Steam Machines Prototype Specs Revealed

Tuffcub 16 Comments

Valve have revealed their first Steam Machine prototype which is a “high-end, high-performance box, built out of off-the-shelf PC parts.”

“Valve didn’t set out to create our own prototype hardware just for the sake of going it alone – we wanted to accomplish some specific design goals that in the past others weren’t yet tackling. One of them was to combine high-end power with a living-room-friendly form factor.”

The company make it clear that the specs are “not meant to serve the needs of all of the tens of millions of Steam users” but it may be the type of machine than some may like to purchase.

The 300 prototype units will ship with the following components:

  • GPU: some units with NVidia Titan, some GTX780, some GTX760, and some GTX660
  • CPU: some boxes with Intel : i7-4770, some i5-4570, and some i3
  • RAM: 16GB DDR3-1600 (CPU), 3GB DDR5 (GPU)
  • Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD
  • Power Supply: Internal 450w 80Plus Gold
  • Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in high

A quick search on Scan computers reveals that the GTX780 costs around £570, the processor around £260, 16GB of DDR is £130, another £70 for the hard drive and £30 for the power supply. That’s over £1000 for the prototype Steam Machine.

“Many others would opt for machines that have been more carefully designed to cost less, or to be tiny, or super quiet,” say Valve, “There will be Steam Machines that fit those descriptions. ”

Source: Steam

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16 Comments

  1. Extremely impressive specs there! I’m surprised it’s only a 450w PSU though, surely the top cards like the Titan need more than that?

    • On the official site it says the Titan needs a 600w PSU as a minimum: http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-titan/specifications

    • Same here. They could just about make it perhaps, but it’s a very very tight squeeze. Maybe there’s meaning to the ’80 plus’ slogan.

      • The ’80 Plus Gold’ refers to its efficiency rating, I’m on my phone now so can’t post a link, but it has nothing to do with the amount of power supplied.
        I’m guessing that it could just be a mistake and the more powerful machines will have suitable PSU’s.

      • I would assume so. A 450w PSU is out of the question for what they’re suggesting.

  2. Specs that are suitably wonderful but then the price hits you. Ouch!

    • Hopefully after a year has gone by and with enough bulk buying/manufacture a wee Steam box if this calibre could be sold for something more like £600-£700. The money is a tough hurdle to get over though, plenty of us spend a grand on a main desktop but how many could afford to spend another grand on a second PC just for games?

  3. Looks like valve have made a bit of a mis-step here. They should be trying to attract the console audience, instead of just making the audience they already have captive wet with stats and numbers. Especially when the majority of that audience will be tech-savvy enough to get their gaming pc up and running on their TV with no problems anyway

    • Agreed. Although looking at the lower end of the specs, it should be cheaper overall, and maybe a little more in cost than the Xbox One. That said, having an i3 for something like £400-500 is a bit of a rip-off.

      But still Valve did mention that they’ll be doing other designs, small, very small. I’m sure they’ll be a nice selection. Just don’t know where they’re going to take it all. Plus the hardware should be cheaper on contract and bulk buy, so the final cost of a system should be reasonable compared to the market.

  4. Sounds to me as though they are just selling restricted pcs. Unless this is silly cheap relatively to the sum of the parts then I don’t know who would buy this. If they offer console prices (ie £350 new) and then offer all steam games at steam prices then if be up for it definitely.

  5. The thing with PC gaming is that you do need to stay on top of things a little. There will be upgrades inevitably. That’s why I prefer console gaming, you buy one box, you know it’ll be good for 5-10 years. This steam box wants to sit in the middle ground I think, it’ll be interesting to see if they can get the prices down and what longevity there is in the box. I don’t like the idea of having to buy the Steam Box 2 after only 18 months…

    • Exactly! I got sick of the constant upgrades on my pc years ago. Now I just have an i5 ultra book for internetz and such and I`ll have a PS3, vita and PS4 for games

    • Yes upgrades, but will you need them? Nope.

      The thing with PC gamers, is they never like to tone down the settings, Myself included, kills me that maxxed out Crysis 3 runs at sub 20fps.

  6. I doubt Valve will be getting their parts from Scan, plus I wouldn’t be surprised if they subsidise the cost a bit, like the consoles do. Also that is just the highest spec prototype, I think a PS4/XBone comparable Steam box could be built for a similar price.

    It will be very interesting to see how this all works out..

  7. So “Valve Box” Is just a branding… They are just PC’s. Like Dell, Alienware etc.

  8. With the ancient PC architecture hanging around it’s neck, it’s likely those specs will put is behind a PS4.

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