Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Steam Machine Teardown

ifixit.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 128 posts

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#71

Post by pmjordan »

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 something like this. More than 50% of my gaming time happens when I take time off - which usually means I'm visiting family for a few weeks, and taking anything bigger than this on a plane or train is not realistic. I was hoping Thunderbolt might solve the problem with external GPUs, but right now that seems more trouble than it's worth.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#72

Post by eco »

Zr40 wrote: post #22
MartinCron wrote: post #18

My 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.

My understanding of how n-key rollover was finally implemented in USB keyboards was by putting a USB hub in the keyboard and having the keyboard pretend to be several keyboards all at once.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#74

Post by deletes »

viggity wrote: post #11

a coworker got into the beta and I got to play with the controller for a little bit yesterday. I really like the concept of the touch pads, especially as a big FPS person. Analog sticks just can't compare to a mouse, but the touch pad will make me consider switching some gaming to the living room. http://twitpic.com/dp50dp

Make a video/report and post it on Hacker News!

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#75

Post by xhrpost »

xhrpost wrote: post #54
geetee wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I remember going to E3 some ten years ago with friends and we couldn't stop laughing at the Phantom. IIRC, they were either going to charge per minute played or the games were going to be rent-only or something of that nature. It just seemed more like "how can we possibly exploit more money from players" versus Steam's idea of changing the way we do gaming. So I would personally argue that Steam is significantly diff…

In searching old articles, I can't confirm the "rent-only" stigma in my mind. However, it does appear that you would be forced to pay the $30/mo fee to do anything.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#76

Post by venomsnake »

timje1 wrote: post #37
User1398 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I don't think steam has that many users - if I remember correctly, steam numbers are dwarfed by WoW / LoL (PC) and console shooter numbers. You'd be better off introducing a Call of Duty Coin... Call them Dogtags or something.

Depends if you define 60 000 000 as many.

Wow had 12M at its peak.

And there is huge overlap. LoL gamers and WoW are subset of steam users.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#78

Post by Arelius »

freehunter wrote: post #57
chroem wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious, what phone do you use?

Android fits the bill for what he's described. It's doubtful that everything in a SteamBox is completely open source (including graphics drivers and firmware on various hardware), so even though Android isn't 100% open source, it's roughly on par with the openness of a common Linux desktop.

Android may be roughly on par with the openness of SteamOS. But you'd be hard pressed to argue that Android is roughly on par with the openness of the common Linux desktop.

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#79

Post by tacticus »

zerohm wrote: post #63

If Valve really wants to compete with consoles, they need a wireless controller. I go back and play the old PS1/2 and Gamecube occasionally, and the toughest adjustment is going back to a wired controller.

They do have a wireless controller. it is shown in step 4

Re: Steam Machine Teardown

#80

Post by valarauc4 »

cma wrote: post #59
joezydeco wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are we talking about the Steambox or the Xbox?

Xbox One has unified memory with the GPU, which you can't get on PC (aside from via integrated intel graphics).

Until next year when AMD releases the same APU technology in a single dye, with granted 4 instead of 8 cores. It will also have HSA, which I believe the Xbox lacks.
Post reply on HN