Xi3 - Piston (Steambox)

[Xi]

http://xi3.com/

So, will this be the replacement for both modern PCs and consoles? The idea is a modular design that replaces the motherboard. So, when you want a new CPU, you replace the CPU module. When you want a new GPU, you replace the GPU module. When a new housing unit comes out, you can replace that too.

http://xi3.com/news.php?id=808



http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Steam-Box-Modular-Computer-xi3-Trinity-Series-Radeon,20313.html

Currently the actual specs aren't available, but the high-end X7A comprises of three components: the processor board, the primary I/O board and the secondary I/O board. The processor board itself features a quad-core AMD R-464L APU clocked at 3.2 GHz (2 MB x 2 L2 cache) which also contains a 384-core Radeon HD 7660G GPU.

This is not the piston specs, but it gives an idea about what to expect. Apparently Steam is going to adapt one of these things as the SteamBox.

Note:

Basically, this allows steam to standardize hardware requirements for steam games. You can have multiple versions of the piston (and even update it every couple of years - without having to trash the entire unit (replace modules only)) and then list the version of Piston that plays said game.

Steam Skyrim requires:

SteamBox v3 or higher (PC equivalent).

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

This is not the Steambox.

Fuck off.

 

[Xi]

This is not the Steambox.

Fuck off.

The steambox is a standard that any company can develop hardware for. This is merely the first company to publicly do so. Or at least, to unofficially acknowledge that they have a steambox in the works.

http://www.steamgamefans.com/gabe-n...jects-and-concepts-are-in-the-pipes-2331.html

Earlier this week, Valve and Xi3 made waves at the Consumer Election Show by announcing the “Piston” prototype, a miniature PC that would hook up to televisions and effectively bring the entire Steam platform to the living room. Plans for a conceptual Steam-based videogame console were finally in motion. Shortly after the announcement of the Piston, Xi3 got busy answering questions about the project, its relationship with Valve and the details of whats inside the Piston and how it works. The aftermath of that announcement created a ripple effect across the internet with every question answered spawning three more unanswered questions. To paint a picture of the grand scheme of the Steam Box, Valve’s infamous Director Gabe Newell has once again stepped into the limelight to answer questions about hardware, the Steam Box and Valve’s vision of gaming’s future.

In an exclusive interview with The Verge, Gabe Newell confirmed that the Piston is but one of many Steam Box prototypes in development by several different companies. Valve’s head honcho went on to say that Valve is indeed developing their own Steam Box, separate from Xi3′s Piston prototype. Valve’s Steam Box will indeed use Linux as was it was rumored to and will likely be priced to compete with Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation consoles. Valve’s “console” is likely much further from release than the Piston, which is projected to release later this year. The image above represents one of Valve’s very own Steam Box prototypes.

Gabe continued to open up about the Steam Box and gaming in general during the interview, talking about controllers and input methods. Mr. Newell states that Valve is currently working on a controller that eliminates input latency and is even interested in the idea of biometric reading allowing the system to effectively feel and react to things like the player’s heart rate. If the thought of a horror game that scares you ever time you stop swearing doesn’t raise your blood pressure a little, you may want to make sure you’re still breathing. You can check out the interview in its entirety here. While a great number of things have been revealed and speculated upon during the last few days, one thing is certain; The confirmation of Valve in the living room and the Steam Box hardware is one of the first industry shaking announcements of 2013.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Valve has it's own first-party SteamBox in development. That's the only Steam Box I'm willing to accept.

All that other thirtd-party shit will just be "Steam-enabled", not that this will help the PC space much. Valve needs to get the real thing out.

 

[Metro]

Problem with these things is the prices I've seen quoted are less competitive than building your own/having the geeks at the local shop build you one. The console crowd's common refrain is that 'I can't afford a PC, Xbawks only cost $200' or whatever (of course never mind the fact they pay way more for the games). So I don't really see how these things -- at around $700-$1000 or more) are going to attract current PC gamers or current console gamers.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

As I said, I don't really see any sort of long-term goal or strategy planned behind these silly mini-computers. Most of these companies are gonna be out of business in a Hamsters lifetime.

 

[Dexter]

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/eyes-on-with-valves-steambox-prototypes/

Lots of "SteamBoxes", just because Valve invested some money into some companies so they can make a few prototypes doesn't mean shit, as Mr. Day1Buy said above, this ain't the "SteamBox". Only thing that will qualify will be the hardware that Valve comes up with themselves and will likely launch in 2014.
Till we hear anything else, it's just a bunch of MiniPCs by a bunch of different companies.

Xi3 just used all the attention and buzz to get some free PR for their company. As your own Interview shows, he was never persuaded to every say anything else than it being a "Piston". No idea why you chose the title then.