| Valve Unveils First Generation of Steam Machines at CES 2014 Posted: 06 Jan 2014 07:30 PM PST 
14 partners revealed at CES 2014 who are manufacturing official Steam Machines Valve showed off units and hardware specifications at CES 2014 this week with prices ranging from $499 all the way up to $6,000. In the list were units manufactured by Digital Storm, CyberPowerPC, and iBuyPower that were already revealed prior to CES 2014. Additional units from Valve's other partners included one from Webhallen for $1,499. It comes with an Intel Core i7 4771 processor, Nvidia GTX 780 graphics card, 16BG RAM, and a 1TB SSHD. Falcon Northwest is offering the Tiki with a price range of $1,799 all the way up to $6,000. The Tiki's CPU is customizable, will come with a Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan, 8-16GB RAM, and up to a 6TB hard drive. Other partners, showcasing their product, did not have a price set such as the Chronos from Origin PC that will come with an Intel Core i7 4770K and two 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan cards. The rest of Valve's partners include Alienware, Alternate, GigaByte, Maingear, Material.net, Next Spa, Scan, and Zotak. All first-gen Steam Machines are slated for a 2014 release and will come with SteamOS installed and one Steam Controller. 
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| Corsair Announces Cherry MX RGB Mechanical Keyboard for Gamers Posted: 06 Jan 2014 07:00 PM PST  A mechanical plank with per-key illumination
One thing we simply won't argue is that typing on a mechanical keyboard is a superior experience than pecking away on a membrane-based plank -- there's just no contest. One of the most popular makers of mechanical key switches is Cherry MX, and together with Corsair, the two companies announced the "MX RGB Project" gaming keyboard at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). What exactly is the MX RGB Project? The keyboard itself is based on a Vengeance K70 gaming plank, only now it's fitted with new Cherry MX RGB key switches. What's special about these key switches is that users are able to customize the backlight of each individual key with support for 16.8 million colors. If you wanted, you could illuminate the WASD keys one color and the arrow keys another. Per-key illumination allows for all kinds of configurations, especially when you have millions of shades to play with. Corsair says it will launch the world's first Cherry MX RGB-based gaming keyboards in the second half of 2014. In addition to per-key illumination, the keyboards will be available in a variety of Cherry switch types, including Cherry MX Red, MX Brown, MX Blue. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Maingear Spark is a Small Form Factor Steam Machine with AMD Inside Posted: 06 Jan 2014 06:30 PM PST  Fanning the flames of Valve's Steam Machine initiative with a Spark
Valve isn't having any trouble lining up hardware partners to build Steam Machine systems of varying power and shapes at different price points. One of those companies is Maingear, a boutique builder out of New Jersey that decided to go with an AMD foundation inside a small form factor (SFF) chassis for its take on a Steam Machine. The aptly named Spark measures only 4.5 inches wide by 4.23 inches deep by 2.34 inches high and weighs less than a pound. Inside the tiny chassis is an AMD A8-5557M quad-core APU clocked at 2.1GHz (3.1GHz Turbo), Radeon R9 M275X graphics with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, two SO-DIMM slots with support for up to 16GB of DDR3-1600MHz RAM, a single mSATA slot that supports up to a 256GB SSD, and a single 2.5-inch HDD tray (SATA 6Gbps). It also has a GbE LAN port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, half size mini-PCIe slot, HDMI output, mini DisplayPort, four USB 3.0 ports, a few other odds and ends. "The SPARK is a first for MAINGEAR, this extremely small and powerful gaming box will make gamers really look at what they want in a small form factor PC." said Wallace Santos, CEO and founder of Maingear. "We have been working with Valve for over a year building what we think is a great performing tiny PC with tons of storage for games and entertainment, we are very excited to be releasing this soon." 
Maingear says the Spark will be available in mid to late Q1 2014. Pricing has not yet been determined, though the boutique builder promises it will be an "affordable PC solution." Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Origin PC Preps Single and Dual GPU Steam Machine "Chronos" Rigs Posted: 06 Jan 2014 06:00 PM PST  A Steam Machine that would look right at home in an A/V rack
One of the reasons why Valve is pushing its Steam Machine platform is to get PC gamers into their living rooms, hence the prep work that went into Big Picture mode and the wireless Steam Controller. Going along with that theme, boutique builder Origin PC announced plans to launch a pair of Steam Machine "Chronos" systems built in a small form factor (SFF) chassis that will have no trouble blending into a typical home theater setup. Both the Chronos Standard Edition and Chronos SLI Edition will be fully customizable, and if you want the chassis to stand out among your other A/V gear, you can opt for a custom point job with automotive finish. The Chronos Standard Edition will come with an Asus Maximus VI Impact motherboard, up to an Intel Core i7 4770K quad-core CPU with professional overclocking, Origin Frostbyte 120 sealed liquid cooling system, up to a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 Ti graphics card (also with professional overclocking), up to 16GB of DDR3-2133, up to dual 1TB Samsung 840 Evo Series SSDs, 4TB Western Digital Black HDD, 6X Blu-ray burner, ROG SupremeFX 7.1-channel audio, built-in Wi-Fi, SG08 600W power suuply, and of course Steam OS (with the option of dual booting into Windows 7 or Windows 8 Home or Pro). Origin PC's SLI configuration kicks things up a notch with up to two GeForce GTX 780 Ti graphics cards, 40-in-1 media card reader, and up to 32GB of DDR3-2133 RAM. 
"Anything that Valve does for PC gaming is extremely exciting and Steam OS might just be the next big thing." said Kevin Wasielewski Origin PC CEO and co-founder. "Origin PC will offer Steam Machines with the most customization options, the highest performance, and each one is backed by our industry leading free lifetime 24/7 support based in the United States." Pretty gnarly stuff. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Zotac Previews Zbox Steam Machine, Keeps Mum on the Details Posted: 06 Jan 2014 06:00 PM PST  An itty-bitty Steam Machine
Steam Machine announcements are coming in pretty fast and furious, though not all systems are created the same. Enter Zotac, a specialist in mini PC configurations best known for its Zbox line, which is previewing a Zbox Steam Machine slated to arrive in the second half of this year. Details are few and far between, though Zotac says its Steam Machine will ship in an all-black 3rd generation Zbox chassis with orange lighting intended to give it an aggressive and sporty aesthetic. "Zotac is pleased to work with Valve Software to create the Zbox Steam Machine. Valve's Steam OS is a game-changer to the PC gaming market that enables us to deliver a game console experience that's superior to the latest next-generation console," said Carsten Berger, senior director, Zotac International. "Gamers can expect the latest Intel Core processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics processor in the upcoming Zotac Zbox Steam Machine for stunning visuals and world-class features." While Zotac isn't yet willing to give any specifics, the company provided some vague hints, saying its Steam Machine configuration will come with an "enthusiast-class" Intel Core process and graphics power from an upcoming performance-class Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics processor. Extract from that whatever you can. 
The Zbox Steam Machine will come with a Steam Controller bundled in and Steam OS pre-installed. Pricing info is not yet known. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Steam Machines Pictures Galore Posted: 06 Jan 2014 05:39 PM PST  Everything we know about all the Steam Machines so far
Up until now, most of the images you've seen of the Steam Machines have been leaked images or renders. With CES 2014 now under way, we decided to round up official Steam Machine pictures and everything we know about the Steam Machines so far. So make sure to peruse the gallery below and let us know what your favorite Steam Machine is so far. If you haven't seen us use Valve's impressive Steam Machines controller yet, click here. If you would like to try and create your own Steam Machine at home by learning how to install SteamOS, click here. |
| Xidax is First System Builder to Accept Bitcoin Currency Posted: 06 Jan 2014 12:14 PM PST  Turn those Bitcoins into PC parts
Ever heard of Xidax? The custom PC company made headlines last year when it debuted onto the scene as the first in the industry to offer a lifetime parts and labor guarantee on all desktop systems. Further proof that Xidax isn't afraid to be a pioneer in the PC building space is today's announcement that the company is the first enthusiast boutique builder to accept Bitcoins. "The question reached me, I thought it was a brilliant idea, and we all got very excited about being the first in the industry to embrace this cool new way to pay," Zack Shutt, executive operations officer of Xidax PCs, said in a statement. According to Shutt, the idea came about from several customers asking if the company would accept Bitcoin currency. It's an interesting move, not just because Bitcoin isn't an officially recognized currency in the U.S., but also because of its volatile nature. Bitcoin values are prone to sudden drops in value, though on the flipside, Bitcoins have also enjoyed robust growth. If that trend continues, Xidax could make a fortune from accepting Bitcoins, and miners can cash in and receive something tangible in return. 
Xidax offers a range of laptops starting at $1,205 and desktops starting at $839. The option to pay with Bitcoin comes up during the checkout process, as shown above. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Digital Storm Unveils Bolt II, World's First Liquid Cooled Steam Machine Posted: 06 Jan 2014 09:01 AM PST  Getting wet and wild with Steam Machines
Digital Storm's original Bolt introduced gamers to a console-like box filled with PC hardware. It was essentially a Steam Machine before such a thing existed, minus Valve's Steam OS. This time around, Digital Storm's Bolt II is a bona fide Steam Machine that once again comes in a small form factor (SFF) chassis, only now it runs both Windows and Steam OS, and is liquid cooled to boot. According to Digital Storm, no other Steam Machine uses liquid cooling. The Bolt II keeps things cool with a "best-in-class" 240mm radiator, large perforated ventilation areas over the graphics card, a top panel that transfers excess heat out of the system while pulling cold air in, and an "expertly engineered airflow design." Digital Storm isn't yet sharing specific configuration details, though the boutique builder made it clear that its system won't cost the same as an Xbox One or PlayStation 4. "We are not looking to compete with console pricing," said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm's Director of Product Development. "We're taking aim at the high end of the market, targeting consumers that demand the best possible gaming experience and who are looking for a PC capable of playing any title on their new 4K display." That said, the Bolt II will be available later this month starting at $1,899. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| CyberPowerPC Announces Steam Machine Configurations Starting at $499 Posted: 06 Jan 2014 08:36 AM PST  Sylish Steam Machine configurations are slated for the second half of 2014
Let's kick off the week with some good news, shall we? CyberPowerPC just flipped us a note announcing a pair of Steam Machine configurations that come complete with a Steam Controller and Steam OS, and the cost of entry starts at just $499, the same MSRP as Microsoft's Xbox One console. Pretty snazzy, right? Well, the bad news is that you'll have to wait until the second half of the 2014 before you can buy one - drats! Wait time aside, CyberPowerPC has put together a couple of respectable configurations to choose from. The first is the "Steam Machine A" with an AMD A6 6400K processor, 8GB of DDR3-1600 memory, Radeon R9 270 graphics card, 500GB SATA 6Gbps hard drive (7200 RPM), and built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi on a mITX motherboard. This is the configuration that runs $499. If you're willing to pony up $699, you'll be able to pick up CyberPowerPC's "Steam Machine I" system. It's configured similarly to the Steam Machine A box, but has an Intel Core i3 4330 foundation with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 760 graphics card. Either way, CyberPowerPC promises full desktop PC performance in a stylish box capable of running hundreds of games currently in the Steam catalog. That's not to say you won't have to make some adjustments to in-game settings, though looking at the specs, both setups should do a serviceable job serving up playable framerates at 1920x1080. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| CES 2014: Live Demo of the PrioVR Suit and Its Camera Free Motion Sensing Mojo [Video] Posted: 06 Jan 2014 07:03 AM PST  Movement tracking without the cameras
Just when you thought virtual reality might be dead, here came the Oculus Rift, a VR headset that raised nearly $2.5 million on Kickstarter. The Oculus Rift has sparked excitement among gamers and developers alike, prompting other device makers to jump on board the little bandwagon that could (virtual reality). At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, ace reporter and Maximum PC Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang spent a few minutes viewing a demo of the PrioVR suit, a motion control system that doesn't use any cameras. It's a suit designed around the Oculus Rift that adds another layer of VR immersion. It uses wireless technology on the 2.4GHz band to transmit your movement, and while you can use it with any controller, the rep in the following video used Wii Remote Controllers to show how a person can interact with the in-game environment. At present force feedback isn't a supported feature, but that could be implemented at a later date. How far it goes and what features ultimately end up in PrioVR could depend on how successful its upcoming Kickstarter campaign is, which is currently scheduled for February. In any event, here's a look at the PrioVR in action. For more info, including a list of FAQs about the project, check out the company's website. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
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