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Steam Machine Teardown

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Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#101

Post by nitrogen »

pmjordan wrote: post #71
jonesetc wrote: post #4

Basically just a small form PC. Pretty much every component that will be messed with is just an off-the-shelf part. Not really any surprises here, but it's nice that it's all confirmed.

Over the years, I've tried a few times to design a gaming capable PC that would easily fit in a suitcase and not make as much noise as a 747. I never found cases with a form factor like that with internal power supplies, and which will fit, power and cool a mid-to-high range (~€180) graphics card. The other components are easy of course. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, because I'm definitely in the market for someth…

You could try building a custom PC into a hard-shell travel case. I believe there are also ITX or micro ATX cases that can accommodate a 400+ watt PSU for powering a GPU in that range.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#102

Post by baddox »

Narishma wrote: post #45
lambda wrote: post #21

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.

These are living-room PCs, not consoles.

These are living room PCs and consoles.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#103

Post by kbenson »

lambda wrote: post #21

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.

Maybe you should look into the Ouya[1] as well.

1: https://www.ouya.tv/develop/

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#104

Post by jotm »

geetee wrote: post #7

Does anyone remember Infinium Labs and the Phantom[1]? I'm not at all trying to make vaporware accusations. I just can't believe it's been 10 years. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_Entertainment

The big difference is that the new console is made and marketed by a multi billion dollar gaming company with the largest games marketplace for desktop operating systems. I kinda hope they succeed in turning Linux into the goto OS for gaming...

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#105

Post by sprokolopolis »

chongli wrote: post #96
freehunter wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Open source Linux core where installed software may or may not be open source, with an increasing reliance on closed-source cloud applications? Closed source graphics drivers, network firmware, etc? I don't have any statistics obviously, but I would be willing to wager at least 50% of Linux desktops have some closed source installed or some reliance on a cloud provider. Even if it's Flash for watching YouTube videos.

That's still not even close. How easy is it to side-load on Android? Browse the file system? Obtain root access? Recompile and update the kernel? Replace the window manager? Android may be a lot more open than iOS but it's not even close to a Linux desktop.

How easy is it to side-load on Android?: Very Easy out of the box. Just open the apk and the installer will install it.

Browse the file system? Very easy. There are many free and paid file managers. You can also use a terminal emulator.

Obtain root access? OEM unlock bootloader, throw su on the phone and you are set.

Recompile and update the kernel? I has never built my own kernel, but there are many custom kernels popping up all the time.

Replace the window manager? To change the desktop environment, most people just install a different "launcher". That changes how the desktop, windowing, and general interface operate. If you really wanted to have the full freedom of Linux, you can install something like Debian on an android device with a dual boot setup or run it on top of android through a VNC client.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#106

Post by vacri »

selectodude wrote: post #17

Why would ifixit knock off a point due to a full PC in a small form factor being a tight fit? Doesn't seem to make any sense.

The cabling, cowling, and RAM were mentioned as being a little difficult. To me, 'a little difficult' would suggest that it can't actually get perfect marks for 'easy to do'.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#107

Post by yuhong »

freehunter wrote: post #55
swashboon wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always laugh when I see 'PC' because I take it at is literal meaning - 'Personal Computer' - which always makes me wonder what about apple products, consoles, or even mobile phones makes them not either personal or computers. They all seem to be computers, they all seem pretty personal to me...

PC is a holdover from the popular IBM Personal Computer running Microsoft's PC DOS (later MS-DOS). IBM made PC a brand name in direct competition with Apple. When other companies started copying IBM, they made IBM PC Compatible devices and peripherals, generally with an x86 processor. By the 90's, "IBM PC Compatible" meant "an x86 processor running Windows", still in direct competition with Apple. So even though Appl…

Well, even Apple computers are IBM PC compatible nowadays, and today outside of a few exceptions it is difficult to make x86 computers that are not IBM PC compatible at the hardware level.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#108

Post by yaeger »

kbenson wrote: post #103
lambda wrote: post #21

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.

Maybe you should look into the Ouya[1] as well. 1: https://www.ouya.tv/develop/

If we talk "gaming" and PC and "traditional consoles", I fear the Ouya is a little underpowered. Doesn't it run on a chip that is normally found in smartphones? Some type pf snapdragon?

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#109

Post by yaeger »

jagermo wrote: post #41
hdevalence wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can build your own steam machine without a $500 graphics card.

or a cheaper one and upgrade from time to time.

and "from time to time" does not mean every other year in case somebody still thinks that.

Nowadays you can go a very long time with even just a medium spec'd gpu and still compare favorably to consoles. But unlike consoles you have the option to upgrade it if you want to.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#110

Post by yaeger »

gambler wrote: post #98
lectrick wrote: post #53

I hope 3 things happen 1) SteamOS is very successful along with Steam Machine 2) Windows is knocked out as a gaming platform 3) SteamOS users will be less annoying than Xbox and PS3 users

2) Windows is knocked out as a gaming platform I will cheer for Windows demise only when GOG starts selling their games for Steam OS.

A good chunk on GOG re DosBox games so shouldn't these run in SteamOS already? There is a DosBox for Linux, isn't there?
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