This is the first console I've ever been interested in actually buying. I've always refused to buy devices that don't allow you to write and install your own software (I don't count hacks on them, so this is the first console that's actually open enough to meet my criteria. The nice thing is that this makes a pretty good off the shelf home theater PC even if I never actually use it for gaming.
Steam Machine Teardown
21–30 of 128 posts
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#22My goodness, that thing has a PS/2 keyboard port. Maybe I can drag my first-generation Microsoft natural keyboard out of retirement.
Some gamers still prefer PS/2 if given the choice, even though there's little technical advantage. Although their most cited reason (key rollover) isn't valid; the keyboard determines how many simultaneous key presses it will transmit over USB.
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is the point of bringing that up here?
The Phantom was taking the same approach pretty much. Off the shelf PC parts and digital copies of games. Just interesting to see how much and how little changes in a decade.
Or how different doing the same approach can be with a successful, multibillion dollar company driving it.
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#24What the hell is a 32 bit processor doing on a simple button/light daughterboard?
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#25My goodness, that thing has a PS/2 keyboard port. Maybe I can drag my first-generation Microsoft natural keyboard out of retirement.
Some gamers still prefer PS/2 if given the choice, even though there's little technical advantage. Although their most cited reason (key rollover) isn't valid; the keyboard determines how many simultaneous key presses it will transmit over USB.
Huge advantage. Whip out that 5lb Model M and get to clicking. Typing on an original right now.
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#26My goodness, that thing has a PS/2 keyboard port. Maybe I can drag my first-generation Microsoft natural keyboard out of retirement.
Some gamers still prefer PS/2 if given the choice, even though there's little technical advantage. Although their most cited reason (key rollover) isn't valid; the keyboard determines how many simultaneous key presses it will transmit over USB.
n key rollover is determined by the keyboard and the connector, if the keyboard supports it and your interface is PS/2 you do get full rollover.
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#27Very nice little box, considering it's all COTS stuff save for the chassis, LED button and controller.
I imagine these will be available with a range of CPU's and GPU's come release day.
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#28My goodness, that thing has a PS/2 keyboard port. Maybe I can drag my first-generation Microsoft natural keyboard out of retirement.
Some gamers still prefer PS/2 if given the choice, even though there's little technical advantage. Although their most cited reason (key rollover) isn't valid; the keyboard determines how many simultaneous key presses it will transmit over USB.
http://superuser.com/questions/16893/do-usb-or-ps-2-keyboard...
PS/2 keyboards observationally are known to have a bit less latency. Since there are a ton of variables at play (keyboard controller, USB poll rate, PS/2 interrupt queuing, etc.) it's hard to evaluate just how much the difference will be with any given setup.
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
You will need one to mine Valve's hatcoins
Although we're joking, I wonder if Bitcoin would be far more successful if it originated within a platform like Steam. Let's say Steam replaced their wallet with Hatcoins. They allow users to add Hatcoins from their bank account, send Hatcoins to other users, purchase hats, and Steam games at a 2% discount if using Hatcoins during 2014. Valve runs the main Hatcoin exchange, and you'll have millions of people using th…
This reminds me of Microsoft Points et al which I find incredibly annoying. It's much friendlier to ask me to pay for things in the currency I use for everything else in my life.
Re: Steam Machine Teardown
#30What the hell is a 32 bit processor doing on a simple button/light daughterboard?
"Steam Operations" did not have a chance to have a good Father-Son conversation with "Steam Engineering" yet.
Don't worry... it will come.