Valve reveals specifications of Steam machine prototypes

X-bit Labs reports Valve disclosed the specifications of the 300 Steam Machine prototypes which will be sent to beta testers. Compared to traditional consoles, the hardware of these units is pretty good but not all machines are equal. Some of the prototypes feature an Intel Core i7-4770, while others feature the Core i5-4570 or a Core i3 series processor. The GPU also varies widely, some test units will have a GeForce GTX Titan, while others will get a GeForce GTX 780/760, while lower-end versions will come with a GeForce GTX 660. All machines have 16GB DDR3-1600 memory, 1TB/8GB hybrid SSHD storage, and a 450W power supply with 80Plus Gold certification.

Valve stressed that when it set out to create its own prototype Steam Machine “console” hardware, it wanted to accomplish some specific design goals that in the past others were not tackling. One of them was to combine high-end power with a living-room-friendly form-factor, another was to help it test living-room scenarios on a box that is as open as possible. For its own prototype Steam Machines, Valve has chosen to build something special, high-end, high-performance boxes, built out of off-the-shelf PC parts.

Specifications of 300 Steam Machine prototypes, which will be sent to beta testers, look as follows:

CPU: some boxes with Intel Core i7-4770, some with Core i5-4570, and some with Core i3;

GPU: some units feature Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan, some sport GeForce GTX 780, some include GeForce GTX 760, and some come with GeForce GTX 660;

RAM: 16GB DDR3 at 1600MHz;

Storage: 1TB/8GB hybrid SSHD;

Power Supply: internal 450W 80+ Gold;

Dimensions: approximately 12” * 12.4” * 2.9”.

The systems are fully upgradable, allowing any user to swap out the GPU, hard drive, CPU, even the motherboard. Apart from the custom enclosure, anyone can go and build exactly the same machine by shopping for components and assembling it themselves.