Valve has just revealed new information about the specs for the prototype Steam Machines. These beta devices are decked out with some pretty powerful innards.

Valve might be shipping out 300 prototypes with the subsequent specifications:

• GPU: some units with NVidia Titan, some GTX780, some GTX760, and a few GTX660 
• CPU: some boxes with Intel: i7-4770, some i5-4570, and a few i3 
• RAM: 16GB DDR3-1600 (CPU), 3GB DDR5 (GPU) 
• Storage: 1TB/8GB Hybrid SSHD 
• Power Supply: Internal 450w 80Plus Gold 
• Dimensions: approx. 12 x 12.4 x 2.9 in high 

A cursory check on Newegg.com reveals that the video cards start as little as $200 with the GTX660, but go up as high as about $1,000 for the Titan. The i3 is set $110, the i5-4570 is set $200, and the i7-4770 is ready $300. 

Assuming that the highest video cards are paired with the highest processors, the value range for the Steam Machines specified above are about $610 to $1,600 before the price of the case. The mid-range model (assuming an i5 paired with both middle tier graphics cards) can be between $750 – $1,250.

“Sooner or later we’ll discuss how Steam can assist customers understand the variations between machines, hardware strengths and weaknesses, and upgrade decisions,” a post on Valve’s Steam website states.

[Source: Valve]

Our Take
I’m interested to peer how Valve approaches communicating the advantages and differences within the different machines to these gamers that are not currently embedded in PC gaming. I’m also confused by many of the other statements within the post, specifically the part during which Valve says that the prototypes aren’t meant to exchange high-end gaming PCs.

I remember that gamers who have already got great rigs will need to use a Steam Machine for streaming, but when a machine with a Titan and i7-4770 isn’t meant to rival a gaming PC, then what exactly is the hook?