Full Steam ahead: Here are Valve’s first 15 Steam Machine partners

GDC saw Valve’s PC-meets-console range of devices, the Steam Machines, burst back onto the scene.

We run down the 15 different hardware partners set to bring their boxes to market later this year

SYBER

Price: $500 to $1,400 (332 to 929)

Syber is a side division of previous Steam Machine partner CyberPowerPC. The firm will offer six varieties of its machine, starting with the low-tier Syber Steam Machine A, featuring a quad-core AMD processor and Radeon R9 270 2GB graphics card for $500 (332) and moving up to the $1,400 (929) Steam Machine X, equipped with an Intel i7-4790K and Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 4GB.

ASUS

Price: from $700 (465)

Asus has kicked off 2015 with a slightly revised model of the Steam Machine it revealed last year. The Asus GR8S comes in a number of configurations, with users able to choose between Intel i5 or i7 processors, Nvidia’s 9-series of GeForce graphics cards, up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM and either up to 1TB of hard drive or 512GB of solid state drive storage. Prices start at $700 (465).

ZOTAC

Price: $1,000 (664)

Emblazoned with the Steam logo, Zotac’s two-tone Steam Machine is designed for integration into a living room setup. As well as looking distinctive, the chassis is also designed to maximise airflow, in order to keep internal components cool. The Zotac Steam Machine SN970 allows up to four displays to be connected simultaneously, and gamers to play in resolutions of up to 4K. A sixth-generation Intel processor and discrete Nvidia GTX graphics card with Maxwell architecture are coupled to boost in-game graphics using technologies such as VXGI, MFAA and DSR. Storage is provided in the form of both a 64GB solid state drive and a 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive. The box is also equipped with 802.11ac wireless connectivity for online gaming.

MAINGEAR

Price: $850 (564)

Maingear’s orange and black DRIFT Steam Machine packs an Intel Core i7-4790K processor and either an Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 or AMD Radeon R9 290X graphics card. These are joined by up to 16GB of RAM and a choice between dual 1TB solid state drives or a single 6TB HDD. One touted feature is ‘whisper-quiet’ operation, as well as 4K gaming capability.

IBUYPOWER

Price: $460 (305)

One of the first vendors out of the gate, iBuyPower teased its Steam Machine back in late 2013. Built around the firm’s illuminated SBX design, the hardware was originally priced in line with Microsoft’s Xbox One. SBX options include 500GB or 1TB of hard drive storage, 4 or 8GB of RAM and an AMD Athlon X4 840 processor.

DIGITAL STORM

Price: $700 (465)

A revision of its Eclipse gaming PC, Digital Storm’s Eclipse Steam Machine will boast a Pentium G3220 CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 2GB graphics, 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 1TB hard drive. Currently, only one version of the box is confirmed, costing $700 (465).

MATERIEL.NET

Price: $900 (597)

Housed in Fractal Design’s Node 304 chassis measuring 25x21cm, the Materiel Steam Machine includes a 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 4440 CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 OC 2GB graphics card and a 1TB solid-state hybrid drive. The launch price is $900 (597).

SCAN

Price: 589 to 851

British vendor Scan has a range of Steam Machines on offer, ranging from the low-end 589 3XS Steam MC10, with an Intel Core i5 41210M CPU and Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M graphics, up to the high-end 851 3XS ST15, complete with Intel Core i5 4460 and Superclocked EVGA GTX 970 graphics card.

ALTERNATE

Price: $1,100 to $2,000 (730 to 1,327)

German vendor Alternate is holding up the high end of the Steam Machine offerings. The Alternate Steam Machine starts at $1,100 (730) for an Intel i3 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 750Ti, 8GB of RAM and 500GB of storage. Three further configurations will be available, stretching up to the inclusion of Nvidia’s GTX 980 graphics card.

WEBHALLEN

Price: $950 (630)

Considerably slimmed down from its design revealed in 2014, Webhallen’s newly svelte Steam Machine will contain an Intel Core i5-4460 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 2GB graphics card, 8GB of DDR3 memory and a 1TB solid-state hybrid drive, all for the price of $950 (630).

GIGABYTE

Price: $600 (398)

Gigabyte’s Brix PC has been around for a while now, but the Brix Pro Steam Machine will mark the firm’s first SteamOS effort. The barebones machine will come with an Intel Core i7-4770R CPU, two SO-DIMM DDR3L memory slots and a selectable 2.5-inch hard drive.

FALCON NORTHWEST

Price: up to $5,000 (3,318)

Starting at $2,000 (1,327), Falcon Northwest’s Tiki Steam Machine, will offer users an Intel Core CPU up to i7-4790K and Nvidia GeForce GTX 900-series graphics, including Titan and Titan-Z, up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of HDD space. The box is just four inches wide.

NEXT

Price: $800 to $1,300 (531 to 863)

Next’s Steam Machine is named the NextBox, and will start at $800 (531). For that price, users will get an Intel Core i3 CPU with Haswell architecture, Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 graphics capabilities, 8GB of RAM and 1TB of hard drive storage space.

ALIENWARE

Price: from $480 (319)

launched separately last year as the Alpha Windows PC, Alienware’s Steam Machine starts at $480 (319). It includes an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and between 500GB and 2TB of hard drive space.

ORIGIN

Price: $900 to $5,000 (597 to 3,318)

Origin’s Omega Steam Machine joins Falcon Northwest at the top of the range, with prices between $900 (597) and $5,000 (3,318). The top model incudes an Intel i7 4770K chip, three Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 graphics cards, 32GB of memory and 14TB storage.