Two weeks ago, Valve announced that they would be distributing 300 prototype consoles for beta testing. The hardware on those trial consoles was released over the weekend. Looking at what the Steam Machines will be packing may call into question just how much these things will cost. Just take a look at what is in these things:
- 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 GDDR5 (GPU)
- Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD
- Power Supply: Internal 450w 80Plus Gold
- Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in
The Steam Machines will also be completely open for modifications. In other words, it’s a regular gaming rig squeezed down to console size. Valve will also be releasing the CAD files for the console housing, so people will be able to 3D print their own if they want to do that too. The whole thing is so customisable that you could probably build your own Steam Machine from scratch.
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That being said, there is a little concern for the potential price of the consoles. High-end CPUs and GPUs aren’t exactly cheap. That’s why the Xbox One and PS4 are running mid-range AMD APUs.
