Home Gaming Steam Machine specs and prices revealed

Steam Machine specs and prices revealed

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Pacmoney

No longer in the realm of vapourware, the Steam Machines have been revealed. Some of them are really rather pretty, although the price tag also reveals quite an asking price. As cool as these look, I might just buy the controller separately and build my own Steam Machine.

Over at CES, Valve revealed a range of details including pretty pictures, and expensive price tags. Not all of them are overly expensive, but some are equivalent to awesome gaming rigs.

  • Alternate: $1339 (R14 267)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5 4570
  • Graphics: Gigabyte GTX 760
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB SSHD
  • CyberPowerPC: $499 and up (R5 317+)
  • CPU: AMD/Intel Core i5 CPU
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 270/Nvidia GTX 760
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 500GB
  • Digital Storm Bolt II: $2 584 (R27 533)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K
  • Graphics: GTX 780 Ti
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 1TB HDD + 120GB SSD

Steam Box 1

  • Gigabyte Brix Pro: TBD
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-4770R
  • Graphics: Intel Iris Pro 5200
  • RAM: 2 x 4GB
  • Storage: 1TB SATA 6Gb/sata
  • Falcon Northwest: $1,799 to $6000 (R19 168 – R63 931)
  • CPU: customizable
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan
  • RAM: 8 to 16 GB
  • Storage: up to 6 TB
  • iBuyPower: $499 and up (R5 317+)
  • CPU: Quad core AMD or Intel
  • Graphics: Radeon GCN Graphics
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 500GB+
  • Materiel.net: $1,098 (R11 700)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5 4440
  • Graphics: MSI GeForce GTX 760 OC
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 8 GB + 1 TB SSHD

Steam box 2

  • Next SPA: price TBD
  • CPU: Intel Core i5
  • Graphics: Nvidia GT 760
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 1TB
  • Origin PC Chronos: price TBD
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K (3.9 to 4.6 GHz)
  • Graphics: 2 x 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX Titans
  • Scan NC 10: $1,090 (R11 614)
  • CPU: Intel Core i3 4000M
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 500GB

Steam box 3

  • Webhallen: $1,499 (R15 972)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7
  • Graphics: Nvidia GT 780
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 1TB SSHD
  • Zotac: $599 (R6 382)
  • CPU: Intel Core (TBD)
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX
  • RAM – TBD
  • Storage – TBD

It appears to me that the Steam Machine has an identity crisis. As I understood it, the Steam Machine was meant to be a small, set-top box that could run your Steam library in the living room. However, it seemed to me that it was primarily a streaming media PC, meant to link your existing awesome gaming rig with your TV. At these prices, who would buy this above and beyond their existing PC? Presumably the only people who would buy this are those who already use a PC for gaming and are fans of Steam, so I’m not sure the value added by these boxes would be worth the price.

Some of the specs are excellent, and the machines certainly look pretty, but do Steam Machines really need to have such high specs? Each of these Steam Machines absolutely blow PS4 and Xbox One out of the water – but they also cost way more. I’m sure they will be fantastic pieces of machinery – but how necessary are they, especially at that price.

Alien steam box

Finally, I’m a bit worried about the absence of the Alienware version specs and price. Man, that box looks pretty, but considering all the other prices and specs, I’m sort of terrified of what is inside and how much it costs.

Last Updated: January 7, 2014

125 Comments

  1. Mark Treloar

    January 7, 2014 at 09:27

    As expected it would still be cheaper to build your own PC.

    Reply

    • Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)

      January 7, 2014 at 09:44

      But that’s the beauty of it. If you don’t want one of these rigs then just buy the controller and get SteamOS and load it up onto either your existing PC or one you built up to your specifications(a.k.a. budget)

      Reply

      • VampyricSquirrel Monk

        January 7, 2014 at 10:08

        Yeah but the “Budget” specifications normally always SUCK! lmao

        Reply

      • JJ's horrible secret (John)

        January 7, 2014 at 10:32

        I so badly want to make my own steam machine. Dedicate an entirely self-built pc to a steam OS.

        Reply

      • iAmWeasel

        January 7, 2014 at 10:53

        Why would you even want the controller.. looks like one helluva gimmick. The feedback I have read on the controller is average at best.

        Reply

  2. Uberutang

    January 7, 2014 at 09:27

    This is not for people with gaming rigs. This is for the ‘console’ crowd.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 7, 2014 at 09:31

      I’m not spending more than 10K on any machine. Though the steam sales would really come in handy then.

      Reply

      • Uberutang

        January 7, 2014 at 09:41

        Looks like just running a new AMD Kalvari APU with some fast RAM and a SSD would be fine for the next few years (to game on TV)

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 7, 2014 at 09:44

          Probably and it’s not like my TV supports 4K anyway 😛

          Reply

          • Uberutang

            January 7, 2014 at 09:46

          • Hammersteyn

            January 7, 2014 at 09:56

            Interesting.

          • Mark Treloar

            January 7, 2014 at 10:18

            Who needs 4k when Toshiba have 5k?

          • Uberutang

            January 7, 2014 at 10:24

            Well, Accoring to NVIDIA my system can do this:

            Maximum Resolution: 7600×1600
            Maximum Resolution (Bezel Correction): 8192×1600

            Where can I get a cheap 8K screen?

    • Melasco

      January 7, 2014 at 09:35

      So why not just buy a PS4 then? I don’t see the point if the hardware is different for every machine…

      Reply

      • Uberutang

        January 7, 2014 at 09:40

        You have to remember that multiplatform games are run on multiplatform engines and they scale according to hardware. So Mr R5000 PC and Mr R50 000 PC can still play the same game, just at different resolutions (4k vs 1080P) and with some graphics settings tuned up or down.

        My wife and I play tons of coop games together. She is on a 2nd hand R2500 PC. I am on a R10 000 self build PC. We play the same games…

        PS4 is way to limiting (for me at least). Cannot upgrade the hardware. No mod support for games. Cannot play old games (often revived with mods from users). Just far to little it can do when compared to a PC.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 7, 2014 at 09:54

          So very true, but most people get irritated when they can’t play games on max graphics and it requires them to upgrade. Whereas with console it eliminates that worry entirely.

          Reply

          • Uberutang

            January 7, 2014 at 09:56

            If you have the budget, you can always max stuff out. Only your bank account is your limitation 😛

            You are not going to get .’max graphics’ on any mulitplatform console game either.

          • Hammersteyn

            January 7, 2014 at 09:58

            No not max, though I am happy with the bar the PS4 has set thus far even though it was only one game.

          • Uberutang

            January 7, 2014 at 10:00

            IF Consoles ever start to support user mods, I might be interested again. Till then… hell no.

          • Hammersteyn

            January 7, 2014 at 10:03

            Cant argue that.

      • Melasco

        January 7, 2014 at 09:48

        Sorry, this was supposed to be @Uberutang

        Yeah ok, I guess I like the fact that my game looks exactly like the next guys when playing a multiplayer game like BF4. I have zero interest in upgrading or changing hardware and love the fact that 7 years from now my machine will still run my games without additional requirements, but that’s the whole PC vs console argument I’m not trying to get into. We know some prefer the one or the other, and some can enjoy both.

        Then my point is, as part of the console only crowd, I have no interest in a steam machine. None. And the PC gamers I know would rather stick to building their own for way cheaper, and just the way they like it…

        So who wants this then?

        Reply

        • Uberutang

          January 7, 2014 at 09:54

          A very good question. I think the upside from this is 3 fold:

          1. Steam Controller
          2. Steam OS
          3. Cheaper Small from Boxes

          TBH If I wanted something like a steam machine I would drop 12k on a gaming laptop. (and dual boot when and if Steam OS proof to offer better performance)

          Reply

          • Melasco

            January 7, 2014 at 09:57

            Yeah I agree about the laptop.

            Cool, was just wondering why people would want it 🙂 I have no doubt that they will sell. One area they are way better is new games pricing vs console, unless you are patient enough to get it free on PS+ or second hand later.

            If you like to get games on launch, pricing is a big downside on console, but I’ve accepted that!

          • Uberutang

            January 7, 2014 at 09:59

            I see them as a ‘cheap’ entry point to steam (and steam sales).

            As a former console gamer I still cannot believe how cheap games can be on PC during these sales!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 7, 2014 at 09:59

            Not really for major new releases, they still go for $60/70 on Steam. It’s only later that prices come down on PC too.

          • Sarelseemonster

            January 7, 2014 at 10:19

            Yeah, later being about a month or until the next holiday type sale. Thanksgiving, Halloween, Easter, “Winter”, “Summer”, Humble bundle, etc.

        • Sarelseemonster

          January 7, 2014 at 10:16

          You can keep on playing on PC for 7-8 years as well if you want to play said games at the resolution and graphic fidelity of the consoles.
          I really don’t get why console gamers don’t get this. My one 7 year old PC still plays Far Cry 3. Yes I have to switch it to 720p, I switch off a lot of the pretty, but it still plays perfectly when making it look like the Xbox360 or PS3 version. I can play Starcraft 2 on it it very well, yes graphics are down. One doesnt have to play graphics at 4K + 90fps with everything on ultra for 10 years.

          TL;DR: If you make it look like console graphics you can also play on the same hardware for 7 years.

          Reply

          • Melasco

            January 7, 2014 at 10:24

            I get that, but a PC is a waste of space in the house for me. I switched from PC to console in 2011, never looked back. For other people it’s the other way around and they don’t mind a PC taking up a desk in a room.

            I just like the fact that I don’t have to change settings or anything like that. For some reason, if you have an older PC, and a game supports higher settings than I can set mine to, it used to bug me….

            On console, it is what it is, and I don’t care lol. Yeah, weird I know…

          • iAmWeasel

            January 7, 2014 at 11:01

            100% agree with you. I was a PC gamer for over 20 years, and a part of me was never happy because my system couldn’t attain that perfect max settings and max resolution. It would eat away at me and I felt like I wasn’t enjoying games fully. In 2008 I switched to console and now I just have fun because it’s no longer an issue for me.

    • JJ's horrible secret (John)

      January 7, 2014 at 10:32

      It is. Only it’s better.

      Reply

  3. ElimiNathan

    January 7, 2014 at 09:28

    Lol, interesting, can’t wait to see how the public reacts to this

    Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    January 7, 2014 at 09:29

    • Brady miaau

      January 7, 2014 at 09:34

      Man, I love watching the Jon Stewart show. So topical, so funny and only ever so slightly biased.

      his expressions rock.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 7, 2014 at 09:34

        I loved it when he tunes FOX news

        Reply

    • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

      January 7, 2014 at 09:52

      My thoughts too man…

      Reply

    • Sageville

      January 7, 2014 at 09:59

      Give me a “W”!
      Give me a “T”!
      Give me a “F”!

      What do you get?
      One big ass price tag…

      Reply

  5. FSR

    January 7, 2014 at 09:29

    “Origin PC Chronos: price TBD
    CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K (3.9 to 4.6 GHz)
    Graphics: 2 x 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX Titans”

    Holy Titans batman!! going to cost an arm, leg and testicle.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 7, 2014 at 09:33

      Trade in the Bat mobile.

      Reply

      • VampyricSquirrel Monk

        January 7, 2014 at 10:10

        And the BatBike, and sell Robin back to the circus and sell Batgirl into prostitution… might be able to afford it then

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 7, 2014 at 10:22

          LOL

          Reply

    • Weanerdog

      January 7, 2014 at 09:36

      R60k plus think I

      Reply

    • Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)

      January 7, 2014 at 09:41

      Poor gamer gurls won’t be able to afford it then… 😛

      Reply

      • FSR

        January 7, 2014 at 09:45

        Careful who you date 😉

        Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    January 7, 2014 at 09:30

    I thought the same. These all appear to be primary gaming machines, wonder if they’re going to release details of plain old streaming boxes later.

    Also, maybe someone should tell Gigabyte that Brix is probably not the best name to choose.

    Reply

  7. Umar of The Rebellion

    January 7, 2014 at 09:31

    I’m pretty sure you can build an equally strong PC for less money

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      January 7, 2014 at 09:32

      Yes, and that’s paying retail.

      Reply

      • Umar of The Rebellion

        January 7, 2014 at 09:33

        Steam getting abit carried away here. Riding the name to new monetary heights

        Reply

        • Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)

          January 7, 2014 at 09:46

          I think it’s more the hardware vendors that are riding the Steam name… And as I said previously; just build your own PC, load SteamOS and get the controller.

          Reply

          • Umar of The Rebellion

            January 7, 2014 at 09:52

            Ahh, true true. And yeah, there you go, cheaper steam machine

  8. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    January 7, 2014 at 09:31

    In the end I might just copy the specs and build my own one, but the cases and the look might sell it for me. I am probably going to wait for SteamMachine 2.0 though… See if they start focusing more on trying to drive prices down and if Valve maybe brings out their own one that they haggled with Vendors like Sony and MS do.

    Reply

  9. Alien Emperor Trevor

    January 7, 2014 at 09:39

    I wonder if they’re doing more damage than not by releasing such (mostly) high spec machines. People will automatically look at the highest prices, then compare them to the lowest & believe that those ones are crap, when in fact they’ll run everything on the market today perfectly well.

    Reply

  10. Weanerdog

    January 7, 2014 at 09:43

    I am going to get some flak but those prices don’t seem way out of whack compared to pre-assembled PCs of similar specs, but as always you could build it cheaper yourself, also these all seem to be proper rigs not an set top streaming/media box. Unless you are dual booting or someone is seriously pushing Linux gaming you are probably not going to need those specs.

    Reply

  11. Brenz

    January 7, 2014 at 09:45

    Thats a bit silly, and why so many options?
    I thought it would be simpler, like their version of a console, but its just a pc in a box with as many options as there is hardware out there, why bother really.

    If Im going to spend that money I will build a gaming rig, not spend it on the box.
    Ideally Ill have my PS4 and my gaming rig, ideally, in an ideal world, yes I know Im dreaming.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      January 7, 2014 at 09:48

      Yes, I think so many different options is pretty silly. That’s precisely what people don’t want if they’re looking to buy one of these instead of building their own, or buying a console.

      Reply

      • Brenz

        January 7, 2014 at 09:50

        Exactly, they have just succeeded in making console gaming complicated, everything its meant to NOT be.

        Reply

      • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

        January 7, 2014 at 09:56

        Did you say console?

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          January 7, 2014 at 09:57

          Speak of the peasant & it shall appear 😉

          Reply

  12. RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

    January 7, 2014 at 09:52

    DAPHUQ? I would rather build my own!

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      January 7, 2014 at 09:53

      Stick to lego, Sparky 😛 trollol!

      Reply

      • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

        January 7, 2014 at 09:57

        Silence!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          January 7, 2014 at 09:57

          Can you show me how to rename a file? bwhahahaha

          Reply

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 09:58

            Eh? I know how to. I assumed because of your condition you did not…

          • Hammersteyn

            January 7, 2014 at 09:59

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:00

            HAHAHA! Nah, we can’t be too mean to each other as we often see each other now… And if he pisses me off, I’ll just put on youtube trailers and make him listen to OVG 0-O

          • Hammersteyn

            January 7, 2014 at 10:01

            I know but it’s not often that I can pull out the popcorn.

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:22

            That’s what she said? Too early in the new year?

          • Hammersteyn

            January 7, 2014 at 10:23

            I would be terrified if she pulled out anything.

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 7, 2014 at 10:40

            TOO SOON!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 7, 2014 at 10:03

            And I still can’t believe you took me seriously 😉

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:24

            Easy to take you seriously if you are acting stupid *RUNS 😉

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 7, 2014 at 10:25

            I was trying to fit in! BOOM!

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:27

            There’s fitting in with me… And there’s fitting in with OVG. NEVER GO FULL RETARD! BOOM!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 7, 2014 at 10:28

            That’s why I was fitting in the OVG instead of you. BOOM!

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:28

            LAME!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 7, 2014 at 10:29

            That just means I WIN!

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:31

            Ha! The expression on your face while he was doing ‘Braaaaaaa booooom A A MAN ALONE, bwaaaaaa bshshhhhhhh FEARS ONLY ONE THING braaaaa ababababa HIMSELF’. That was not a winning face!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 7, 2014 at 10:32

            lolllllll

    • Hammersteyn

      January 7, 2014 at 09:53

      In some cases it’s between owning a Steam Machine or putting down a deposit for a decent TV and home theater system and wall unit.

      Reply

      • Brenz

        January 7, 2014 at 09:57

        Thats madness I say, madness!
        You gotta have too much money to actually think thats a good idea, Ill stick to the old school ways.

        Reply

    • VampyricSquirrel Monk

      January 7, 2014 at 10:04

      You know how to build a PC?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        January 7, 2014 at 10:14

        *crickets chirping*

        Reply

      • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

        January 7, 2014 at 10:22

        Yip. Built the one I have now. Start with brick, mortar, and coal?

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          January 7, 2014 at 10:24

          LOL. I just had a mental picture of you standing there forging your own PC case in the smithy, just like they do the swords in dodgy fantasy movies.

          Reply

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:26

            Haha! Montage like. ‘Grabs kettle, pulls cord out, grabs VHS tape, TV controller, mop’ camera pans away and you are left with the Hadon Collider’s super computers 🙂

    • JJ's horrible secret (John)

      January 7, 2014 at 10:33

      I thought you console guys only knew where power cables and HDMI cables are plugged in. Trololo

      Reply

      • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

        January 7, 2014 at 10:35

        We thought we did, then the PS4 came out and threw us for a 6 man! Oi, you keep to go shooting with us later this month?

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          January 7, 2014 at 10:40

          What you gonna shoot?

          Reply

          • JJ's horrible secret (John)

            January 7, 2014 at 10:49

            *sets up sniper rifle*
            “he’ll never see it coming*

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:49

            *stabs you in the back, fucking campers!

          • JJ's horrible secret (John)

            January 7, 2014 at 10:56

            I don’t camp! What a terrible insult! I will let you know that I’m excellent in BF at using a chopper and killing everyone in it by crashing right after taking off.

          • RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

            January 7, 2014 at 10:59

            Hahaha!

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 7, 2014 at 10:59

            So that was you screaming “PULL UP!! PULL UP!! OH SCREW IT”

          • JJ's horrible secret (John)

            January 7, 2014 at 11:49

            That would be me, yes.

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 7, 2014 at 10:52

            The eyeliner will help you blend in!

          • JJ's horrible secret (John)

            January 7, 2014 at 10:55

            I use it to hide the red marks where the scope hit my eye when I held it too close.

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 7, 2014 at 10:55

            GOT SKILLS HOMIE!!

          • JJ's horrible secret (John)

            January 7, 2014 at 10:57

            You know it. 😉

      • TiMsTeR1033

        January 7, 2014 at 10:38

        We know more than you think! we know how to even use a keyboard and mouse too!!

        Reply

  13. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    January 7, 2014 at 09:56

    They look awesome. However, one could take those same specs, purchase the items separately, by shopping around and come out with a cheaper rig with the same specs.

    That being said, one really is going for the look of it all here so the prices aren’t actually “too bad” for some of them.

    Very cool. Can’t wait to get my hands on the OS and try it on my current machine. Won’t even have to spend any cash 🙂

    Reply

  14. Rags

    January 7, 2014 at 09:59

    ” it seemed to me that it was primarily a streaming media PC”

    Err, have you been following this at all?

    Anyway the cyberpower at $499 looks like a steal!

    Reply

    • SaintsRowNigri

      January 7, 2014 at 10:02

      Enlighten us then…

      Reply

    • Robert Hart

      January 7, 2014 at 10:16

      Hehe I thought the same thing. Not sure where the “streaming from your pc” rumor originated or what that even means! I’d love to see a network that can transfer graphic/cpu information at the required 80 Gbps! I doubt our current 1Gbps (most are only 100mbps!) home LAN networks would have enough bandwidth for a 10 year old graphic card XD

      Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        January 7, 2014 at 10:25

        You would love to see a network that can do it? Seems the Nvidia shield has been successfully doing this exact thing on home networks for a while now.

        Reply

        • Robert Hart

          January 7, 2014 at 13:33

          The Shield is plagued with input lag issues. Most reviewers say it is “acceptable”, but dont recommend playing any game that tests your reflexes.. lol

          Reply

  15. VampyricSquirrel Monk

    January 7, 2014 at 10:02

    The Alienware one is probably fully customisable like their PC’s or Laptops… down to the color of the lights etc… so I doubt they’d want to put that price up as it would cause a few heart attacks.

    I for one would just build my own rig, buy the controller and install the OS… none of those prices are particularly pretty and I can run all my games on my TV through an HDMI cable from my LAPTOP or PC anyway.

    Reply

  16. Robert Hart

    January 7, 2014 at 10:09

    The expensive ones have lost the plot. The R6000 ones are more in line to compete with the non-steam consoles.

    ” As I understood it, the Steam Machine was meant to be a small, set-top box that could run your Steam library in the living room. ”
    Considering we dont know the size of those machines, its hard to say that these are not exactly that. We know already that the Alienware X51 gaming PC is as small as the PS4 and PS3.

    “it seemed to me that it was primarily a streaming media PC, meant to link your existing awesome gaming rig with your TV.”

    I dont think you can blame them for your own misunderstanding 😛

    The box is meant to compete directly with the other consoles and its main selling point is its library of games and openess. It is not necessarily meant for people who already have PC’s.

    Besides the media completely misunderstanding what a Steambox is, I think Valve are still on track here to do great things. They are aiming to have hundreds of companies offering numerous products all running the Steam OS. Out of those companies a few will rise to the top to offer a good combination of affordability and performance.

    What most people seem to ignore is that these consoles are not limited to the MS or Sony release cycles (5 years ~). Samsung could release an updated line of their steam OS consoles once a year. This would result in consoles that outperform the PS4/Xbone while at the same time being cheaper to purchase due to the advance of technology. All while keeping 100% backward compatibility.

    Reply

    • Willem Swanepoel

      January 8, 2014 at 07:52

      yeah I agree with you here. A lot of people will throw their hands up in the air and saying … this is an overkill and it is just a PC in a small box etc. but 2-3 years down the line when the XBone and PS4 is already behind on technology the steambox will shine and by that time, you can play ALL your games without a Windows installation (I think that is Valve’s biggest aim, to cut out the Windows requirement to play games, basically make it a PC-Console Hybrid)

      Valve know exactly what they are doing…

      Watch out Microsoft and Sony, a STORM is coming ….

      Reply

  17. Willem Swanepoel

    January 7, 2014 at 10:12

    You forgot to add import tax to those prices..

    it is pretty easy, add about 50%-60%

    Anyway, it is the top of the range hardware, you will get cheaper versions…they are just showing their big guns…

    Reply

    • Robert Hart

      January 7, 2014 at 10:18

      Yeah. We could even see local companies developing their own Steambox’s.

      Reply

  18. Sarelseemonster

    January 7, 2014 at 10:22

    The Alienware Steambox has been out for about a year already… Well… the form factor.
    http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/17/alienware-announces-x51-for-699/

    Reply

    • Rags

      January 7, 2014 at 10:27

      Same machine, different OS.

      Reply

      • Sarelseemonster

        January 7, 2014 at 10:33

        or the same OS.
        Yeah it wil lship with SteamOS but you may as well run Windows on it as well.
        I’m interested in the controller 🙂

        Reply

        • Rags

          January 7, 2014 at 10:45

          Same here, hope to see it available soon.

          Reply

  19. Rags

    January 7, 2014 at 10:25

    Valve is playing the long game. Give it 5-6 years when you visit your mate who has a steam machine and you still running your ancient PS4/xbox1, see the great features of the OS, the cheap games, community and mod support, the great controller, Occulus Rift and other exciting input devices you are not going to wait for a PS5 or a Xbox 2. You ARE going to get a steam machine. 😉

    Valve is not winning this console race, its started with the next one.

    Personally I will use my monster workstation, run it in big picture mode and put it in the living room over weekends. Best of both worlds yo!

    Reply

    • Kromas

      January 7, 2014 at 12:53

      Most gamers will run their pcs in big picture mode or just install SteamOS.Steam Machines won’t sell well to pc gamers.I believe their strategy is to win over console gamers and in all honesty you might buy a steam machine as your fist ever “pc” purchase but once you are hooked to all the pc gaming has to offer you will expand into custom builds and probs won’t ever buy a steam machine again.

      Reply

  20. fred

    January 7, 2014 at 10:38

    Identity crisis for sure … and I don’t get the controller either . They would have done better with a standardized box and hardware , and just do a new one every five years or so.

    Reply

  21. GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

    January 7, 2014 at 11:10

    Ja … no thank you

    Reply

  22. iAmWeasel

    January 7, 2014 at 11:20

    Bah this is pointless! More expensive PC hardware with less functionality. Valve are being pretty naive with this idea. Steam OS yes, Steam Controller, NO.. Steam Machines, HELL NO!

    Reply

    • Rags

      January 7, 2014 at 11:22

      How does it have less functionality? You can put Windows on these and use it at work.

      Reply

      • iAmWeasel

        January 7, 2014 at 11:52

        Exactly so what’s the point then. Its not a console and its not quite PC (out the box)

        Reply

        • Kromas

          January 7, 2014 at 12:49

          Out the box they can run with a kb+m and screen setup.Steam machines are basically just pre-built pcs in nice cases.Dell has been doing that for years as have HP and thousand of other companies. I do agree though that true pc gamers won’t buy these since they like to custom build but hey maybe they might snag a console gamer here or there.

          Reply

          • iAmWeasel

            January 7, 2014 at 14:08

            Ya can only see this appealing to a very niche sector.

  23. bartleby451

    January 8, 2014 at 01:54

    Another lost opportunity, what a waste of time,. What are they thinking? This actually makes me angry.

    Reply

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