The Steam Machines

Do you really need a Titan for 1080P gaming on a television? Eff no. I don't see the point to those boxes period. Maybe 10 years from now when 4k televisions are the norm? I still say these fail. I'll gladly admit I'm wrong if I end up being wrong.
 
I had my hopes up pretty high on these Steam Boxes, but I really don't see the point to them anymore - like everyone else is saying.

I just built a new pc 6 months ago and was REALLY hoping these would take off so I could convert my friends away from consoles. After showing on friend these photos his gut reaction was to ask, "So they're just computers?" I think Steam missed the boat on grabbing the console crowd, regardless of how well their OS is.
 
ocellaris said:
That PC is pretty poor. If you think that will be easily handling new games in a few years, you are sadly mistaken. A lot of super budget PCs quickly become disappointing PCs within 2 or 3 years.

And most PS4 games are ready to play seconds after popping in the disc, they install the game while you are playing the game.
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Keep in mind consoles tend to play at 30 frame rates with no AA. That PC will be slow (could use a faster GPU), but it will last, if you run at a low res, no AA/AF, like 30 frame rates, and turn down the settings on new titles it will be comparable to console games.

Some new titles might run worse, but for the most part, you'll be able to turn down the settings to console levels and be able to play fine.
 
Seems like the release must be right around the corner, if I were making a steam box I'd wait and see what the 800 series has to offer. A die shrink is right around the corner and if you're manufacturing these little guys it might be best to nab a mid ranged 800 series for your steambox.
 
aeonrevolution said:
After showing on friend these photos his gut reaction was to ask, "So they're just computers?"
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That is exactly their appeal: they're just computers.

It's early days, anyway. This first batch is disappointing considering how long the run up between announcement and reveal was, but there's a lot of room for OEMs to innovate. They just need to actually step up.
 
Decko87 said:
Seems like the release must be right around the corner, if I were making a steam box I'd wait and see what the 800 series has to offer. A die shrink is right around the corner and if you're manufacturing these little guys it might be best to nab a mid ranged 800 series for your steambox.
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Two things to consider.

Allocation issues especially with smaller builders.

Maxwell for the desktop, at least performance parts, might be further off then is being expected at the moment.
 
aeonrevolution said:
I had my hopes up pretty high on these Steam Boxes, but I really don't see the point to them anymore - like everyone else is saying.

I just built a new pc 6 months ago and was REALLY hoping these would take off so I could convert my friends away from consoles. After showing on friend these photos his gut reaction was to ask, "So they're just computers?" I think Steam missed the boat on grabbing the console crowd, regardless of how well their OS is.
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We knew since it was first announced that they would be PCs. Your friend is a moron FYI and he doesnt understand that consoles are computers as well. They play games for so long because they're stagnant. During this lifetime, PC takes advantage of technology upgrades that consoles will never achieve!

I dont think people are looking to adopt this because it hasnt been given a chance yet. Honestly how many people have even played with SteamOS and the controller?
 
Focker said:
Do you really need a Titan for 1080P gaming on a television? Eff no. I don't see the point to those boxes period. Maybe 10 years from now when 4k televisions are the norm? I still say these fail. I'll gladly admit I'm wrong if I end up being wrong.
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considering the fact that the 780 cant even play tomb raider at 120 hz with all the effects enabled at 1080p absolutely you do
 
I like how people think a Titan is overkill for 1080P. I was seeing big gains with 2!
 
Focker said:
So you have a TItan and play your games in 1080p? I call foul.
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I had 2 Titans and played at 1080P. Overkill for 1080P? Maybe but to run every game 100% maxed out all the eye candy you need that kind of power.
 
Well don't know about Titans but my GTX 780s @ faster than Titan speeds are clearly not overkill for 144 Hz 1080P gaming with about 8xAA or 8xSGSSAA thrown in. Need that kind of power to pull fast frames like that. Can't imagine how these cards will crawl using that kind of candy at 1440P or higher.
 
You're missing my point. My $200 card (well, used to be $200 before mining became popular) plays at 1080p maxed settings at 50-80fps on pretty much any game I throw at it. You guys are in what I'd estimate like a 1% minority, if not less if you consider the amount of console users out there, that feel like you need 144 fps. 50-80 fps is plenty and more than what current console users get now.

Basically I don't understand the thought process behind spending $2,000 on video cards and playing at 1080p. Your $2,000 worth of power doesn't make your game look any better at all than my $200. Just maybe a tiny bit smoother. Now if you're using multiple monitors I get it. But one single monitor? $2,000? 1080p? Not very smart.
 
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Focker said:
You're missing my point. My $200 card (well, used to be $200 before mining became popular) plays at 1080p maxed settings at 50-80fps on pretty much any game I throw at it. You guys are in what I'd estimate like a 1% minority, if not less if you consider the amount of console users out there, that feel like you need 144 fps. 50-80 fps is plenty and more than what current console users get now.

Basically I don't understand the thought process behind spending $2,000 on video cards and playing at 1080p. Your $2,000 worth of power doesn't make your game look any better at all than my $200. Just maybe a tiny bit smoother. Now if you're using multiple monitors I get it. But one single monitor? $2,000? 1080p? Not very smart.
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yeah your wrong. your $200 card im guessing cant handle Tomb Raiders Tressfx. And there is absolutely no way your running maxed settings including shadows on a 200 card, period
 
VladDracule said:
yeah your wrong. your $200 card im guessing cant handle Tomb Raiders Tressfx. And there is absolutely no way your running maxed settings including shadows on a 200 card, period
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Umm, yes my 7950 can and does handle Tomb Raider maxed out with Tressfx enabled. Why would I lie?
 
One thing I have been thinking lately is that, yeah, Steam machines don't make sense for the extreme high end gaming enthusiast, BUT, for a lot of us running middle of the road hardware we could theoretically get a Steam machine for the price of a PS4 with the new controller and enjoy our VAST collection of steam games while eating doritos on the couch with our dog drooling on our legs. That is the value proposition.
For people who want more powerful Steam machines, they have options. For cheap ass gamers they have an option.

Steam machines carve out a MUCH bigger niche than that Razor modular gaming machine for example. I can't wait to see how they do on the market and IF the PS4 is not making me happier by then I may dump it and get a Steam Machine instead.
 
The problem with the steam boxes is that they're trying to make profits off of the hardware instead of the software. Why get Alienware involved? That company has been ripping people off for years. Steam should have partnered up with one company only imo.
 
Focker said:
Umm, yes my 7950 can and does handle Tomb Raider maxed out with Tressfx enabled. Why would I lie?
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I had a 7870 that ran Tomb Raider completely maxed out with Tressfx enabled at 1080p over 60 fps.

Almost any 2GB GPU card can run at 1080p at close to optimal settings.
 
Focker said:
The problem with the steam boxes is that they're trying to make profits off of the hardware instead of the software. Why get Alienware involved? That company has been ripping people off for years. Steam should have partnered up with one company only imo.
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I don't think Valve is making any money for the hardware. I don't think they're involved at all.
 
Valve is also manufacturing the controllers, but that's as far as they're involved in terms of hardware.
 
wonderfield said:
Valve is also manufacturing the controllers, but that's as far as they're involved in terms of hardware.
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I don't think Valve does any manufacturing. All this steambox related hardware is either off the shelf or OEM/ODM specifically for Valve, including the official case and controller.
 
I wasn't suggesting that they'd be manufacturing them in-house. No doubt they're contracting with a third-party assembler.
 
jwcalla said:
I don't think Valve is making any money for the hardware. I don't think they're involved at all.
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Hence why I mentioned Alienware... it's the computer/builder companies that are charging too much. Steam should have partnered up with just one of them, have them sell at cost or barely over cost, and give them a small percentage of each sale made from the steambox, or something similar to that scenario.
 
Focker said:
Hence why I mentioned Alienware... it's the computer/builder companies that are charging too much. Steam should have partnered up with just one of them, have them sell at cost or barely over cost, and give them a small percentage of each sale made from the steambox, or something similar to that scenario.
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No, the vendor should get the profit for the hardware. Valve will be making plenty of money when the buyer purchases games on Steam.
 
Still concerned that there hasn't been anything announced on the software side of things. Not much point to a dedicated Steam OS machine if there's no compelling software being made for it. Not even exclusive titles, but new titles that will release alongside the other consoles/Windows PC versions and not months after when they're finally ported to Linux/Steam OS.

I think if Valve can even get one big name publisher (Bethesda, Activision, etc) to support their platform with new releases, the others will follow suit once the sales are proven to be solid.
 
SeymourGore said:
Still concerned that there hasn't been anything announced on the software side of things. Not much point to a dedicated Steam OS machine if there's no compelling software being made for it. Not even exclusive titles, but new titles that will release alongside the other consoles/Windows PC versions and not months after when they're finally ported to Linux/Steam OS.

I think if Valve can even get one big name publisher (Bethesda, Activision, etc) to support their platform with new releases, the others will follow suit once the sales are proven to be solid.
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Quite right. This is why all these steam machine partners are getting pissed right now because they can ship these devices anytime, but are waiting for the controller and Software to be finalized.
AND, this probably wont happen until Q4 2014. Which is a long time for these vendors to wait. But they had to know this going into it.

Other concern is how many games will they be able to optimize of OpenGl instead of DX. If the initial library of optimized games is not compelling then steam may be up against PS4 and XBONE with comparable number of software titles in stores.

Only Valve knows for sure what their chances are.
 
MikeTrike said:
I'm just going this route when available.
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The RVZ01's alright, but check out the ML07, it's got a similar interior layout, but the exterior is sleeker (imo).

ml07.jpg


http://techreport.com/news/25918/silverstone-shows-plethora-of-new-cases
 
Domini said:
No, the vendor should get the profit for the hardware. Valve will be making plenty of money when the buyer purchases games on Steam.
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You totally missed my point. If they're trying to get people to convert, especially console users, they needed to offer competitive prices on the hardware.. which they clearly aren't doing.
 
Focker said:
Why get Alienware involved? That company has been ripping people off for years.
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Because Dell has distro in 60 countries.

Steam should have partnered up with one company only imo.
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That's short-sighted. Valve is looking to apply the Android effect to the living room gaming/entertainment unit, given the entrenched alternatives that are closed and proprietary to the point you can get banned from the online service for opening them up. It's the very same reason Microsoft didn't certify "only one company" to make Windows PC's when they had a vision for their operating system in wide use.
 
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Focker said:
You totally missed my point. If they're trying to get people to convert, especially console users, they needed to offer competitive prices on the hardware.. which they clearly aren't doing.
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Yar, it would be nice if these hardware vendors could sell some of these units at a loss like the main console guys. I don't see this happening as these hardware vendors won't see a profit from software sales. Although Valve themselves could step in and introduce their own rebate program (ie: $50 MIR or $100 Steam credit).
 
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