Off Topic: The Flood
This topic has moved here: Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box" at CES
  • Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box" at CES
Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box" at CES

The "Steam Box" modular computer announced by hardware maker Xi3 and Valve at CES is codenamed "Piston" and is modeled after the PC maker's X7A line of pint-sized computers, Xi3 reps tell Polygon.

Xi3 brought an early version of Piston to CES, but was tight lipped on details about the hardware currently in development with Valve. Xi3 chief marketing officer David Politis told Polygon that Piston will offer up to 1 TB of interal storage and offer modular component updates, including the option to upgrade the PC's CPU and RAM.

Xi3 wouldn't discuss price for Piston, but commented that the Steam Box is based on its "performance level" X7A offering, which is priced at $999. Xi3 declined to comment on what would differentiate Piston hardware-wise from a standard X7A.

Xi3 also offers the entry level X5A, which is priced at $499 with a Linux operating system.

The demo unit of Piston featured an IO board boasting one ethernet port, 1/8" audio in/out, SPDIF optical audio, four USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports (with one dedicated to keyboard input), four eSATAp ports, two Mini Display Port ports and one DisplayPort/HDMI port.

See More


Now I sure hope the $999 and $499 prices are nowhere near where they will actuallly be because otherwise Valve would be killed by their own console.



[Edited on 01.07.2013 9:01 PM PST]

  • 01.07.2013 8:56 PM PDT
Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box"

Where is a goddamn link?

  • 01.07.2013 8:56 PM PDT

Caboose -1


It looks like a Puma?!?

Half-Box 3

  • 01.07.2013 8:57 PM PDT


Posted by: I3 O O lVI E R
Where is a goddamn link?

Edited into the OP, sorry.

  • 01.07.2013 8:58 PM PDT

Glory and fame, blood is our name!
Souls full of thunder, hearts of steel!
Killers of men, a warrior's friend!
Sworn to avenge our fallen brothers!
Sons of the gods, today we shall die.
Open Valhalla's door!
Let the battle begin, with swords in the wind! Hail Gods of War!

If I can use mods and the like, while being able to run my games at Console-quality performance, sign me up!

  • 01.07.2013 8:58 PM PDT


Posted by: GhostLink2401
If I can use mods and the like, while being able to run my games at Console-quality performance, sign me up!

Seems like you could maybe do that, I know CPU and RAM can be increased. Their goal is to bring PC gaming to the console and making it uncomplicated like console gaming.

  • 01.07.2013 9:01 PM PDT
Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box" at CES

"Apparently people don't like the truth, but I do like it; I like it because it upsets a lot of people. If you show them enough times that their arguments are bull-blam!-, then maybe just once, one of them will say, 'Oh! Wait a minute I was wrong.' I live for that happening. Rare, I assure you."-Lemmy of Motorhead

i belive shhave funzes suppos

Yes, I'm the guy who had the Flood admit to being furries.

Oh wow, that thing is small!

  • 01.07.2013 9:04 PM PDT
Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box"

A simple life.

So small...hope it can actually run games well.

  • 01.07.2013 9:06 PM PDT

Posted by: x Foman123 x

Posted by: TH3_AV3NG3R
What house has a rocket pod, has legs, and has a long narrow barrel that probably shoots something powerful?

Sounds like you're describing the lower half of my body, actually.


Posted by: Budgetgravy
So small...hope it can actually run games well.

Gamecube.

  • 01.07.2013 9:06 PM PDT

$500 and $1000? What. No.

  • 01.07.2013 9:07 PM PDT

[As of October 2012]
2013 ADFA Officer Cadet of the RAAF (Aerospace Engineer Electronics Officer).

That X7A (that Piston is apparently derived from) actually has pretty decent specs:

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/10/xi3-announces-x7a-and-x3a-mo dular-computers/

Quad core 32nm CPU @ 3.2GHz
8GB RAM
64GB - 1 TB SSD
enough display ports to suggest a decent GPU

  • 01.07.2013 9:07 PM PDT

It's not my fault, I was just trying to tie my shoe!

Join TFS, the grooviest private group on bungie.net! We r cewl gaiz who dun fraid of nething. Join for heated debates, game nights, and lols. We're waiting! (Be a man) We must be swift as the coursing river. (Be a man), With all the force of a great typhoon. (Be a man), With all the strength of a raging fire. Mysterious as the dark side of the moon!

With that price tag, I do not see it happening for me.

  • 01.07.2013 9:08 PM PDT


Posted by: Bearded Elf
$500 and $1000? What. No.

That's what the computer equivalent hardware costs. Although to make any sales, I think they would have to sell it for $350-$400

  • 01.07.2013 9:09 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

No point in putting something funny, clever or informative here. Most probably im going to get perma-banned anyway.

-blam!-! My 360 and future 720 will play games just fine, it doesnt matter what this thing has, I aint paying 500 and up for a console.

  • 01.07.2013 9:12 PM PDT
Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box" at CES
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Why So Serious?

"I'm gonna go America all over everybody's asses!"
-Charlie, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Very promising. I might actually check this out, as I sold my last gaming computer months ago.


Posted by: Lightning Yuna
-blam!-! My 360 and future 720 will play games just fine, it doesnt matter what this thing has, I aint paying 500 and up for a console.


But that's the thing. This is a fully functional gaming PC, isn't it? That offers a lot more than a console, and not for much more money.

[Edited on 01.07.2013 9:16 PM PST]

  • 01.07.2013 9:15 PM PDT

OUYA

  • 01.07.2013 9:16 PM PDT


Posted by: Not The Joker
Very promising. I might actually check this out, as I sold my last gaming computer months ago.


Posted by: Lightning Yuna
-blam!-! My 360 and future 720 will play games just fine, it doesnt matter what this thing has, I aint paying 500 and up for a console.


But that's the thing. This is a fully functional gaming PC, isn't it? That offers a lot more than a console, and not for much more money.

I believe it is a less complicated gaming PC essentially. You can hook up a keyboard to it and Steam would be available on it.

Inb4 Half-Life 3 is exclusive on Piston.

  • 01.07.2013 9:26 PM PDT

"Why concentrate on the negative when we can speak of the positive?"
My File Share
Try using the Search Bar next time.
Halo 2 was the best Halo game
A7x FoREVer!

I like the idea, but if the price for the Steam Box is anywhere near those numbers I can guarantee you I will not be buying. Why get a steam box when you can get 2-3 next gen consoles for cheaper?

  • 01.07.2013 9:34 PM PDT
Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box"

Online ID: GriffGraff15


Posted by: GhostLink2401
If I can use mods and the like, while being able to run my games at Console-quality performance, sign me up!

As opposed to PC quality performance (higher than consoles)?

  • 01.07.2013 9:35 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Mythic Member

I came for Halo, but I heard the Tru7h, fought thru Carnage, and stayed for Bungie.

No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.--Teddy Roosevelt

I've never heard of that site you linked OP, but it looks cool.

  • 01.07.2013 9:36 PM PDT
Subject: Valve reveals the "Steam Box" at CES
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

No point in putting something funny, clever or informative here. Most probably im going to get perma-banned anyway.


Posted by: bergXX09

Posted by: Not The Joker
Very promising. I might actually check this out, as I sold my last gaming computer months ago.


Posted by: Lightning Yuna
-blam!-! My 360 and future 720 will play games just fine, it doesnt matter what this thing has, I aint paying 500 and up for a console.


But that's the thing. This is a fully functional gaming PC, isn't it? That offers a lot more than a console, and not for much more money.

I believe it is a less complicated gaming PC essentially. You can hook up a keyboard to it and Steam would be available on it.

Inb4 Half-Life 3 is exclusive on Piston.


The amounts I see here dont scream not for much more money. Im just a person that wants a box that plays the latest games just fine. I dont need to spend crazy amounts for that as long as MS is around.

  • 01.07.2013 9:39 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Mythic Member

I came for Halo, but I heard the Tru7h, fought thru Carnage, and stayed for Bungie.

No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.--Teddy Roosevelt

I think Valve will have to heavily subsidize this thing for me to be able to afford it.

  • 01.07.2013 9:41 PM PDT

What a waste....

I think the idea that people are missing is that it's not a console. It's a PC.

Really, I find no reason for console games anymore. What, you "don't want to upgrade every year,"? YOU DON'T HAVE TO. You can always run games at their console specs.

Though, I guess as soon as consoles go to dust minimum requirements will skyrocket.

Pretty much the only advantage of this is split-screen co-op and it is very tiny indeed.

EDIT: Probably won't be buying, even if this is a legit.

[Edited on 01.07.2013 9:42 PM PST]

  • 01.07.2013 9:41 PM PDT