream all of my games off my ACTUAL gaming computer, because OpenGL titles will always have weak compatibility at best. Great sell, Valve.

This would be interesting if it was APU powered and if the customized OS would be able to extract more performance from the hardware, letting it punch above its weight. Instead, you get to pay the same amount and play LESS games. Gee, no thanks.

 

[Revolution 11]

Some questions about the SteamBox and SteamOS.

WHO IS THE MARKET?

snip snip snip

Shush flexy, you are making too much sense. Don't you know that the SteamOS will magically solve all the compatibility problems yet allow you to use whatever hardware you want.

It's magical and game-changing (excuse the pun) because no one can see how it will work.